A Confession of a Mover

[Yorio]

I have to chill out and as a therapy I am writing this post, hoping that future movers to TV can learn from what we did. I have learned that a move is more psychological than physical both for my partner as well as for me. More for my partner perhaps because she is still reluctant to make the move though she had finally agreed. I am sure those who made that big jump will agree with me. If I have psychological stress, I can't imagine what she is going through. Though I have spent overseas on several occasions, we've never sold our house so there is indeed a 36 years of accumulation plus what my late brother left behind and never came back to pick up. My wife is a hoarder of our son's things from birth to when he got married. Where do we start? At least we already have a place in TV so that's a relief but our house in TV is about a third of our current home. This sudden move started end of June. We were thinking about the move sometime late next year but when we queried few of the real estate agent, they recommended that the timing is now. Currently the house inventory is very low and with the interest having gone up, house sales have picked up. Besides for families with young children, the time is now. We have a very good elementary school within short walking distance. We sold the house in 10 days. Fifth couple who came to see the house liked it and made an offer. That was great but the downside was that we have to move within six weeks. We did have the intention of moving eventually so we did start to clear up few things but we realize now it was just a surface attempt. The first major stressful event since retirement.

[casita37]

May I suggest professional help!! NO....I'm not suggesting a psychiatrist..LOL

Congratulations on a quick sale and welcome to TV. What I meant by pro help is an "organizer" or whatever they are called in your area. You can probably check your local paper, or ask around, for someone who will help make those tough decisions about what to keep and what to give away, throw out or donate. The pro will have no emotional attachment and can help you ease away from yours.

Just a thought, but with 36 years of accumulation....WOW...I'm sure we would all be a bit overwhelmed. Best of luck!!

[graciegirl]

There is no one who can throw it out but you. It is horribly hard to get rid of things.

Try to remember this.

It will be easier for YOU to do it than your children.

It feels better somehow to give things to a charity, after you try to get part of your hard earned money out of them from yard sales, ebay postings etc.

There will be ill feeling in wonderful marriages so if you CAN don't try to throw out your spouses stuff, not if you want to stay with the baritones in the choir.

You can't move chemicals or booze. Throw one out and drink the other.
Don't get them confused.

Do NOT bring more than a couple REALLY fancy outfits. You will still be asked to weddings and funerals, keep that in mind...but if you bring the kind of clothes that you wear out to dinner THERE, people will know you are just off the airplane...here.

You aren't going to cut your grass, so leave the mower behind, but you may need a rake, and a few garden tools, IF you like to garden.

There will be absolutely some things that are irrational to bring. We all brought them. They are now in the back room at Bargains and Treasures.
Example? Lava Lamp.

Be aware that this is REAL stress you are going through. I used terrible language to my beloved Sweetie. When you arrive you may be just a little emotionally frazzled. Don't make major changes to your home right away and don't feel like it all has to be done in three months. We aren't any of us as young as we once were. Be nice to yourselves. Deep breaths.

I am sure other posters will give you a lot of good advice.

Keep your eye on the prize. You get to live here with all of us crazy people who just LOVE it.

[gregntam]

As I am sitting here taking a break, trying to cool down from packing up our belongings, I say to you....get rid of it all! Good luck! See you all very soon!:gc:

[frostola]

Well said Graciegirl! I thought I could never get rid of "stuff" but once I started it feels great!

[Midvale]

It is more difficult to downsize the longer you've lived in a place but a rewarding feeling once you've down it.

But I DID keep my Lava Lamp...

