My wife and I have sold our house, and we are moving at the end of the month. WOW, what an ordeal. First there is the emotional detachment of leaving our home that we have loved for the last nine years. Second, there comes the purging. The stuff that you haven’t used in the last five years, but you are convinced you will use it in the next two weeks. Third, there is the contacting of businesses with address changes like utility companies, financial institutions, and other businesses of interest. Fourth comes packing, and fifth, the actual moving day itself.
Selling our house was a tough call but in the long run, it is the right thing to do. We love this house, but the kids are gone and have families of their own, the house is too big for my wife and I. We know we are going to have to put $25k into upgrades like a new roof and new appliances and as we head into semi-retirement, we want everything one on level. We know we will have to make other arrangements to have family dinners, but it is part of the process.
Purging is an ordeal unto itself. Go through your clothes, books, memorabilia and other knick-knacks and ask yourself three questions, have you used it in the last two years? If not, do you know for a fact you will use it in the next two weeks and finally can you get it at a local hardware store for less than $20. The answers will tell you if you should keep it or let it go. It is an exercise in brutal honesty.
With moving comes the contacting of the utility companies. You must close out your account with the hydro and gas companies. You must call your cable and internet provider of your move out. You must contact anyone sending you a bill in the mail if you are not doing electronic billing and finally you must notify the department of motor vehicles to advise of your address change. These are the essentials and I am pretty sure I forgot one or two that I will hear about next month.
After purging as much as you can, packing is next. Be prepared to be living out of boxes for a week or two. This is an art because you want to pack as much as you can of the stuff you do not need and leave the stuff you do need for the last 48 hours. Unfortunately for procrastinators we leave too many of the nonessentials for the last 48 hours.
Moving day itself can be stressful especially if last minute surprises rear its ugly head. The moving company can do all the heavy lifting, and I will take care of the pillows. But we must coordinate with the building superintendent to reserve the elevator and then be a traffic cop telling the movers what goes where in what room. Then the unpacking.
Isn’t moving fun? In one word, no. People do not like change. People like the way they live and the way things are, but the hassles of moving are for one day. Look at the bigger picture of life itself. Life is a journey, not a destination. I loved our house, but deep down, it is time to move on. We will not have the huge family dinners, the opening of Christmas presents, working out in the basement, or bar-b-cues on the back deck, but do not think of what is coming to an end. Cherish the moments you had in the house and look forward to starting a new adventure in your new place. Enjoy the ride.