Lessons on Moving

With the majority of boxes finally unpacked, I thought I would sit down to write about our adventures in moving. There is little that fills me with as much trepidation as moving, though I have done it more times in my life than I have fingers on both hands. Possibly more times than I have fingers AND toes. I lost count a while back. So, what have I learned from this lifetime of mobility? Apparently, not enough as I keep learning lessons each time. And the Lord knows I have more moves in me yet. Oh, joy and rapture!

Packing your own house into boxes is a GREAT time throw away lots of junk you have collected.
Having someone else pack is MUCH faster!
When you finally get to the unpacking, make sure to check all pieces of packing paper and in many nooks and crannies for thing that might have been smuggled into places they shouldn’t oughta be. (Brian and I “lost” some kitchen items during one move. The new place had a built-in microwave above the stove, so we never bothered to unpack our old one. That Christmas, 7 months later, we decided to give the “old” microwave to someone who needed an upgrade. When we opened the microwave to make sure it was cleaned and fit for giving, voila! Kitchen items rediscovered.)
The absolute best bit of information we have learned moving came during this most recent move: HIRE PEOPLE. There have been times that we could not have afforded to hire an entire moving company were it not paid for by someone else (military or other employer). Okay, we probably never could afford to hire an entire moving company. However, what we did learn is that you can hire these really great people who call themselves Lumpers. These truly wonderful people can save a person. These are the hard-working folks that move all the packed boxes and furniture onto the moving truck and then off of the moving truck into your new abode. And they will move it to and from a truck you have rented and propose to drive – it doesn’t have to be a moving company truck! This is INCREDIBLE! Lumpers do not make a ton of money, but it is worth every penny. (The charge about $15 and hour for a minimum of 4 hours. Our driver paid our Lumpers $110 each for about 6 or 7 hours of work.) Gone are the days%