[Yorio]

Thanks, Gracie and others for your advice. Just resting after an hour of shredding documents that are quite old but needs to be shredded. Two more weeks to D-day. A couple of my friends also offered similar advice. Both of them said Give Away, Throw Away, Donate Away and once you do that you won't regret that you don't have them any more. My major problem was with LPs, CDs and books. I got rid of hundreds of CDs for about a quarter to fifty cents each to a retail store. They just came and took four boxes filled with CDs at $60 a box. Once it's gone, I guess I am o.k. with it. At least I have all the songs are stored in my I-Pod. LPs, they were selective so I still have hundreds of LPs left which will go to United Christian Ministry. Many of the LPs, I also was able to load the songs to my I-Pod. Books are another matter. I gave most of it away to a church for their Christmas book sales and also to a library. As I love to read and they are mostly non fictions, I just can't give any more away. This morning I went through a fourth run of selecting more books and selected about a half dozen again but,I still want to bring the rest Florida. I have read them once but my wife says will you read them again? To which I say ah...ah.... She thinks it's my identity associated with the books and she is right on. While I can't get rid of more books, she can't get rid of many dishes, cups etc. She can easily get rid of all the cook books she owned with ease. She did invite few friends and sold them dirt cheap but guess she is bringing the rest to Florida. It's strange since she graduated from entertaining and also mentioned that she will only cook when she feels like it. There is no way she is going to use all those dishes and cups etc. but I am not saying anything. You learn from experience. We also got rid of so many furnitures by selling them for a song or giving them away. I agree here that less clutter, the better. I also noticed that she has so many paintings in her collection. There is no way she can hang all the paintings she has. I jokingly said whether she is going to change art works like museums. I think that's her intent. Again, I am not saying anything. So the rumble continues.

[CFrance]

We used movers. They had a minimum amount that they charged, weight-wise. Which is why we brought our dining room set down even though we have one down here, to see which style fit better. Then we threw in a dresser and some kitchen bar stools. The rest were boxes. After giving away, selling, donating, we still have too much, but at least I know what we can keep after the new dining room buffet arrives and the kitchen people put more cabinets in the dinette area.

Some things I really, really wanted to bring down (mostly dishes and kitchen items, some decorative things) and knew we would be expanding our storage situation. I'm glad I didn't bite the whole bullet and have a bit of our old life down here with us.

[LvmyPug2]

I completely understand how hard it is to tackle years of accumulated "stuff". Kids, nieces/nephews got our family treasures and things that they didn't want helped many people at Goodwill and St Vincent de Paul. I was a bit surprised how some things that I thought would have great importance to family members actually had none. I had a few tears and many laughts...especially when I learned not one family member gave a hoot about an ugly pillow made by my grandmother that I had hung on to (out of a false sense of obligation) for 40 yrs.

Best advice I received was to give away and/or toss old photos. Those I wanted to keep, I took photos of the photos (better than scanning) and I saved them as a digital scrapbook. I eliminated about a dozen boxes of photos this way. Good luck and welcome to TV!

[buzzy]

Congratulations on the sale. (but, I heard about it at Mallory last night)

[vorage]

Keep the things you absolutely love and will use no matter where you are. Seriously edit the rest. We've been snowbirds for several years, but have just sold the place in Oregon. Right now I am sitting at our laptop on a card table in our empty living room. We will spend the next couple nights on the last piece of furniture in the house - sofa bed that Salvation Army will pick up on Friday. We are keeping a storage unit here for holiday and summer trips, so we are able to store some things, but we really edited. Huge Garage Sale. We took all our books to a used book store and what they didn't buy, we donated elsewhere. Family took whatever they wanted and I am grateful that many family items that we enjoyed for so many years have new caretakers that are happy to have their turn at custody. (Thankfully my sister wanted our aunt's smelly old muskrat coat that I had been shuffling around for years! yay!) It's really cathartic to do this kind of purging. There may be things we'll miss, but we can either replace them or visit them in their new home. This time next year, you'll be settled in nicely. Our very best to you both!

[pooh]

Oh, it is indeed stressful, but do recognize that we all survived and you will, too.
We spend time trying to figure out what to bring, where to put it, is this an important item in our lives, should we save this for the kids, etc, etc, etc.
We had movers and before they packed up our stuff, we purged. Many things went to neighbors or family or charity and still we brought lots of stuff. At this point, we have very little of the furniture we moved here. Over 7 years things have changed, we have changed. If you have any doubts about bringing anything, don't bring it. Your new home is different from the one you're in and chances are you will have so many more activities to keep you busy. Why should taking care of more than you need be more important than doing things you might want to do....sports, clubs, volunteering, working if you so desire.

