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Thoughts on Moving, 10 Tips, and Silly Pictures

I have moved around my entire life. From Denver to Texas to Denver to Vegas.

All over Vegas, and that includes Green Valley, Henderson, North Vegas, etc, growing up I don't think there is an area we didn't live in. There are a few streets where we lived in every single apt complex up and down the street.

Vegas to Reno to Philadelphia to Reno to Chicago.

And now back to Reno. I'm noticing a trend!

Oh moving...on one hand, I am really quite good at it! I can pack a box like nobody's business. I remember once, my dad came home and said we had to pack everything and leave within an hour. During the dark years, he sometimes robbed the wrong people. This particular time he tried to take the landlord's purse while asking for an extension on our rent. He was bold when he was high! And we were out and at someone's couch before nightfall.

With each move there is a shedding of material things. I have learned to not get attached to things. When you grow up with an addict or two in the family you can rely on your things regularly coming up missing and at times even predict when.  So you don't get attached and you learn that it's just stuff and it's not really important. You can always get a new couch, another bed, new dishes, whatever. You can't get new family, so you focus on how you can help. And if that means not complaining about another move, so be it.

With this move I am uncharacteristically feeling attached to one thing. Our piano. My thinking self understands the wild logistics of moving a piano cross country would not be a good financial decision and the piano might not make it. It was hard enough moving it across the city, odds are another move would result in irrevocable damages. But my emotional self is heart broken over the loss of something that has brought us such happiness. That feeling you get when you give the perfect gift to someone you love; I replay in mind the picture of shocked joy on Matt's face when he opened his eyes that holiday season and the feeling of pride over having been sneaky enough to to keep a secret and savvy enough to take advantage of a free offer! Watching Matt and Cassidy at the piano before bedtime is a tear inducing event. She is daddy's little girl, completely in awe of how fast his fingers fly over the keys and looking up at him in disbelief over how she too can be that good. Hearing notes drift towards the kitchen as Matt rehearses for church while I'm doing the dishes. Yes, the piano will be sorely missed. My thinking self says of course you'll make new memories and there are loads of others things to do and see and experience with the family and as long as you have family that's all that matters. My emotional self is telling my thinking self to stuff it and is going to take a moment to grieve over the piano, then move on. Ha! Pun intended :-)

Moving Tip #1- Save on bubble wrap and newspapers by using towels, sheets and curtains to wrap breakables and dishes.

Moving Tip #2- Visit big box stores like WalMart and Target to get free moving boxes. Use the Uhaul program to trade for free boxes. Visit craigslist for free boxes. Check out the recycling bin in your building for free boxes. Use large cereal boxes to pack picture frames. Once you have eaten the cereal, you have what? A free box!

Moving Tip #3- Do a cost analysis on how much you would really spend on replacing an item versus moving it or selling it.

Moving Tip #4- Packing always takes longer than you think it will. Be ok with that.

Moving Tip #5- Don't know where you are moving? Get a PO Box and forward all mail there instead of rerouting your mail to several temporary locations.

Moving Tip #6- Throwing out lots of expired over the counter drugs and medications? Don't put them in the trash as they end up in our water supply. Most police stations take them for free and dispose of them properly.

Moving Tip #7- Don't pack a box full of insert-heavy-item-here, like books. Fill the box halfway with books then put something light on top, like clothing, plasticware, purses, or shoes. This way you don't have ridiculously heavy, back breaking boxes.

Moving Tip # 8- If you can afford it, sometimes it is worth it to hire one form of help somewhere. Moving from Reno to Chicago we had awesome friends and family who helped us move everything, and then we paid for cleaners to clean the house when we left. Best decision ever! To walk out and know it was being taken care of...talk about stress relief. This move back to Reno we are hiring movers with a truck to help cart our stuff to the Uhaul pods that will be shipped to Nevada. So far that decision has been a great one too!

Moving Tip #9- If you have a yard sale, I highly recommend saying yes when friends offer to help, playing music and offering free refreshments. This trifecta makes for a fun day.

Moving Tip #10- Return the favor. Offer to help others with moving, childcare, a place to stay, boxes, etc and put that good karma back out there while helping a loved one. Be a good friend and help ease someone else's anxiety. Because you remember how stressful it is to move.  ;-)





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