Moving & Downsizing

Our moving team (minus our superhuman daughter), aka the best friends ever

The last time we moved was the summer of 1997. The math whizzes in my family (everyone except me) tell me that was nearly 16 years ago.  Not only are we much older (we had a three year old then who is in college now) but in 1997 we relocated compliments of the United States Army.  Since they require their members to move, the Army rolls out the red carpet when it comes to moving services.  The movers show up a couple days before you move and they pack EVERYTHING! One time we had trash in a trash can that showed up unscathed at our next assignment. Then they load it in a truck and the next thing you know, you are telling guys where to put things in your new place. They will even unpack for you.

Not to belabor the point, moving is expensive, back breaking and all together stressful. Do you throw everything in boxes and worry about it later?  Do you go through every closet, attic space and drawer and purge before the move?  One thing I can guarantee, if there are two people who are moving together, there are two completely different approaches to moving. If there are four people, four approaches; six people ... you get the point!

In addition to the standard moving angst, we are also downsizing. Downsizing is a great idea in theory.  Less house, less cleaning.  Less yard, less weeding and raking. Lower mortgage, more fun, right? Let's just say that downsizing in practice is not so great. Current furniture won't fit in the new compact space and you most definitely will not have enough storage.  We don't even have a garage you can park in!

This gi-normous sectional definitely will not fit in a den that is only 10 feet wide!

 

We do however, have a scary, leaky basement with the original 1922 boiler right smack dab in the middle making that potential storage space nonexistent. Oh! and we recently got the news that the boiler is "Hot".  No, it won't burn you and no, it does not look attractive! Our boiler is insulated with asbestos and has to be "abated". Yay! (See a future post about that!)



What I have learned about downsizing: craigslist is your friend! You may not get what your furnishings are worth, but if they are in good condition and not too out dated, they will go to a good home with a family who loves them.  And, most importantly, said family will provide the transportation.

Mission: 3400x - y = 2400x, solve for y where x = square feet of furnishings, or solve for why?