When you arrive, take your time getting set up. Do the kitchen and your master suite. Those rooms are important...you need to eat and you do need to sleep...:). Drive around, meet your neighbors, drive to some of the nearby towns. Realize that you make your own schedule, don't pass on an opportunity to spend time with new friends....have fun! Things will get done, eventually...;). Many of us still have boxes in the attic and one of these days.... :D

[gomoho]

So in 2001 we retired and sold almost everything we owned to travel full time in our motorhome. There are a few things we kept and I still cherish them to this day. There are a few things I didn't keep and wish I had. We have now refurnished from the ground up 3 homes since this experience. Each time there was one thing or the other we kept, but for the most part things were sold with the home. So we are now in The Villages, apparently living as minimalists, because an old friend recently visited and said, "but where is all your stuff"? Mission accomplished.

[Yorio]

As Gracie said, what both of us are going through are real stress. I have coated stint in one of my artery so hope I can survive this stress. However for those future movers who are overweight and never had heart problem, I would say be careful. If you are type A, be careful too. After we signed the contract four weeks ago, we were literally numb for a few days and we were definitely in denial. We knew the clocks were ticking but we didn't know where to start. After the third day, I decided to wake up at 6 instead of 8 and started sort of a schedule until D-day. One thing that helped us was that we had already planned few days at the beach with our son's family. This diversion helped us also in tackling the move when we came back. You may need a diversion if you hadn't planned any. One other lucky event which transpired was that we could put the house on the market as is. Since we thought we needed to paint corridors, take out carpets and stage the house, we were elated. I guess this was possible because the house inventory was very low in our area. Also, now that we are half way through, I do believe the first bite is the best bite. The longer your house is on the market, negotiations become more harder I am told. Since we didn't want to move this quickly, we contemplated not taking the counter offer or after the inspector's visit, to refuse any further improvements. In 20/20 hindsight, we are glad we did compromise. The albatross will eventually be off our necks.

[T-325]

It took me 6 months to downsize by 75%. My poor wife... she was tormented as I threw things out from our 28 years together. Once we closed on the house and moved into an apartment things have settled down quite nicely. We are still 3 - 5 years away from retirement..planning on a LSV in November. Things are great and when we buy in TV it will likely be a bigger space then we are currrently in.

In the rearview mirror... things will be fine

[Dreamer61]

Congrats Yorio! We to are in the last week of decluttering, packing and trying to stay sane through it all. We have been blessed to have many friends help as both our backs strength is almost none. Grace's advice was great as was many others. Thanks everybody! If possible hire help or get family or friends to help. I cannot weed through old photos yet. I have family who is storing them for me until I can. In this last week I've experienced the "are you sure about this" feelings. When they pop up, I quickly dismiss them and redirect my thoughts. It is very reassuring to know that many others have made this same decision and yet turned out to be a good one or as some say the best decision they've made! So hang in there and you'll be enjoying your new life before you know it!!

[Nursebarb1]

Oh, my, I feel your pain. I am in the process of doing the same, although we are taking a little longer to get it done. Closing on the house in TV soon, but "snowbirding" this winter to test the waters.

[mac9]

We moved here 7 years ago. Our rule when selling our house in NJ was the 5 second rule: if you couldn't answer where it would be used within 5 seconds, it went into the trash, donate, or yard sale pile. Haven't regretted a thing that we didn't bring here! It's an exciting time. Do try to enjoy it.

[Lbmb24101]

Yorio

We just went thru the exact same experience ( we sold in 1 day and gave over 15 bags to Goodwill and the Vets)

And still....brought too much stuff here.

But LymyPug, i could not part w my photos, not even if they are digitally saved! Wow, very brave on your part!

