After almost two months apart, yesterday we were reunited with our household goods!
The packing process was so easy (eerily easy – I just sat there and watched the movers put all my stuff in boxes. Bam! Done!) that I feared the unpacking process would be horrible. We got a call a few days back that the movers would come by and drop everything off on Monday. It worked out perfectly since Stephen had the day off. Around 9 am yesterday, the truck rolled up.
After a few happy dances, it was time to get serious. The movers took care of opening all the crates (when you move overseas, they put all your boxes into giant crates before sending it across the ocean) and carrying the boxes into our house. They’d call out the number on the box, which I checked off my little listy to note that it was accounted for. Then we’d tell them which room we wanted the box taken to.
Seems easy. And it mostly was. Except for the fact that in some cases, we weren’t sure where the box should go. Books? Stephen said upstairs. I said downstairs. A box labeled “bed” on our inventory sheet went upstairs to our bedroom. Then we realized it wasn’t really the bed, and Stephen had to carry it back downstairs.
After two hours of work time, the movers were done and off to their next job. We were left with piles and piles of boxes.
Ahhh! Where to start?! I requested that we build our bed first. (I really did not want to sleep on the Army-supplied bed anymore.) So we gots-a-building.
Stephen did a fantastic job of putting it together, and I happen to think that I made a solid assistant. I was a little scared to get on the bed. (Could something we built actually hold our body weight?) All that worry for nothing. The bed is heavenly! As we were laying in it last night, I told Stephen, “It feels like a pillow.” I know that’s not a particularly good metaphor, but it’s just so darn soft, like a pillow!
Best night’s sleep in months!
For the next phase of the unpacking process, we had a divide and conqure approach. Stephen built an Ikea bookshelf and tv stand, while I unpacked our 7, yes 7!, kitchen boxes. The mover saw how many kitchen boxes we had and asked how many kids we had. Upon hearing that we had none, he told Stephen, “Oh. Your wife must really love to cook.” Ha. Turns out, we just have a ton of stuff. Too much!
How many mugs does one couple need? I think we have about 60. And we don’t even drink coffee! Other things we have too many of: tupperware containers, cups, bowls, and spices.
After spending the last 2 months with only 5 plates, I realize that I really don’t need 8. In fact, I really don’t need nearly as much stuff as I once thought. Sure, some things I am ecstatic to be reunited with (my vitamix, our crockpot, out couches), but I just don’t need nearly as much stuff as I have. I don’t need it. I can live with less. In fact, I prefer having less, living in a less cluttered house, keeping things simple.
There’s still a ton of work to do. (Boxes, packing paper, and belongings are strewn everywhere! I haven’t even touched the boxes that have my clothes yet.) And go figure, we’ve invited people over for a party on Friday. I guess that makes Friday the unpacking deadline! Better get back to work!
Any tips to make unpacking less sucky? Do you have too much stuff? Is this an American thing or an Amy thing?*
Ack!! Just reading about this makes me all nervous and jerky for our impending move. You’re right, the packing part is easy…when all you have to do is sit there….but, unpacking? Sheesh. That’s a nightmare. It’s amazing how much junk you can accumulate over time. Every time we move, I declutter like mad (I’m taking my third trip to the thrift store to deposit more donations today!) and then when I unpack on the other side, I wonder why I kept half the junk I decided to keep. We really do need less than we think. It’s just really hard making the final decision to get rid of it.
I hope you get your house unpacked and settled quickly. On the bright side, it’s a great workout. When we moved into our three level townhouse, I walked up and down the stairs so many times, my legs felt like they had run a marathon, or two. It’ll be such a nice feeling when you’re unpacked and your house more homey.
Hanging out in the cluttered rooms of my house makes ME all nervous and jerky! I hate, hate, hate having a junked up place. Ack.*
Yay for having a comfy bed again! I have way too much stuff, which is why I’m putting off moving!
Haha! If I hadn’t moved, I probably would have ended up on an episode of Hoarders!*
60 mugs?! Were you worried there’d be a mug shortage throughout the world? Do you need an intervention? haha so funny/quirky
It’s okay because we have a bazillion bowls in all different sizes and colors. It’s America… you can’t buy (or cook for!) small numbers.
When I moved two years ago, my secret was only unpacking things that had a place and/or I knew for sure I would need and use. Other stuff stayed in boxes and eventually I realized I didn’t need those items at all. Best part was that stuff was already packed in boxes so super easy to drop off for donation!
I hope the unpacking fairy visits you tonite! If not, I wish you speedy unpacking and lots of chocolate (or chips and salsa in your case?)
