Moving...it's about work and adjustment.

I’ve decided that there are 3 main components to moving: 1) Pre-Move, 2) The Move and 3) Post-Move. None of the three parts are really that fun and they each come with their own adjustment periods and challenges.

During the Pre-Move portion of the moving process, there is a lot of excitement. This excitement builds from the very first moment that one starts to think about moving and dies right before that person starts to pack. This is not to say that the excitement ends at that moment, but rather that the excitement of the moment is completely shadowed by the feeling of being completely and totally overwhelmed. This feeling of being overwhelmed stems, I think, from the amount of things that have to be done before one can actually move. There are final bills to pay, lodging to tie up, friends to say goodbye to, work to finish…and let’s not forget packing. Packing has to be one of the most revealing things that anyone can do. You open boxes that haven’t been opened since the last time you moved. You find things that have no point. Thankfully, this is a perfect time to get rid of all those things that you don’t really need (unfortunately, sometimes you just end up moving all your junk anyway with the intention of going through all that stuff “when you have time”…knowing full well that you will NEVER “have time”).

Thankfully, this stage ends and a new stage of moving begins: The Move. The Move actually is the easiest part of the moving process. It’s comprised of loading the moving van, truck, trailer or friend’s vehicles, some driving and then the unloading of said vehicle. There actually is an art to loading a vehicle well…some people know the art, but most don’t. I like to say I know how to load things in a trailer to maximize space usage and minimize strain on the moving vehicle (and movers, for that matter), but then again, who am I to say what I do or do not know well? If you’re lucky enough to have someone actually move your things, you still get the joy of the drive. Sometimes the drive is just as bad as moving everything by yourself. Food and lodging on the way there, kids to keep entertained, spouses to keep happy…there are many things to think about (plan ahead!).

Eventually, you will arrive at your new place of residence. Once you’ve unloaded everything from the vehicle, the hardest part of the moving process begins: Post-Move. I think this is the hardest part of the moving process simply because there are so many things that you have to adjust to. You may have more or less room at your residence. You may or may not know anyone at your new town. You may or may not have gone through all your junk (hahah) and you may or may not have gotten rid of the stuff you don’t need/want. Let’s assume you’ve gotten everything unpacked. The moving job is over, right? WRONG! You’ll spend the next few months wondering where you unpacked things to. You’ll spend the next few months wondering where the nearest stores are. You’ll spend the next few months trying to make friends.

That alone is probably one of the most difficult parts of the moving process. Who has time to meet people? And, assuming that person really did have the time, who has the desire to put themselves out there for other people to ridicule and talk about behind their back? The ironic thing is, you’re more than likely going to spend time trying to find friends who are exactly like your old friends and, in the end, you’re going to realize that your friends are much more unique than you ever considered them being when you were around them all the time.

I guess with all things, there is a period of time that all people go through when they have to adapt to their surroundings. For some people, this time passes quickly…for others, it takes a bit longer. My only hope is that you are all the quick type.