Thought for the day - November 13, 2000

Subject: Thought for the day - November 13, 2000
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 12:29 AM

Stepping in for the week, since PeterT still has been too swamped to do the week day ones.

Our youngest daughter, Rue, and Rog and I have been sorting through our 4 bedroom, 2 level house in preparation for our moving in with her into a wee home she just bought. Most of our stuff will be put in storage for a few months.

Each day has been an assault on our own Mount Everest. We set up base camps around the basement, piles of supplies here and there, debris left over piled high, cast-offs in another pile, all of which will have to be hauled up the first ascent...the 18 stairs to the door leading out into the garage.

On Sunday, she and I sorted and moved piles, clearing a large space of the basement floor to be steamed cleaned. Several of the cats who are denizens of the "deep" skedaddled upstairs, finding a roost here, a safe hole there, most hiding their heads, pretending to be modicums of calm, while I know they are secretly all aquiver with anticipation and apprehension.

Tomorrow, Ms. Kelpie will speak as a veteran of many moves; she of the black streaked with gold, little Egyptian "Bastet" of mine.

If you all would like or do not mind, she will be followed by those of varying degrees of experience, giving you just a little daily glimpse into what this week holds for us all.

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 13, 2000
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 03:26 AM

I, for one, will be glad to listen. It's exciting to move the big important stuff- to see it melting from the old and accumulating in the new. But I don't like the last boxes of 'Miscellaneous'- there are always so many of them and I can never find a place for them and I always feel like chucking them out and yet I know those are the things I will use every day.

So as long as I don't have to find a place for them, I'll be happy to hear about your travails and triumphs!

Eb

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 13, 2000
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 03:45 AM

I've found the secret of happy stress-free moving (well, less unhappy and stressful, anyway): keep your old house and live in two places. If we can just persuade the kids they can afford to run the old house, we'll move out completely!

Steve

P.S. Look forward to Mrs K's views.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 13, 2000
From: Morticia
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 01:01 PM

You know our thoughts are with you as you come across stuff and say "Oh, so that's where it was!"," Jeez, I was sure I'd returned this years ago" and the ever-popular "What the Hell was I thinking, buying that?".As a time-served veteran of approximately twenty major house moves ( maybe more, I lost count eventually) I will follow this week with interest and not inconsiderable gratitude that it isn't me.

Subject: Moving tips
From: Allan C.
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 02:14 PM

I lost count of my moves sometime after the number exceeded twenty. The majority of them involved leaving behind not only familiar places, but also friends. It is difficult to explain, but the moves from one part of town to another part of the same town were quite nearly as difficult. I have also helped countless friends with their moves. There are some things I have learned:

Always remember that breakables will break, whether the trip is around the block or across the oceans, if they aren't properly packed.

There is no such thing as too many labels to a box. If you feel like listing every single item within, then do so! Use colored markers - not pencils or pens. Almost as important is to write in large lettering (a different color than the contents list if possible) the name of the room in which the box should be placed in the NEW HOME. This is very helpful to those who might be helping you to tote the boxes. (You are the only one who gives a hoot where the stuff used to be when it was in your old home.) Oh, and write the room designation on at least three sides of each box.

If you have a crew of friends to help you, NON-alcoholic beverages should be available at all times during the time the truck is being loaded, etc.. As the stuff is being unloaded, it is okay to break out the beer or whatever.

Your friends who are helping you to move are doing the work out of friendship. They don't expect a whole lot in return except perhaps a return of the favor if they should call upon you to do so. Liquid refreshments and a pizza or two is standard payment.

I have to share a story here. Two weeks after some friends had helped another friend to move, they received an invitation to a thankyou dinner. The friends had driven nearly a hundred miles (one way) to come to the aid of the one who was moving. Now the movee was asking them to drive another hundred miles in order to be thanked. Sadly, the one offering the thanks was never able to understand the ridiculousness of her gesture. -- The lesson? Thank your movers then and there. 'Nuff said.

