The entire plan sounded plain and simple. I wondered aloud why more people didn't plan their own moves this way. Were we pioneering a new moving method?
Every little timeline detail was written down, working backward so we didn't miss any important steps. Even room measurements with all the pesky details were loaded in The Geek's computer so that he could design each room with our current furniture to know what we were keeping and what had to go. All good plans have details.
However, all good plans also account for reality. It is one thing to plan it all on paper, but since we are not paper dolls, we can't live in the paper house or even in the virtual one since we actually aren't avatars either. Although truthfully, about now, that would be an improvement.
First, if you are moving from a larger house to a smaller abode, it doesn't mean that an extra shelf will hold the remainder of the 2.5 rooms you are losing in the deal. It really means that 2.5 rooms of stuff and more must go.
Second, the brilliant idea of using grocery bags and various other satchels to ferry items over and place them away in their new home is a great idea on paper. However, grocery bags break, satchels are not square, and papertowels are expensive packing material. But reuseable.
The milk crates that hold Lulu and Phoebe's toys turned out to be the best moving device ever. Almost the whole kitchen got moved in those things. The tricky part though, is putting all that stuff away which was the whole point behind not packing the stuff in boxes. The theory was to move stuff from one cupboard to another. Theory sound perfect. Again, reality, not so much. Turns out the new cupboards while numerous for a small apartment, are like parking spaces for compact cars. They are slightly smaller than what might be useful. Where two plates resided side by side, only one plate plus 99% of the other plate can do that in the new cupboard. That resulted in either rethinking the process or shaving the plates slightly. Guess which one was more practical?
I am just more inclined to think that the person who designed the kitchens never cooks much. The cupboard on the bottom are only useful to Lulu and Phoebe who are respectively 12 and 13 inches tall. I think I might have to train them to fetch. I find I can't even hobble into that kind of folded bended posture to even see into the cupboard. It takes a partial warrior yoga pose where you rest your head next to your ankle to see into those cupboards. Perhaps the kitchen floor should come with a yoga mat?
On paper, we could just move our artsy window rod and curtains right into the new bedroom. Reality bites. Turns out not all sliding glass doors are the same size. Who knew? The one we have now apparently is made for average humans. But the new one is made for humans who have done months of yoga stretches and are now about 12 inches taller. Yes, that much. Not only do the artsy rods not fit, but the curtains are now flood pants. Good thing I believe in redundancy and have other similar curtains hanging around, literally. And longer. Just a little improve magic. So much for leaving some curtains here.
After four days of endless trips back and forth we have just a few more days before the real movers show up with a six hour minimum. At the rate we are going they will be here for 45 minutes.
DIY moving by bag is an interesting concept. But I highly recommend a slight adjustment and for future reference we shall refer to it as DIY moving by milk crate. Much more practical.
Every little timeline detail was written down, working backward so we didn't miss any important steps. Even room measurements with all the pesky details were loaded in The Geek's computer so that he could design each room with our current furniture to know what we were keeping and what had to go. All good plans have details.
However, all good plans also account for reality. It is one thing to plan it all on paper, but since we are not paper dolls, we can't live in the paper house or even in the virtual one since we actually aren't avatars either. Although truthfully, about now, that would be an improvement.
First, if you are moving from a larger house to a smaller abode, it doesn't mean that an extra shelf will hold the remainder of the 2.5 rooms you are losing in the deal. It really means that 2.5 rooms of stuff and more must go.
Second, the brilliant idea of using grocery bags and various other satchels to ferry items over and place them away in their new home is a great idea on paper. However, grocery bags break, satchels are not square, and papertowels are expensive packing material. But reuseable.
The milk crates that hold Lulu and Phoebe's toys turned out to be the best moving device ever. Almost the whole kitchen got moved in those things. The tricky part though, is putting all that stuff away which was the whole point behind not packing the stuff in boxes. The theory was to move stuff from one cupboard to another. Theory sound perfect. Again, reality, not so much. Turns out the new cupboards while numerous for a small apartment, are like parking spaces for compact cars. They are slightly smaller than what might be useful. Where two plates resided side by side, only one plate plus 99% of the other plate can do that in the new cupboard. That resulted in either rethinking the process or shaving the plates slightly. Guess which one was more practical?
I am just more inclined to think that the person who designed the kitchens never cooks much. The cupboard on the bottom are only useful to Lulu and Phoebe who are respectively 12 and 13 inches tall. I think I might have to train them to fetch. I find I can't even hobble into that kind of folded bended posture to even see into the cupboard. It takes a partial warrior yoga pose where you rest your head next to your ankle to see into those cupboards. Perhaps the kitchen floor should come with a yoga mat?
On paper, we could just move our artsy window rod and curtains right into the new bedroom. Reality bites. Turns out not all sliding glass doors are the same size. Who knew? The one we have now apparently is made for average humans. But the new one is made for humans who have done months of yoga stretches and are now about 12 inches taller. Yes, that much. Not only do the artsy rods not fit, but the curtains are now flood pants. Good thing I believe in redundancy and have other similar curtains hanging around, literally. And longer. Just a little improve magic. So much for leaving some curtains here.
After four days of endless trips back and forth we have just a few more days before the real movers show up with a six hour minimum. At the rate we are going they will be here for 45 minutes.
DIY moving by bag is an interesting concept. But I highly recommend a slight adjustment and for future reference we shall refer to it as DIY moving by milk crate. Much more practical.
Comments
Thanks for the tips. Will be selling a house soon, I hope and will have to be moving. Thought that clear trash bags --those new, really big ones, might be good for much of the miscellany. Will stock up on milk crates.
Yuck - I hate moving! Unfortunately, all of our moves have been too far to do by bag or milk crate.
reality does bite. bigtime. i'm so glad you're getting this all out and posted while it's going on. it went through a similar move a year ago, from larger to smaller and i gave what i thought were truckloads to salvation army, didn't measure the cabinets, etc. and i have boxes of extra stuff. the best thing that a friend got me are these big sealable plastic bags, kind of like big ziploc ones, to hold clothing adn shoes. very effective and fold up very thin for storage. you've given great advice for others who are moving. you're a sweetheart and i love you and the girls. love love love and gratitude.
Lea - I love those crates now. Never knew they would be so useful. You can find them at target, office depot, container store, online.
Bluesurly - this is our first milkcrate move! Usually have movers too, but I hate boxes.
Teddy - thanks sweetie. I really appreciate it. Downsizing is something for sure.
Bluesurly - this is our first milkcrate move! Usually have movers too, but I hate boxes.
Teddy - thanks sweetie. I really appreciate it. Downsizing is something for sure.
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