Thanks to our landlords who are selling the home we rent (and, clearly, don’t know that there is a special place in Hades reserved for people who make a military family move more than absolutely necessary), we are currently hanging out in the third circle of moving hell. Packing, packing, packing — moving on Tuesday.
Only this time no military movers with their swift taping, overzealous packing paper ways have my back. For the first time since my pre-military spouse days I am moving myself.
And it is not fun.
Never in my life have I been so grateful for military movers. Sure, they break my stuff – but let’s be honest, I break my stuff, too. Sure, they manage to misplace completely unpredictable items (seriously – how does one bread pan and nothing else disappear during a move?), but I lose stuff all the time.
What I’m saying is this: usually I like to complain about military movers. But right now I am viewing those fabulous folks with rose colored glasses. They daily do a job that, I’m now reminded, I absolutely loath.
As I wrap individual mugs and contemplate why, in the name of all that is good, we have oh so many books that we never even read, I have also been thinking about you people who prefer to move yourselves here and there across America. I have been thinking about you who time and again say to military movers “Go away. I’d rather pack my own undies.”
I’m sure you have your reasons. But from my spot on the rug in the bathroom where I have been sitting and crying on account of how much I hate this, I can’t really fathom what they are.*
So tell me – what is your moving style and why? Take our little poll and dish on your reasons below.
*For the record, I haven’t actually reached crying on the bathroom floor stage yet. But I can see that it is not far away. … Also not far away: the marriage counseling recovering from this move is sure to require.
About Amy Bushatz
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Since 1996 we have moved 11 times. Of that, three were us moving ourselves. Though our first move we have little more then the clothes on our backs. lol Just since 2006 we have managed to live in TWO homes at each duty station. Definitely not something we expected, but all for good reasons. Twice we moved from one house on post to another, one time because we needed a larger home once our older son turned 9 (and we qualified) and once when our WWII era home bust a pipe and began leaking sewage into our home. These we did ourselves. Packed up a one day rental uhaul and my husband did a couple of trips. NOT something I wanted to do, nor will I ever do a third time. We are very meticulous about not keeping things that are not necessary, so we are on the light side of our HHG's weight limits. But, moving 14,000+ of HHG's is no joke. As for movers, I spend a good month before a move making sure EVERYTHING is ready. Totes filled, clothes organized, kitchen ready. I also clean the house top to bottom so when everything is out, it is a matter of vacuuming and wiping down a counter. In all of our moves there was only one time when things were pack badly, or i should say not packed at all. Opened boxes to find things like glass laying on top of clothing, not wrapped, you get the picture. Otherwise, we have had very little missing we didn't find later, only a few broken items, nothing really worth reporting or claiming. I guess I have always known with moving is going to put some heavy wear and tear on your things. Much more so then someone who moves once or only a couple of times in a lifetime. My inlaws are using the same bedroom set (new mattress of course) they bought in 1965, it was moved once in that time and still looks brand new. Our bedroom set bought in 2007 looks like it's been through the ringer, but that's, we have learned to live with the fact that moves and kids tear things up. ;)
I think the key is remembering that your stuff will take a beating whether or not YOU move it. We actually just bought a piano today and we picked it specifically because it's already not beautiful on the outside. Saved some money and admitted that it will be not beautiful after one move anyway.
One year, we had 3 PCS' in a 12 month period. Never even bothered unpacking.
Stay organized throughout the year that way when it comes time to move, I pack up the items that I would be heartbroken over if it broke or disappeared (grandmas crystal n china), jewelry, the basics of a kitchen since we always get to the new home before the HHG’s do, and the paperwork stash (tax returns, contracts, etc.). The rest…the movers are welcome to, and it helps if you are organized and clean to make the movers lives easier…trust me they appreciate it!! Will things get broken or the couch fabric ripped…sure, but it would happen if I moved it myself, plus with a teenager, pre teen, dog, cat…our home is clean and neat but lived in…if I wanted a perfect house i’d live in a mueseum :-) good luck with ur PCS’s ladies! And don’t cry..instead grab the cleaning gear and attack the dust bunnies, you feel better n the house is clean!
WWe moved on the average about every 18 months. I was always doing TDY's also. So I developed a motorcycle " if it couldn't fit in my 2 duffel bags then I didn't need it. Also if i was pcs'n then i waited until the kids were asleep or in school. Made things way easier. Also do just one room at a time Mark those box's right away. And if you don't need or use it (unless its sorting personal, special then you don't need it. In all my years as a military person & spouse I never was give'n any help moving. Its really not that bad. Also make quick meals it will help.
No one touches my undies or bras! I also move my scrapbooks, wine collection (it can't get hotter than 77 degrees Fahrenheit) so it must be moved into the hotel at night. Oh well we're very lucky to have family that is will to fly out and help us move.
I am organized when it comes to the packers and movers. I have all linen washed and neatly stacked for them. I have curtains down, washed and ready to go for them. Pictures off the the wall, cleaned and ready to go for them. Bathrooms cleaned out (alot of stuff pitched!) and packd in totes for them. I have to have organization so when it arrives at our new destination, there is a little less stress on me. We pack and take our things that are priceless to us. There has been far to much damage, theft, etc through the years, and we have learned.
It is with bittersweet emotion that our final move is in 2 weeks. After 28 years, our final move is to my hubby's retirement job. If we ever move again, it will be on us! UGH!
Oh, I feel your pain. We had to do the same thing 3 months before you. To add insult to injury, it was a military landlord that sold the house we were renting…….