In between bites of deli-procured egg and cheese sandwich (extra cheese, please), I sat down to write a quick post. We got the news that at some point this week we’ll be given permission to head back up to our apartment and so I’ve been scurrying about making tiny improvements before we haul all of our worldly possessions back upstairs. I have paint streaks in my hair and dust under my fingernails. I’ve had maybe too many cups of coffee.
As I thought about what I wanted to write, I remembered that, but of course, I remain very much myself and I’ve already written about most of these things.
So, while I continue to run around like a chicken with my head cut-off and scrape bits of errant paint from every surface, here’s a rose and a few past posts for getting in the home-improvement spirit:
White paint, here, there and everywhere.
Painting furniture. (Old dresser, new tricks.)
Note to self. (Will be ignoring at my peril.)
What about you guys? Moving rituals I should add to my repertoire?
11 Comments
I re-read your book often; especially when earthly possessions seem to be stealing time away from more important pursuits – such as getting lost in a book or spending hours placing stickers into books and reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear (an earthly possession that has earned it’s place a millions times over). As such, when we moved I did some RMTL approved tasks; opened the windows, scrubbed everything, and placed flowers on the table. In addition, I set up a canvas bag in each closet (they’re aren’t many) and every month I gather what’s collected and recycle, re-home, donate, etc. Having a designated home for items that no longer need stay with us is very helpful. In addition, moving is always a reason for a bottle of wine and new candles – lavender scented beeswax. Cheers!
Ask your mom to help. She’ll make your bed for you.
Moving tomorrow, so these are good reminders. The details are a bit different: we’re moving into a bigger house (by happenstance, rather than because we want/need it), and we need to make some big purchases nearly immediately (lawn mower, washing machine), and this is the first time we’re moving with a fair bit of disposable income to play with. All of this on top of the move not really being our choice, I’m ready to throw money at solutions. Like you mentioned in other posts, though, I always feel better when I wait, take some space to breathe, and make decisions from a non-anxious frame of mind. Hopefully snagging a free grill from friends, which will bring a little more pleasure to the whole shebang.
Do you have any recommendations for cleaning radiators? I recently moved into my first apartment with radiators and they are calling out for a good cleaning.
Post forthcoming!
A moving ritual that I have recently been thinking about is saying goodbye. Even if you have only been somewhere a little while and did not necessarily love it, the simple act of taking a moment to say good-bye to a space can be essential to taking in the emotion of what is happening. It may sound silly, but I even find this helpful when leaving a hotel room, guest house, airplane seat, etc š It can feel heavy and big to be leaving a place – so I find it soul-settling to give thanks for a place and give it a proper good-bye. After a proper good-bye, it can be easier to say “hello” and celebrate a new space or even a return home! Best to you during this time! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this blog!
If you still have the time do plurge in having someone professionally cleaning and apllying wax and buffing (are those the terms in English?) your floors.
It will be the perfect fresh start and it is what made all the difference in spaces I’ve been. When will you have the apartment empty again right?
Oh would love to! Splurged instead on a new bathroom mirror and light! Hallelujah!
Sounds wonderful too :)!
On our latest move, we also moved from an upstairs apartment to the apartment right below it.
I had the keys to the new apartment, but not the manpower to move things until a few days later.
So I just went downstairs and scrubbed all the window frames well into the night. The previous tenant had left the place pretty clean, but the crevices of old windows still held some mold and condensation debris that I knew I wouldn’t get around to doing in the rush of the move. Then I brought a few houseplants over, obviously. Only one woman was moving houseplants at 3 AM down the narrow straicase of an old Dutch house.
Good luck with the move today, Erin!
Yes indeed! Have spent so many late nights in this empty space polishing the crevices!
Comments are moderated.