Moving

Do you remember your first move with your significant other?

I don't.

I mean, I don't because I'm doing it now. Sure, Mark has helped me move to Waco, back to Frisco, over to Plano, and then to Chicago. But moving together? Boxing up our stuff, trying to decide together what to toss or donate, and imagining how to furnish and decorate a space together has actually been fun.

Mark's style of moving in the past has gone something like this:
1) Wait until the last minute
2) Do some laundry
3) Throw things into boxes and bags as quickly as possible (all that clean laundry gets wrinkled!)
4) Stuff the car and move everything from point A to point B
5) Wonder where everything is because boxes are not numbered or labeled

My style of moving in the past is, honestly, not much different from Mark's:
1) Try to do a little bit each day, but still manage to leave too much to do the week before the move
2) Organize boxes and keep lists of what is in each one (which slows down the process)
3) Do all of the laundry, fold all of the clothes, pack all clothing
4) Eventually throw everything that is left into random boxes, pack up the car, and move--completely disappointed that not everything was inventoried and carefully packed
5) Rely on family and friends to move all of my books (they feel like blocks of cement when packed) and furniture

After we found our next apartment, what do you think we did? Booked movers, of course! Let's be honest. My little matchstick arms are not much any help during moves. I can pack and unpack all day long, but when it comes to loading and unloading boxes and moving large heavy moderately-sized any pieces of furniture I usually find something else that needs to be done (like make some cocktails...amiright?). I am worrying about comps and Mark is busy at work, so neither of us wanted to have to deal with the stress of moving boxes, the piano, our table, my desk, the bookcases or the bed into the new apartment.

What makes this move different? We have been able to keep to a schedule of packing at least three boxes a week, so we aren't actually packing boxes like crazy right now. We know that by packing earlier, we can organize our things and make our lives easier when we begin to unpack. There is something to be said about wanting to make your partner's life just a smidge easier. Mark helped me realize that inventorying every single thing in every single box was not helpful. Instead, we have decided to keep track of what is in boxes simply by room and theme/area. Mark now understands that if we haphazardly throw clothes into boxes and bags, then we will just have to wash them again or spend precious time ironing them. Everything has been packed with the intention of making unpacking somewhat painless. We'll see how that goes. Honestly, this has been the most organized move that either of us has ever done. The real trick, it seems, will be getting unpacked by next week's post.

I'm pretty sure I've thought of everything. But moves are always crazy, so I probably still forgot something. If nothing else, I'm sure the cat will complain. He will be chilling in the restroom until it is time for him to get in his carrier and move, but I'm sure he will be irritated with the noise of moving and having to find new places to nap. Oh, how difficult his life must be.