[Bavarian]

Do NOT bring more than a couple REALLY fancy outfits. You will still be asked to weddings and funerals, keep that in mind...but if you bring the kind of clothes that you wear out to dinner THERE, people will know you are just off the airplane...here.

You aren't going to cut your grass, so leave the mower behind, but you may need a rake, and a few garden tools, IF you like to garden.

.

You still need formal wear for cruises. On our World Cruise, we had some twenty six formal nights, I just wore my Tux, but my lovely Lady needed different dresses for rotating thru. Need them also for Assembly functions.

Some of us may mow the lawn, but will buy new small mower, I don't need my riding mower.

[getdul981]

Yorio, when we met you on the cruise, I thought you had already moved. Glad to hear you have sold your house and getting moved permanently. We have all gone through it and it's not easy, but you can do it. If you are like most of us, you will get rid of everything you think you can, but once you get here, you find you should have gotten rid of twice as much. We have gotten rid of more stuff since we got here and still need to get rid of more. Good luck and hang in there.

[kittygilchrist]

I had night terrors, palpitations and panic attacks during mortgage fiasco and moving. I did not have a sedative, but I wish I had. It's difficult to organize priorities and execute plans when you are under extreme stress. The body is in fight or flight and the brain is a goner.
Suggest asking md for a sedative, esp with heart condition. Sleeping ok?

[Yorio]

Glad to note from other posts that we are not alone. Every big move has its dilemma. One area I am keenly aware is the relationship with your partner. Whoever is more enthusiastic about moving to TV will be the recipient of a punching back I believe. First of all you should never tell her to do certain things related to the move especially those areas related to clearing stuff. Even a small comment will touch off avalanche of comments. Let her go at her pace. I told her that I feel like being picked on every which way. If her pace is much slower than you, must keep one's mouth shut. Otherwise our new life in TV will be miserable. The whole point of the move is to start a new fun life in TV but if our relations are broken before the move, what's the point. We come this far together so this shouldn't be the straw that broke the camel's back. She is doing her thing going to luncheons with friends for farewells. That's a safety valve. It's home stretch I think but hope it is over soon.

[CFrance]

You still need formal wear for cruises. On our World Cruise, we had some twenty six formal nights, I just wore my Tux, but my lovely Lady needed different dresses for rotating thru. Need them also for Assembly functions.

Some of us may mow the lawn, but will buy new small mower, I don't need my riding mower.

Okay, but if one gets to buy a new mower, the other gets to buy new formal wear. So I'm with Gracie--bring two fancy items down and go shopping for the rest!:pepper2:

[Bavarian]

The problem we have is not having children to leave things to. But we bought a big enough house, we hope, to take the most valuable. Habitat Restore is getting a lot of building supplies, insulations, screws, nails, wood, etc. Giving some to charity and trying to sell some. EBAY a mixed experience. Sold an old helicopter model my Father got in the early '50s when he worked for Piasecki. Latest pieces, one set of oriental candles sold for starting bid of $0.99 cost more to ship. Local website like this has free classified, so advertised some of my parents old bedroom furniture. Some nibbles, or will be donated either thru recommendation of Father at Church or Thrift store.
Still working on basement and attic as we won't have them.
Have not listed house here yet as Realtor said it had to be empty first. So no pressure yet to make the final move.

[Bavarian]

Okay, but if one gets to buy a new mower, the other gets to buy new formal wear. So I'm with Gracie--bring two fancy items down and go shopping for the rest!:pepper2:

If I get a new mower, I would buy electric battery one, probably Neutron.
May keep lawn service though sine then we don't have to worry about landscape when we are away on trips. TBD.

My lovely Lady already plans to take all clothes, especially since Winters are cold in Central Florida.

[Yorio]

Greg. I remember you from the cruise. In fact I went to your old hang out at Pennecamp. Now I know exactly where you were before you left us to St. James. Will touch base again when we finally become a Froggie.

