I hate moving and the sad truth of it is I have a long road of it ahead. I’m still in college and I can say with certainty that this free spirit is not settling down her roots anytime soon. Luckily I drive a pick up, but it’s a downsize for me compared to the F350 and the Suburban I drove in the past. Plus, it seems I only accumulate stuff. As I pull the clothes out of my drawers and notice the haven't-been-worn smell filling the room I wonder, "Should I do laundry? Nah. I’m taking it to moms."
Once I start filling a large box with books and many other heavy objects and I bend at the knees—the proper moving-boxes-etiquette—I realize to my disdain that the box is way too heavy for me to lift. I wish I had a boyfriend who could carry this for me… a recurring thought that arrives when I need to move my fridge downstairs and ceremoniously toss it in the bed of my pick-up.
My roommate and I successfully slide the fridge down the stairs and right out the back door. And I think, "Nah, I don't need a man to do this for me!" Continuing to pack my clothes, and realizing that I have way more clothes than any normal human being needs, I wonder, "Do I need this? I should just give it to Goodwill. But what if I want to wear it this summer?" So I throw it in the tub in hopes that I'll return to it and throw it out. But as a consolation I realize I'm on my last roll of toilet paper. Score!
The thing fueling my rampant packing is the fact that I can’t wait to be in my house where I can walk around with no pants on. Maybe if I joined a nudist community I wouldn't need to pack anything at all. Hmmm.. I am precariously close to tossing all my stuff and driving to the Florida Keys where I'll make a new start. I mean, you need much less clothing in Florida, right?
It makes it so much better when you’re packing with a cat nearby. Not easier, just more entertaining. Suddenly, you’re so thoughtful for accumulating all these boxes for sitting. Not to mention all the stuff you put in them for playing. However, the fiasco of re-packing what they tore out of your suitcase becomes not so cute anymore.
If you have pets and you're moving, it can be rather stressful. My animals, whether the horses in the back of the horse trailer or the cats climbing all over my shoulders, are pretty good travelers.
Relief washes over me once I weasel my way into the driver seat with a stack of wobbly boxes next to me and a mountain of disarray behind me. I can't see in my rear view mirror, but we're off! My cat in my lap and the caffeinated drink in hand, the journey ensues.