The mugs and spices are ridiculous! I keep trying to tell Stephen that we need to ditch some of them, but he is so sentimental and hates to ditch things that have memories associated with them. (I should have pitched more stuff when I was Stateside; he’d never have known!)*
Butting in to say…..if you’re the non sentimental one (ahem, like me) you have to be brutal and ditch things when no one is around. And then, when they say, ‘hey alison (or mom) where’s my _________?’ You just say, “hmm, I’m not sure; it’s probably around here some where” and then walk away. I do it all the time.
Funny you say this as my bathroom scale has been “misplaced”….
Yay for all of your belongings finally arriving!!! I very much relate to having too much stuff. I’m on a mission in general to get rid of excess stuff and clutter at home and in my office. What makes it tough is that my husband and my parents are all packrats – so we’ve got some competing forces at play! But it really does feel good to donate excess items! And what I do like about unpacking is that it gives me the opportunity to set up an organized system for where to keep things (which would never otherwise happen). =D
My husband is the same way! It’s a battle between me being cutthroat and wanting to pitch everything and him wanting to save everything! We have so much stuff, so you can guess who usually gives in. ME!*
Ugh, moving sucks. The worst is that I have boxes that have made 3 moves and never been unpacked. CLEARLY, I do not need this junk. And yet, I continue to move it. Sigh.
This is my fear! Some of the items have already been selected to stay permanently in their boxes, which makes me think we should just pitch them now instead of schlepping them through all our imminent moves.*
My moving mantra is just “GO, GO, GO!!” I don’t stop till I’m done! I usually start with books and DVDs because I have a ton of both. They’re easy to put away because all I have to do is alphabetize them. Before I know it, I’ve knocked out a dozen boxes and bags and I feel better about life! And blasting good music never hurts
Great advice! Music for sure makes unpacking better! As for going until I’m done, by the fact that I’m responding to blog comments right now instead of unpacking, you can see that I’m failing at that one. Maybe tomorrow I’ll be a slave driver and just force myself to do until I can do no more.*
Our stuff was all packed up on Thursday and the estimated date of arrival in Colorado Springs is the end of November. I remember when we got to Germany we didn’t have anything for a good 3 weeks and it sucked! Have fun unpacking
It’s so miserable not having your stuff! It just doesn’t feel like home. Hopefully there is stuff you can use when you get to Colorado sans your belongings.*
Hahaha must of been bitter sweet getting your stuff, glad it found its way back to you though!
Yeah, we were ecstatic when the truck arrived, but now there is so much darn work to do!*
Glad you are reunited. One of our besties has had to do this moving to and from Hawaii with her Navy husband. I couldn’t imagine not having my stuff for that long! Confused by the bed though – y’all took apart your bed, boxed it up and shipped it? Good luck getting everything ready for Friday!! At least you won’t have any time to be bored??
We bought the bed from Ikea in Frisco back in July when Stephen was home. (In fact, we bought 6 different pieces of furniture from Ikea.) Instead of assembling it in Texas, we just left it all boxed up. That means we are now assembling furniture like cray-cray. It seemed like a good idea at the time!*
First of all…YAY for getting your stuff. I bet you are freaking ecstatic! I know I will be when we are also reunited with our things (mostly our bed oh my)…hopefully next week?! Anyways, when we moved to GA and I began the unpacking process I realized how many things we did not need at that point, and as I unpacked immediately made a “donation” box. That way I wouldn’t have to go through this process again in a few years when we move again. In my opinion, It’s easier to clean shop as you are putting it in away. Plus, you are going to accumulate stuff from germany too so, it’s okay to purge a little! Happy un-packing!!
Do y’all not have your stuff because you’re waiting to move into your new house? Please tell me it doesn’t take that long to get belongings for moves within the continental US. I’ll go crazy if I have to be without my stuff for two months every time I move!*
Erm, I’m still unpacking from March. I always mean to deal with it, but then I don’t. The donation box is a really good idea. If I wasn’t such a hoarder, that would have made things much easier.
Haha! You have an adorable excuse to blame your lack of unpacking on!*
Oh the joy of moving! I’ve moved overseas a couple of times and it is always a mess so I feel for you. I read through some of your older posts and read that you miss US television. I did too, but I found a website where you can sign up and then you can watch Netflix and Hulu again in Europe. It’s called playmo.tv and I just thought I’d pass along the info. Good luck unpacking!
So now the question is, will you keep all that kitchen stuff now that you realized you don’t need it? Man, I would love to come over there and throw stuff out for you. I’m a compulsive thrower-outter/Goodwill go-er. It’s in my nature!
For now it’s all being kept (as per the husband’s wishes), but I don’t think nearly all this stuff will be making the trip back across the ocean when we move outta here.*