[Yorio]

I just came back from having lunch to say farewell to my friends. I may be a little tipsy but it was a great lunch. Every one drunk and everyone is thinking about becoming a Froggie somewhere. It is sad to leave friends especially our group of ROMEO(retired old men eating out). But, we can't hang on to the past and move on. They said they'll come to TV and I have a place to stay when we return to Virginia again. There are friends who want to keep you here saying you'll regret the move. It's too hot in Florida. You won't have the cosmopolitan life like you have it here. There won't be great restaurants like you have it here. They mean well but one shouldn't be swayed by those comments. Perhaps some of what they say is true but at least I don't have to shovel snow any more or ears hurting when we go out. Don't need too many heavy clothes unless you want to go to Alaska. Less stuff to keep in the closet. Yes, I will miss my friends but I have new friends in TV. We are coming whether you like it or not.

[rubicon]

thrower/hoarder scenario exist in most families > Mine is a saver/hoarder never know when your going to need it type. Plus she was reared in a large family so buying in quantity is a way of life.

We deposited truck load after truck load of stuff. Gave away expensive furniture, etc.

But that's what we are suppose to be doing ....its the liquidation period of our lives. to my wife it is still a tough sale but she is getting better.

One poster stated she shredded a lot of paper. We did too but I used it as packing material when we boxed up our belongings.

One poster said don't get carried away with too much formal wear. Again I kept one suit and two blazers and I have used them sparingly.

The big test for my wife will come this fall when we tackle some of the stuff in the attic that she felt we just needed. My rule if we haven't used it in a year it out the door because as a poster mentioned it is n ot nice to leave that mess for the kids.

[kittygilchrist]

Thanks for an honest post that resonates with so many. I'm breathing a prayer for you today as I really went into a tailspin moving. The good part about being single is that I get to make all the decisions and only myself to argue with, which is also the bad part, there's no one to reason with me. Gave away half my stuff before moving...should have made it 3/4ths.

If I had it to do over I would have brought less of everything, especially furniture. I would bring an air mattress, a card table, a portable chair, two boxes of clothing, a box of shoes, laptop, a few pictures, office file, jewelry, a few tools, and kitchenware.

About your friends, they obviously want to keep you, and they haven't drunk the koolaid as we say, of believing in a better life in TV. Give them your stuff, and if they visit you and decide to live here, maybe they'll bring your stuff and you'll get to see it again.

[Yorio]

Taking a break. I've been religiously waking up at 6 every morning for the last few weeks. If it is hot in the attic, I work until 9 thereabouts without coffee or breakfast. Today it was raining and cool, so worked until 11 before I washed up. I was shredding many years of financial papers and statements and I realized that you can use the shredded papers for packing fragile items. It works quite well. Will find out when we open the stuff in Florida. I've been told to work every day for a set period clearing one area at a time. That seems to work for me. Some people like to spread everything at one time but that could get overwhelming at times. On the move we have decided to leave the stuff in storage here for at least three months minimum. We came to the conclusion that after the move here we want to rest a while at least during the summer before accepting shipments in Florida. Fortunately we have basic furnitures in place so we don't need them immediately. Keeping them in storage is not cheap especially the climate controlled one but it is a trade off with sanity. I asked the mover to split the cost so I know what actual trucking to Florida is then the cost of packing all items and finally the storage cost for three months.

[graciegirl]

Taking a break. I've been religiously waking up at 6 every morning for the last few weeks. If it is hot in the attic, I work until 9 thereabouts without coffee or breakfast. Today it was raining and cool, so worked until 11 before I washed up. I was shredding many years of financial papers and statements and I realized that you can use the shredded papers for packing fragile items. It works quite well. Will find out when we open the stuff in Florida. I've been told to work every day for a set period clearing one area at a time. That seems to work for me. Some people like to spread everything at one time but that could get overwhelming at times. On the move we have decided to leave the stuff in storage here for at least three months minimum. We came to the conclusion that after the move here we want to rest a while at least during the summer before accepting shipments in Florida. Fortunately we have basic furnitures in place so we don't need them immediately. Keeping them in storage is not cheap especially the climate controlled one but it is a trade off with sanity. I asked the mover to split the cost so I know what actual trucking to Florida is then the cost of packing all items and finally the storage cost for three months.

