shipping stuff over the sea - what to do in the meantime?

any suggestions on what do for the 3 plus months while the bulk of my things are floating on the Atlantic?

When I moved from the US to the UK 4 years ago, I shipped maybe 3 boxes of clothes and personal items, PC etc and that was it. So I lived in my soon to be husband's flat with whatever I could carry in my suitcase until my stuff arrived - possibly a month or so.

Now we are moving back to the US and it seems like we are taking loads more stuff. Our general plan is to carry the crucial items in our suitcase, and ship what means something to us or toys my husband is worried I won't let him replace. The rest we will buy when we arrive to a brand new empty apartment and wait for our stuff to arrive. It is still expensive though.

Good luck with your move.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'what to do', it is hard to give advice when not knowing what you're shipping and what you'll have when you arrive. 

I brought all my clothing, art supplies, and my laptop on the plane with me. However, our apartment was already fully furnished! I had everything I needed to survive, if not everything I -wanted-.

I'm not sure what you mean either. Do you mean "How do I live without all my stuff?" If so, it's not that tough! I shipped everything I owned over (furniture, etc.), with the exception of one suitcase of clothes. I just lived in a completely empty apartment from the time the movers took my stuff until I left. It was kind of like camping! Friends loaned me a television, a mattress and a couple of chairs, and that's all I had. It was actually fun! 

didn't mean to be vague

I have envisioned the few weeks in an empty house on this end, just not the 3 months of empty flat on that end!

Dishes, pots and pans, bedding, (bed!), something to sit on.  Without friends in the UK to lend me things.  I suppose I'd buy an air mattress, a cup, a pot etc to get by with.  It just seems like that would get old after a few months.

I'm sure that I'd manage, I was just wondering if anyone had a better solution.

thanks!

It shouldn't take 3 months (knock on wood).. our shipment arrived from Japan in 6 weeks.  Our neighbors noticed we'd moved in, though, and offered a whole bunch of stuff right away.  Beds, chairs, rugs, lamps, stereos, cooking stuff.. You might get lucky that way, too!  Otherwise, try your local freecycle for anything you need. 

I have envisioned the few weeks in an empty house on this end, just not the 3 months of empty flat on that end!

Oh, I see what you mean!

But madeira's right - it won't take three months! It shouldn't, anyway. I timed my move so that I arrived just a few days before all my stuff did. That minimised the length of time I was without everything. I had it easier, though, in that I have relatives here, so I had a place to stay. 

Our shipment is only 6-8 weeks.  When I moved here I split the time, so I only had 4 weeks to deal without my stuff.  We are doing the same this time around, not so long to be using one plate and bowl!  Luckily our neighbors are buying a lot of the stuff we are not shipping and they don't need it until we leave.  Hopefully our couch and bed will sell soon and we will only have a few weeks of sitting on the floor and sleeping on an air mattress!

It's not that long, you can deal with it!   

I don't know if you're using a special shipping company or anything (or if that would even make a difference to transit time), but usually shipments going by sea do only take 6 weeks or so. We have sent several items from the UK to the US and vice versa by sea using the post office over the years and nothing has taken more than 6 weeks to arrive, so it definitely shouldn't take 3 months.

So, if you ship your stuff, say 4 or 5 weeks before you move, then you should only have to wait a week or two the other end (in the UK) for them to arrive. You might even be able to time it so that your shipped items arrive in the UK at about the same time as you do .

Ours took a lot longer than expected, not due to the US shippers but the people they contracted out to in the UK side.  We had arranged it so that our shipment was supposed to arrive late October/early November (at latest).  It didn't arrive until December.  So, yeah, you should be prepared for delays even if you are told 6-8 weeks.

Anyway, I can give you some advice that didn't involve an international move.  Several years ago, I moved to another city on short notice.  I could only pack what I could fit in my car and had to wait until 4 months later to pick up the rest of my things.  I look back at "roughing" it as being pretty fun.  I didn't have any money to buy anything, and I knew no one.  But when I did make friends, people were quick to help me out.

If I had to wait for my things here in London in unfurnished accommodation, I would look for the things I could use the easiest even after my things were here.  If you're alone, you can probably make due with a lot less than you think you can.  Air mattresses are an option, but an Ikea fold out couch or futon might be useful even after your things arrive, and probably has a better resale value:

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/categories/rooms/living_room/10663/

Speaking of Ikea, that's where I'd get some cheap eating and cookware as well.

I love those Ikea showrooms where they are like "This entire room furnished for under £300!"  Sure, it's an extra expense, but I bet you could find use for everything you buy even after your things arrive.

ETA:  I'd also sign up for Freecycle once you get here and put out a request for specific things I absolutely needed.

check out freecycle to pick up things to hold you over---then you can always freecycle them to give them a good home when your things arrive.

thanks all ~

this Freecycle sounds great!  I'll cross my fingers for a short wait and kind neighbors