In June, I wrote about the fact that after 18 years in the same house, we decided to sell and downsize to a new house in a brand-new town.
Then you didn’t hear from me for a month.
Where did July go you ask? Why wasn’t there a newsletter?
We were moving! Packing, unpacking, you know the drill. Still haven’t found my favorite water bottle.
We were also homeless for about 2 weeks as the closing on our old house didn’t match up with the closing on the new one.
Now THAT was fun, said no one ever.
The good news is that we are in the new house and slowly getting settled in.
So what did I learn through all this?
1. I learned that even with all the stuff we moved, we STILL had to run out to various stores to get NEW stuff.
2. You remember all those things you put away in a super-secret, ultra-safe place? A place you just knew you could find again in a heartbeat? Then never found them again? I found them all.
3. The words “keep or toss” became a daily mantra.
4. Although I already knew I was a bit of a germaphobe, I didn’t know how far it went. It kicked in when we entered our new home. I found myself wondering “are these NEW toilet seats?” (we bought new ones) and “do you think they cleaned the rugs and floors or should we wear shoes everywhere until we clean?” (We wore shoes for a few days.)
5. You realize that you’ve made so many trips to the dump to get rid of the empty boxes, and the stuff you decided to move and now don’t want, that you are now on a first-name basis with the staff who work there.
6. You realize that downsizing is the ultimate game of Tetris! But it wasn’t just the furniture gymnastics we were faced with, our boxes were in on the game too. Deciding which box could perfectly stack on top of another was like solving a giant jigsaw puzzle. Our garage became the Great Box Pyramid of 2023. It was a beautiful sight to behold – a towering monument of cardboard and memories with a small path on the side where we could walk. We’ve since conquered the garage, and amazingly found a home for most of it. Most.
7. You discover that the movers used ONE BOX to pack each lampshade! ONE BOX! You loudly tell your spouse that this is wasteful. But deep down you are doing a happy dance in your mind, celebrating the fact that each lampshade is quite the diva demanding it’s own box, which is one less box we had to unpack.
8. You wonder why you have so many clothes hangers! They’re like rabbits and just keep multiplying. Don’t get me started on the junk drawer that had things I was saving because I didn’t know what they were. That drawer is a treasure trove of mysteries, a Bermuda Triangle for random stuff. I threw the unknown stuff in the trash. Do I have a new junk drawer you ask? Why yes, in the new house, the saga continues. A fresh batch of junk awaits.
9. I learned that tough times can either push you closer or pull you apart. For us, it pushed my husband (of 30-years) and I closer. As is our way, we laughed and joked our way through it all. In life, you’ve got two choices: laugh or cry. Personally I have a very strict “laughter-only” policy. Life throws lemons? We juggle them. Laughter is the secret weapon that got us through my cancer years, and will get us through anything life throws our way.
10. I have never had a sister, let alone two! My two soul sisters were like magical unicorn duct tape that held my sanity intact. Without Katie and Paula to unleash my moving frustrations on, I would have been a wild, howling banshee curled up in the corner of my room. Love my sisters!
So there you have it!
I’ll see you next month. Promise.
Katharine