I do so commiserate and understand. It will feel so good when it is over.

[gregntam]

You still need formal wear for cruises. On our World Cruise, we had some twenty six formal nights, I just wore my Tux, but my lovely Lady needed different dresses for rotating thru. Need them also for Assembly functions.

Some of us may mow the lawn, but will buy new small mower, I don't need my riding mower.

Getting ready to mow lawn for last time:MOJE_whot: riding mower sold, for pick up tomorrow! I'm gettin' there slowly but surely!:gc:

[CFrance]

Taking a break. I've been religiously waking up at 6 every morning for the last few weeks. If it is hot in the attic, I work until 9 thereabouts without coffee or breakfast. Today it was raining and cool, so worked until 11 before I washed up. I was shredding many years of financial papers and statements and I realized that you can use the shredded papers for packing fragile items. It works quite well. Will find out when we open the stuff in Florida. I've been told to work every day for a set period clearing one area at a time. That seems to work for me. Some people like to spread everything at one time but that could get overwhelming at times. On the move we have decided to leave the stuff in storage here for at least three months minimum. We came to the conclusion that after the move here we want to rest a while at least during the summer before accepting shipments in Florida. Fortunately we have basic furnitures in place so we don't need them immediately. Keeping them in storage is not cheap especially the climate controlled one but it is a trade off with sanity. I asked the mover to split the cost so I know what actual trucking to Florida is then the cost of packing all items and finally the storage cost for three months.

That is an excellent idea, Yorio, delaying delivery. Another advantage of that is you will not be racing to beat the truck to FL. Sounds like a big job, sorting and packing. Good luck to you!

[LeeM]

I have not visited yet, but I have this gut feeling the Villages is the right place for me. I have already started getting rid of things even though I am not sure when we will move.

For me I just evaluate things and think can someone else use this more than me and enjoy it? I also have sold some things and donated a ton. I am getting ready. If I never move there I will have pared down and made my home that much more clutter free...but I do think I will move there :)

[CFrance]

I have not visited yet, but I have this gut feeling the Villages is the right place for me. I have already started getting rid of things even though I am not sure when we will move.

For me I just evaluate things and think can someone else use this more than me and enjoy it? I also have sold some things and donated a ton. I am getting ready. If I never move there I will have pared down and made my home that much more clutter free...but I do think I will move there :)

:welcome: Hope you visit and find it measures up to your expectations

!

[Yorio]

Taking a break again. After going through so far, here are my comments. We didn't have had to move this quickly. A possibility was to be a snowbird for few more years. Could we have gotten a better price next year? Who is to tell. For me I wished I had made a move when I was little younger. Don't know whether I could do it next year. Off the cuff, 60s would have been a better age to make the move. There is also your partner's readiness and also the situation after 2008. If you are contemplating a move someday, recommend doing something, anything everyday for a few hours setting the stage for the move especially if you are downsizing. Start thinking about meeting few real estate agents. We chose the one who lives in our neighborhood and sells only in our area. It helped that they felt comfortable marketing our house as is without any staging. It will also help if they already have few clients looking around the neighborhood. We resisted weekend open house. Try appointments only at least for a few weeks. Good luck

[Bavarian]

With sequestration and possible RIF's it might be harder to sell house next year. Also interest rates are going up.

We are having hard time packing, now thinking it may be good to rent out house here in SO MD, as might be better investment then cash and stocks.

