We’re such packrats. At least a dozen times today, I’ve sat down in my chair, said “We cannot do this! We’ll never get it done!” but the I pick myself up and get back to it. I packed 5 large boxes today – I think they’re 18 x 18 x 20. I packed half of my main closet. I think the other closet can all be donated. I kept out some warmer clothes because something tells me we’re going to be packing and moving for quite a few months.
We got the guest bed taken apart, took the mattress and box spring to the dump so that gave us room to stack boxes.
We ate breakfast this morning, then got busy. A friend was coming over to pick up a few things and I realized I was starving so we’re having pre-breaded chicken breasts and tater tots in the air fryer. When I went to get the tots out of the freezer, I saw a bag of frozen tuna so I grabbed that, thawed it and seared it so tuna steaks, chicken breasts and tater tots – not the best, not the worst meal but quick and we’re eating at home and eating stuff out of the freezers. Win/win/win! 🙂
Here’s a funny thing – funnier for you than for me. Vince said “Look at everything before you pack it. If you don’t REALLY want it, let’s not bring it!” I have three piles going – packing (in the box), a donation pile and a trash pile. Vince comes in and starts looking at the piles, wants to know which pile is which and then he asks “Are you sure you don’t want this? You won’t need it later and wish you hadn’t thrown it out?” Oh, my goodness! If you want me to be selective with what I move, then stop trying to talk me out of throwing it away!!”
katie z. says
I’m so excited for you to be moving on to the next great adventure, but I certainly don’t envy you the packing drama. I am currently trying to set up a homeschool room for us (going back to school is not going to work for our younger kids), and I’ve thrown away so many things!
Dianne Smith says
Just curious, how many piles of keeping, donating or throwing away does Vince have?? LOL
Liz says
I was thinking the same thing…. just remembering Judy’s stories of Vince’s green t-shirts as well as the multiple snow shovels in the storage unit during a Missouri winter.
Judy – make sure you don’t pack any scorpions or black widow spiders or snakes!
Nelle Coursey says
I know it is hard! We had a friend here who had been married over 50 years. His wife died, his best friend died and then he married the best friends wife (good thing for both). She left her house to her husbands kids and he sold his house. They combined some of the furniture but got rid of a lot. Pat was on the city council at the time and Ben told Pat there should be a city ordinance that you have to move every 5 years to get rid of crap!! I think he was right!
Susan Nixon says
He probably doesn’t want to hear moaning about things you threw away. LOL You should probably take pictures of what you’re tossing and giving away, so that when you say, “I know I had that somewhere,” you can check and see if it was given or tossed.
Kathy says
Lol. My husband did that too! He would fish things out of the dumpster and ask, “Did you mean to throw this away?” Ummmm… yes…. it’s in the dumpster. ??
Linda B. says
We moved 18 months ago after being in the same house for 31 years. Way too much stuff. One thing my husband did was take a picture of stuff going in the different boxes. I can’t tell you how many times we have wanted to find something and those pictures came to the rescue. He labeled each box from what room it was in and then numbered them also. I was very emotional too. I am very sentimental so it was hard but no regrets at all! We are so happy in our new place! I know you will be too.
Teri says
Yep, never know when you might need it! All the best to you in this move!
Donna M says
There are times when Vince really reminds me of my husband. They are great guys, but I feel your pain.
Mandy says
I’m sure lots of people will give you tips on packing and moving things on to be loved else where but the best tip i was given was to pack the things you just cant live without first including the things you just really love. Then look at what’s left do you need it if not off it goes to a different home where ever that may be.
Judy Laquidara says
As I come to each item, it either gets packed, tossed or goes in the donation box. I’m getting this done and when one room is finished . . it’s finished!
Emma says
I’ll be moving next summer and am so looking forward to the purge mindset I get into before and after every move. I tend towards being a packrat thanks to my dad being a huge packrat, so moving regularly helps me to toss things out.
Judy Laquidara says
Good for you. It’s been about 25 years since we had to move ourselves. The movers always wanted us out of the way so they packed EVERYTHING and, of course, I never threw anything out as I was unpacking. This time is different. Not only are we having to buy the boxes, pack it ourselves, but then pay the movers out of our pockets so I am being a bit more selective – probably not nearly as selective as I should be though.
Sandi B says
I love Vince!!! Last summer, hubs took two large boxes of canning jars to the thrift store where my aunt works. I grilled him about getting rid of them, but he was tired of holding on to them. Enter this year where we actually have a garden because we couldn’t do our usual trip out west. Of course they’re all sold out locally. I found some online for $56 per case for the quarts. Needless to say, they didn’t jump into my cart at that price!! (Why didn’t I buy some when I bought the pectin after you posted about it this spring???)
Judy Laquidara says
Isn’t it crazy about the prices of everything? Jars are like gold right now!
Sandi B says
Yes! It’s nuts.