When you and your stuff and your crew arrive at the new home, stop and give them all a tour of the place before anyone unloads anything. This way, everyone will know what is meant by the "Bedroom #2" you wrote on the side of the box.

The larger moving companies sell boxes. They have boxes for every known use. But they aren't cheap. The thing to know is that they will also sell you USED boxes at a much better price if you are savvy enough to ask.

The boxes in which liquor or wine bottles are shipped are excellent for packing small breakables. The grid of cardboard dividers are great! Some beer cases are good for this too. Check with your local liquor store or convenience store to see if some can be set aside for you.

The boxes in which xerographic paper is shipped are perfect for hundreds of other things. They are big enough to hold most stuff. The best part is that you can only fit just so many books in them and thus avoid having boxes you can't possibly tote.

Egg boxes are good too. I am talking about the cardboard ones that hold dozens of cartons of eggs. The boxes are sturdy enough for relatively light but bulky loads like pillows and linens. Besides, most of them have handholds built in.

If the truck you rent comes with a ramp, making the best possible use of it can save a lot of wear and tear on those who are loading or unloading. Wherever possible avoid using stairs. Even one stair can be terribly tiring and can also increase the possibility of stumbling and dropping things.

If the truck rental place offers blankets, get them. They usually cost only a couple of dollars for a dozen. Get more than you think you need.

Have some rope handy. You may need it to tie some items in place within the truck to keep the load from shifting.

Don't pack all of your tools. At minimum, keep an extra marking pen, a claw-hammer, some pliers, an adjustable wrench, a phillips screwdriver and a straight-blade scredriver where you can find them. They always seem to come in handy.

Gosh, there are so many other tips to share! These few should be of some help to most movers.

Good luck, kat. I wish I could be there to help.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 13, 2000
From: JenEllen
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 03:00 PM

Perfect Allan!

Of course, I have to speak for the wee ones. If at all possible, leave them to move last of all. If you can have the house set and somewhat unpacked when you move tham in, you'll have musch less adjustment troubles. And it also virtually eliminates the escapees that run out of the door left open while you are unloading the truck...

Best of luck to you, and a happy new home!!

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 13, 2000
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 03:42 PM

Sounds like the best plan of all would involve bringing Allan in to supervise and giving him a hot dog and a beer just before he leaves. He'll get touchy if you expect him to come back for dinner.
My poor kitties racked up more frequent flier miles than most humans in my moving days. Total trauma for all concerned. Hang in there Kat. This too shall pass.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 13, 2000
From: Allan C.
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 04:48 PM

You had better believe that if the airfare weren't somewhat prohibitive, I'd be there. One thing to remember, kat, is that they also serve who stand and direct. This is especially important when unloading furniture. Does the small, black chest of drawers go in Bedroom #1? Oh, in the kitchen? Gosh, I had never thought of putting the spices in one of those. Nice idea. Now, what about that...uh...What the hell is that? A cat tower?!! What do they...Nevermind. Where do you want it?

In my opinion the two most common mistakes in packing are:

failure to reinforce the bottom of a box by retaping.

failure to protect items from shock from below. By this, I mean that people pour those foam peanuts or wads of newspaper all over an item once it is in the box but fail to have put any cushioning beneath the item.

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 13, 2000
From: Dave Swan
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 05:04 PM

Allan,

You and I could have some fun moving. Obviously you've thought about what can sometimes be a pleasant job if one is prepared. Two items I keep handy are a good tape gun for boxes, et al, and a tape measure to make sure that doorway is really wide enough, plus knuckle room.

My brother and I agreed years ago that he who is the movee will walk backward and/or downhill under any load.

Now I've got this piano.....

Subject: RE: Thought for the day - November 13, 2000
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 03:28 AM

Boxes of wine beer or spirits is a good idea -- after you got rid of the contents, your perspective on the move is much improved!