[graciegirl]

Taking a break again. After going through so far, here are my comments. We didn't have had to move this quickly. A possibility was to be a snowbird for few more years. Could we have gotten a better price next year? Who is to tell. For me I wished I had made a move when I was little younger. Don't know whether I could do it next year. Off the cuff, 60s would have been a better age to make the move. There is also your partner's readiness and also the situation after 2008. If you are contemplating a move someday, recommend doing something, anything everyday for a few hours setting the stage for the move especially if you are downsizing. Start thinking about meeting few real estate agents. We chose the one who lives in our neighborhood and sells only in our area. It helped that they felt comfortable marketing our house as is without any staging. It will also help if they already have few clients looking around the neighborhood. We resisted weekend open house. Try appointments only at least for a few weeks. Good luck

I know you don't see it but now is the best time. We G's are mentally holding both of your hands and will be waiting with a tall cold drink and warm hugs when you arrive. This too will pass.

[frostola]

We have had 3 trips to the Villages and after each visit I cleaned out more closets. This last trip sealed the deal when we realized we could live in Florida in the summer, the weather wasn't as hot as we anticipated.

When I am going through my stuff of 35 years I ask myself "Where will this go in our house in the Villages." Not that we know yet exactly which house we are getting but we have a pretty good idea of the size. After years of saving I finally came to the realization that our kids don't want our stuff so it is much easier to get rid of.

[Dreamer61]

Well, we're down to about a dozen or so boxes that need to be packed in the trailer and truck. I really don't know if its all going to fit. Saying prayers. And we still need to make room for my 80 lb boxer and crate! Then closing here Monday, heading to Florence ,SC for a day then FINALLY heading to our new home in TV on Wednesday. Actually we close on our new home in Santo Domingo on Friday. WHEW!!! I'm so excited and exhausted all wrapped up together. Not sure about DH, he just seems exhausted, poor guy. But I know from what I read here it will all have been worth it!! Thanks everybody for all the very helpful information making this process a little smoother. I'm off to bed for a good night sleep for tomorrow is the final curtain. Where'd that come from...I must be delirious! LOL

[Nursebarb1]

Frostola, I'm right there with ya. Good to read these posts to know I'm not alone. For us, it has been 49 yrs. Want to get rid of "the stuff" for our kids sake.

[Yorio]

Thanks for all the encouraging posts from so many of you. TOTV families are just great. And to those of you who are currently making the move or will shortly be embarking on a move, we will make it through just as those who already made the journey. They did go through the same process. Went for the last delivery of the books to the church. Tomorrow a friend will come to pick up the dining table set and a showcase cabinet. When the room gets empty, I think there is a feeling of liberation I think. Between farewells and work, I don't expect my wife to cook. Yesterday we went to a strip mall Chinese restaurant for a great Peking Duck. We'll miss this place just for the duck. At the end all the customers receives fortune cookies with a check. Mine read "don't panic". How appropriate. We still have to have electrician and handyman to fix few things mentioned by inspector but am told it's not bad. Two more weeks to D-day.

[Schaumburger]

Yorio, I hope your packing and moving go well. You will be croaking before you know it. Congratulations on your impending froghood! :wave:

[travelguy]

I did save almost all of my neckties, and my suits. The suits never go out of style, and I still fit in them really well. I figured that I wear at least one of them each year, so every 5 years I get to start over....lol! It is nice to dress up on our anniversary or New Years Eve, and it is kinda fun to get stared at when we are all decked out in our finery. And then I come home and put shorts and a polo shirt on.

[CFrance]

I did save almost all of my neckties, and my suits. The suits never go out of style, and I still fit in them really well. I figured that I wear at least one of them each year, so every 5 years I get to start over....lol! It is nice to dress up on our anniversary or New Years Eve, and it is kinda fun to get stared at when we are all decked out in our finery. And then I come home and put shorts and a polo shirt on.


That's funny!

[MSG@TV]

We moved here 7 years ago. Our rule when selling our house in NJ was the 5 second rule: if you couldn't answer where it would be used within 5 seconds, it went into the trash, donate, or yard sale pile. Haven't regretted a thing that we didn't bring here! It's an exciting time. Do try to enjoy it.

Love it!!! Wish I knew the rule before we moved. However, since we are decluttering now after having brought way too much, I might employ your rule now.

