Photo by Ian Britton, http://www.freefoto.com
We’ve reached the point where it feels like our lives have become The Move, and nothing but The Move. My husband and I look at each other some nights — over the umpteenth box of files, or across the dim reaches of our much too vast cellar, or while pushing yet another piece of furniture to the door for a friend who wants or needs it — and say, “Could this possibly be worth it?”
But there are some benefits, even now, to such a big move. And one of them is that I’m forced to confront all those luxuries I’ve been saving for a rainy day: The linen tablecloth I put away for the right occasion, the china bowls stowed for safekeeping, the velvet jacket that I hardly wore for fear of spoiling it.
Such a waste!
But no more. These days we are burning the candle at both ends — quite literally. I have some floating candles that David gave me years ago, saved in a basket for some special, yet-to-be-determined day. This weekend I finally realized the special day is now. And so we lit them at dinner and floated them in a glass bowl… and Sweetpea’s eyes sparkled, and we talked about light and dark and water and fire and why some things sink and some things float.
I’ll remember it always.
So here’s to burning the candle at both ends. Wear the velvet, lay out that tablecloth, eat your breakfast from those precious china bowls.
The special day is now.
Alchemy Pie 
You’re so right — I often wonder what I’m “saving” a lot of my stuff for.
Even though we’re not going anywhere, I often look around and dread someday having to go through everything, and pack it, or donate it, or throw it away.
For you, it must be a great feeling to “purge” your possessions, and reassess everything.
I don’t think we ever would have done such a massive clean-out if we hadn’t been moving overseas. It’s even more exhausting than we expected. But that said, it’s wonderful to keep and use what matters most to us, and let the rest go.
You’re so right — I often wonder what I’m “saving” a lot of my stuff for.
Even though we’re not going anywhere, I often look around and dread someday having to go through everything, and pack it, or donate it, or throw it away.
For you, it must be a great feeling to “purge” your possessions, and reassess everything.
I don’t think we ever would have done such a massive clean-out if we hadn’t been moving overseas. It’s even more exhausting than we expected. But that said, it’s wonderful to keep and use what matters most to us, and let the rest go.
You’re so right — I often wonder what I’m “saving” a lot of my stuff for.
Even though we’re not going anywhere, I often look around and dread someday having to go through everything, and pack it, or donate it, or throw it away.
For you, it must be a great feeling to “purge” your possessions, and reassess everything.
I’m happy to think of you burning the candles and eating cereal from china bowls in a velvet jacket.
I’ve had the task, in several spurts, to sort through my friend Pat’s old clothes and there was one green sparkly dress I know she never wore. While I’ve found places for other things, that’s one of the items I have set aside not knowing what to do with: as I guess she didn’t either. It made me sad at first that she never wore a dress she loved, but I’ve come to feel that’s just part of who she was. Still, somehow, if she could only hear your advice…
I think we’ve been pretty good about not collecting/holding onto TOO many things since we helped clean out my in-laws’ house, but the idea of moving still scares me. Our house isn’t that big, but the rental we moved out of 15 years ago was 600 square feet, and we managed that move with friends and trucks. Never again!
Good luck–you’ll be so happy when it’s done.
Thanks so much for the good wishes, Becky. We had a similar move 11 years ago, but since then we’ve stayed put (and nearly filled up that big cellar — uumpphh!). I hope we’ll be more abstemious in the new house!
Oh, Jeannine, what a hard job that must be. Sending gentle hugs.
Just going through my own things can be enough to weigh me down — they’re so charged with memories, and not all of them are good. But finding a new home for a lamp or a dress or a picture frame does bring comfort. And wearing the velvet and using the china does, too. (Really, what was I waiting for?)
I’m happy to think of you burning the candles and eating cereal from china bowls in a velvet jacket.
I’ve had the task, in several spurts, to sort through my friend Pat’s old clothes and there was one green sparkly dress I know she never wore. While I’ve found places for other things, that’s one of the items I have set aside not knowing what to do with: as I guess she didn’t either. It made me sad at first that she never wore a dress she loved, but I’ve come to feel that’s just part of who she was. Still, somehow, if she could only hear your advice…
I think we’ve been pretty good about not collecting/holding onto TOO many things since we helped clean out my in-laws’ house, but the idea of moving still scares me. Our house isn’t that big, but the rental we moved out of 15 years ago was 600 square feet, and we managed that move with friends and trucks. Never again!
Good luck–you’ll be so happy when it’s done.
Thanks so much for the good wishes, Becky. We had a similar move 11 years ago, but since then we’ve stayed put (and nearly filled up that big cellar — uumpphh!). I hope we’ll be more abstemious in the new house!
Oh, Jeannine, what a hard job that must be. Sending gentle hugs.
Just going through my own things can be enough to weigh me down — they’re so charged with memories, and not all of them are good. But finding a new home for a lamp or a dress or a picture frame does bring comfort. And wearing the velvet and using the china does, too. (Really, what was I waiting for?)
I’m happy to think of you burning the candles and eating cereal from china bowls in a velvet jacket.
I’ve had the task, in several spurts, to sort through my friend Pat’s old clothes and there was one green sparkly dress I know she never wore. While I’ve found places for other things, that’s one of the items I have set aside not knowing what to do with: as I guess she didn’t either. It made me sad at first that she never wore a dress she loved, but I’ve come to feel that’s just part of who she was. Still, somehow, if she could only hear your advice…
I think we’ve been pretty good about not collecting/holding onto TOO many things since we helped clean out my in-laws’ house, but the idea of moving still scares me. Our house isn’t that big, but the rental we moved out of 15 years ago was 600 square feet, and we managed that move with friends and trucks. Never again!
Good luck–you’ll be so happy when it’s done.
Oh, Jeannine, what a hard job that must be. Sending gentle hugs.
Just going through my own things can be enough to weigh me down — they’re so charged with memories, and not all of them are good. But finding a new home for a lamp or a dress or a picture frame does bring comfort. And wearing the velvet and using the china does, too. (Really, what was I waiting for?)
I’ve been thinking of you, Amy, and what fun to picture you and David and Sweetpea finding and enjoying your treasures.
Thinking of you, too, Lorraine. I hope the school applications and trip preparations are going well — and your writing, too! 🙂
I’ve been thinking of you, Amy, and what fun to picture you and David and Sweetpea finding and enjoying your treasures.
Thinking of you, too, Lorraine. I hope the school applications and trip preparations are going well — and your writing, too! 🙂
Oh, thanks for that! And may this move continue to reveal all that is most important to you.
What a lovely wish. Thank you, Joyce.
Oh, thanks for that! And may this move continue to reveal all that is most important to you.
What a lovely wish. Thank you, Joyce.
How beautiful, Amy.
Thank you, Cindy. Wishing you safe travels as you begin your spring marathon! And here’s hoping that someday you’ll have another school visit in the UK, where I will shower you with scones and Chelsea buns and tea. 🙂
How beautiful, Amy.
Thank you, Cindy. Wishing you safe travels as you begin your spring marathon! And here’s hoping that someday you’ll have another school visit in the UK, where I will shower you with scones and Chelsea buns and tea. 🙂
That was beautiful!
I hope the move goes smoothly and you grow to love your new home. Moving is hard.
I got Living Large in a Smaller Space and have begun to read it. I have a huge house and a lot of stuff and need to cut back on things before I get a chance to move…
Thanks so much for those good thoughts, Patty. I hope you find the book as useful as I have — the authors have great practical advice, but they also do a good job tackling the emotions involved in letting go of our stuff.
I just got another book on the same subject from the library — Throw Out Fifty Things, by Gail Blanke. It also looks good, though it’s not as thorough as the other one.
I also like Julie Morgenstern: When Organizing Isn’t Enough: SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life. Her first book, Organizing From The Inside Out, really helped me. It is based on what you love, not what you should throw out.
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll have to go find Morgenstern’s books.
That was beautiful!
I hope the move goes smoothly and you grow to love your new home. Moving is hard.
I got Living Large in a Smaller Space and have begun to read it. I have a huge house and a lot of stuff and need to cut back on things before I get a chance to move…
Thanks so much for those good thoughts, Patty. I hope you find the book as useful as I have — the authors have great practical advice, but they also do a good job tackling the emotions involved in letting go of our stuff.
I just got another book on the same subject from the library — Throw Out Fifty Things, by Gail Blanke. It also looks good, though it’s not as thorough as the other one.
I also like Julie Morgenstern: When Organizing Isn’t Enough: SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life. Her first book, Organizing From The Inside Out, really helped me. It is based on what you love, not what you should throw out.
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll have to go find Morgenstern’s books.
Thanks so much for those good thoughts, Patty. I hope you find the book as useful as I have — the authors have great practical advice, but they also do a good job tackling the emotions involved in letting go of our stuff.
I just got another book on the same subject from the library — Throw Out Fifty Things, by Gail Blanke. It also looks good, though it’s not as thorough as the other one.
Amy dear, that was lovely. Today Goose was doing something, I wish I could remember what, and said, “Lovely! Pretty!” I love the idea of your lives having a higher L.P-to-schlock ratio. I just wish we were there enjoying with you. And, I never saw your cellar! bizarrely, this seems a shame. I’m going to miss knowing where to picture you. You’ll have to take many a photo.
You never saw the cellar?!? What a shame, because you would love it. It comes complete with shelves for canning and a secret root cellar (which was possibly a Prohibition-era wine cellar).
We’re going to miss living here. But yes, there will be lots of pics in and around the new place… xoxo
Amy dear, that was lovely. Today Goose was doing something, I wish I could remember what, and said, “Lovely! Pretty!” I love the idea of your lives having a higher L.P-to-schlock ratio. I just wish we were there enjoying with you. And, I never saw your cellar! bizarrely, this seems a shame. I’m going to miss knowing where to picture you. You’ll have to take many a photo.
You never saw the cellar?!? What a shame, because you would love it. It comes complete with shelves for canning and a secret root cellar (which was possibly a Prohibition-era wine cellar).
We’re going to miss living here. But yes, there will be lots of pics in and around the new place… xoxo
You never saw the cellar?!? What a shame, because you would love it. It comes complete with shelves for canning and a secret root cellar (which was possibly a Prohibition-era wine cellar).
We’re going to miss living here. But yes, there will be lots of pics in and around the new place… xoxo
I hope you’re well, Amy, and surviving the packing… Good thoughts your way.
Thanks so much, Vivian! Lots of good wishes your way, too, and apologies for being so scarce. I’m paddling like crazy every hour, and longing for the days when I finally have time to write and blog again.
I hope you’re well, Amy, and surviving the packing… Good thoughts your way.
Thanks so much, Vivian! Lots of good wishes your way, too, and apologies for being so scarce. I’m paddling like crazy every hour, and longing for the days when I finally have time to write and blog again.