Moving- it can be liberating!

The movers came yesterday to pack the belongings that we are taking back with us as we start a new life in the US. Surrounding me today is the trappings left over- furniture, appliances, tools, etc, etc. (can you see a garage sale in the future....yes, starting tomorrow morning)

What I've noticed is that I am not pining over the memories, etc. of the stuff, I've actually got a very liberating feeling--- this time next week, I'll be homeless and living out of suitcases and it sounds great!

Of course, on the up side is I get to start out all fresh and new when we cross the pond.

How did you all feel when it came time to sort thru your stuff.....did you mourn,  was it good riddance, what?

I've been getting rid of things slowly over the past few months, and everytime I take another bag or box away, the house feels lighter, fresher and FREE! I am also amazed at how quickly I completely forget what is in a box or bag once I have packed it up. I am loving this experience!

Godd luck with your move!

packing and living out of a suitcase for a week til I am in Leeds. I feel so great about it!! It's amazing how  much you keep when you really don't need it  I have thrown out so much stuff. I know that what's left in storage will be what I want to keep, but I'm sure i'll throw more out if I move back. Til then, I am so ready for this move and so excited - I totally agree

When I was making the move across the pond, getting rid of my stuff was difficult because I'm NOT a packrat or hoarder.  Everything I keep has importance or is something I use regularly.  Having just been back to the US and nosing around what's left in my storage unit, I had a lot of stuff I could've given away or just not bothered packing (like cleaning supplies and paper goods).  But at the time I packed, I wasn't sure I'd be in the UK permanently so I packed it all.  Seeing my stuff made me want to move the rest of it here ASAP. 

It was Good Riddance.  I've never been a packrat or hoarder.  I'm a fish or cut bait sort.  Still am.  I regularly take anything I don't use to charity. 

Fast and light - it's the only way to travel!

I was very happy to sell off/give away lots of our stuff.  Sadly, I think we could have done better if I'd had my act a bit more together and started the process sooner.

However, we filled a 40 ft. container.  Would you believe that my husband is a bigger pack rat than me?  I have things that I'm very sentimental about but hubby has even more!  We pulled down boxes from the loft and he still has his little plastic desk organizer things from his childhood room !  All his school papers, including an essay about his favourite pencil that he wrote when he was seven!  It's a priceless piece of work that just can't be discarded.

Then there was the little collection of old, Victorian bottles that we dug up from our garden when we purchased a bit of the field from our neighbor to erect the fence.  Can't part with those!

So we're kind of 50/50 about it.  It felt so good off-loading the stuff that we're not sentimental about.  But other things, we just cannot part with.

Just a quick report- it seems garage sales here can pay off.....and quick!! The bulk of the stuff (all the furniture and electrical goods) were gone by 11 am!! Only odd bits and bobs and most of it can go to the charity shop afterwards.  Early bird catches the worm, eh? :d

Now I'm totally liberated and a few bob richer!!

I wish you still had your car for sale!  I need one!!

At first I sort of dreaded getting rid of things and upsetting the balance which is my home.  But now that I'm starting to do it, sorting through boxes and corners of the house, selling stuff on eBay, making a garage sale pile, etc., I'm starting to also feel the lightness.  It's amazing what I've hung on to over the last four+ years!  I left my ex in September of 2000 so I did a major slim down then and only took what meant the most to me.  Now I just have to do the slim down from what I've accumulated over the past few years. 

It's not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be, and it really is a good feeling to think that I will be starting fresh and new.  Don't get me wrong, I'm still hauling a ton of stuff over the ocean with me, but I will leave the dead weight behind and only take those things I can't live without.

My tiny little Brownie hat will be one of those things....yep, I'm a sentamentalist as well. 

~Liza

Kristi- I DO still have a car for sale, hon......just a different one (better). PM me if you are interested!!

Liza- I know what you mean about being sentimental- I am moving my daughter's and my GS stuff and even still have her drill captain uniform, but other than that, I'm liberated! I just sold a 5'x7' rug for 50p!! lol Went to a good person down the road tho

Just a quick report- it seems garage sales here can pay off.....and quick!!

Did you do an actual American-style garage sale, or a car-boot sale?

I took advantage of my location- busy road, etc. to advertise an american -style garage sale......at my home. Most had NO trouble riffling thru my stuff or going into my house (as that were alot of the furniture was located). I do have a double length garage so was ideal and overall..........a rousing success!!!!!

Anyone need a good computer desk tho?? (it seems to be too big for most). Outside of a 5 drawer chest of drawers and a DVD surround system, we are good to go!

Well done, GrnEyes! 

I am glad everything went so well Sherry! It is a good feeling isn't it

I am a sentimentalist, but for me, once you have lost people and pets in your life, I find the rest is mostly just "stuff". I am keeping bits that would be nice to pass onto a child one day and things I have from my Mum, but the rest can all go.

I was upset about moving back to the US until I started packing. Once I started on the nitty gritty practical things, something switched in my head. I was more like "lets just get this over with", and allowed myself to be excited about it all - perhaps keeping myself busy with the packing made it less possible for me to THINK!