[Yorio]

Thought I'd make one last post for this thread. We finally closed on the house up north and headed by auto train tomorrow taking two cars with us. What I can say from our experience is that you can finish clearing the house in one month even though with 36 years of accumulation. As I stated before, the advice from our friends were Throw Away, Give Away, and Donate Away. And, you want regret it. One advice we didn't take to heart is when in doubt, get rid of them. We couldn't. So when the stuff arrives in Florida few months from now, we'll have to make decisions one more time. We didn't do it because we didn't want to make rash decision when we are too stressed out and regret we no longer have them afterwards. One question I have for realtor is this. We had a sign that said Under Contract for a long time. I said when can we have a sold sign and I was told that after closing. Very strange, since we have to start the moving process even if the house is not sold per se. I guess we didn't have to be present at the closing but we wanted to. This made us stay at a hotel after moving trucks took our beds though friends told us we could stay with them. We had farewell dinners but didn't wanted to stay at friends. Better be on your own. After the closing I jokingly said now we need a divorce lawyer. That's how tough sometime situation got. Hopefully this experience will make our bond stronger after we have cooled down. Otherwise, what's the point of moving to The Villages. We can now become a marriage/moving therapists. Was heck of a ride. Have to believe it was well worth it eventually. THE END

[CFrance]

Yorio, congratulations!!!! You did the same thing we did, which I talked about in an earlier post--bring some stuff with you and leave some of the decisions for later. Alleviates some of the stress, and like you said, keeps you from making rash decisions. Personally, we have yet to throw out anything we brought down. Although my husband has renamed the garage Bin World.

You accomplished in a month what we took 6 weeks to do--and we had been in our condo only 16 years. Great job!

You will cool down, maybe, on the train! That is so cool that you took the auto train. We drove two cars down from Pittsburgh, one complete with dog, the other with Cockatiel. You look like a happy couple in your screen picture. You only have happier times to look forward to!

[patfla06]

Safe trip and much luck in your new home.

We are with you, understanding the psychological as well as
Physical aspects of a big move.
The longer you are in a home the harder it is.

Just think, in a couple of months the weather will get cooler
And your first Winter you will see why it was worth it! :pepper2:

[herbaru]

Hmm, not the end but THE NEW BEGINNING!
All the best to you and your wife.

Thought I'd make one last post for this thread. We finally closed on the house up north and headed by auto train tomorrow taking two cars with us. What I can say from our experience is that you can finish clearing the house in one month even though with 36 years of accumulation. As I stated before, the advice from our friends were Throw Away, Give Away, and Donate Away. And, you want regret it. One advice we didn't take to heart is when in doubt, get rid of them. We couldn't. So when the stuff arrives in Florida few months from now, we'll have to make decisions one more time. We didn't do it because we didn't want to make rash decision when we are too stressed out and regret we no longer have them afterwards. One question I have for realtor is this. We had a sign that said Under Contract for a long time. I said when can we have a sold sign and I was told that after closing. Very strange, since we have to start the moving process even if the house is not sold per se. I guess we didn't have to be present at the closing but we wanted to. This made us stay at a hotel after moving trucks took our beds though friends told us we could stay with them. We had farewell dinners but didn't wanted to stay at friends. Better be on your own. After the closing I jokingly said now we need a divorce lawyer. That's how tough sometime situation got. Hopefully this experience will make our bond stronger after we have cooled down. Otherwise, what's the point of moving to The Villages. We can now become a marriage/moving therapists. Was heck of a ride. Have to believe it was well worth it eventually. THE END

[Clegrand]

I agree that this impending move has been as psychologically challenging as physically. I have so many "sentimental" pieces that are very hard to part with but my children don't have the room to keep much. (Or maybe they're just telling me that😜😜) I was told by a friend to take pictures of the special items and them let them go to their new home, wherever that may be. I'm trying.....

[striveforhealth]

You can't move chemicals or booze. Throw one out and drink the other.
Don't get them confused.

:1rotfl: