Here’s my 2 cents – declutter, declutter, declutter. The actual cost of moving items you will not use is expensive. If you need to keep items in long-term storage, use the humidity controlled long-term storage facilities of a national moving company in your current location. Most times, very cost effective. They store your items in *vaults*, usually 5′x7′x8′ – however many vaults you need for your stuff. But, you MUST purchase contents insurance to protect you in case of a mishap.

And, whatever memorabilia you want to keep that can be digitized, please do so. Scan your children/family photos, children’s art work, diploma’s, awards, etc. You’ll save a ton of space.

Of course, if you need help, think about the services of an organizer!

What a great way to Declutter! Don’t bring your clutter with you!

As the move got closer, though, I got more irrational about what to keep and what to take with us, and I wound up throwing out some genuinely useful objects (bathroom trash can, anyone?) because I just couldn’t deal with any more stuff.

So I guess I’d suggest that a move is an excellent opportunity to declutter, provided you start the process early.

If you must get a storage warehouse, get one above ground floor and behind fencing, with security-coded entrance,. and negotiate a discount for annual payment instead of monthly.

I would like to take some books, and the framed photographs of our children will make our new home feel familiar. I read somewhere that you should take things from home if you’re living in foreign country so that you can get a break from the culture shock.

I’m very excited at the prospect of going, and of starting over when we eventually move back home, with a new house and new stuff (but not too much stuff!)

Thanks again!

But – I have now been in this one for eleven years. And you know that black velvet top that has hung, unworn, in my wardrobe since I was given it 7 years ago? Well, it’s pretty! I might wear it ONE day! *wail*

I am really writing to share this: one move, when I was small and my sister was a baby (she had multiple medical issues and was in a body cast), my mom had the moving company do the packing.

When we got to our new home, as she was unpacking one box, she found the kitchen garbage wrapped up in newsprint. My jaw still drops thinking about it. Since then, nobody has packed for a move for us.

Our next landlord evicted us because he had a balloon payment coming due, so the Stuff got schlepped to what I could find on less than 30 days’ notice and a week after our only car got totalled when someone flew through an intersection and hit it head on. The boxes ended up nearly filling the garage of the tiny townhouse I found. And there they stayed till we bought a house. And moved all the boxes once again, and most of them ended up in the garage and storage room

A month after we moved in, there was a downpour that flooded the back yard. We lost 15 boxes of books. I finally had to go through just about every box of Stuff to see what could be saved. A lot of it couldn’t be.

I don’t recommend that kind of Stuff-schlepping, crisis-decluttering process, believe me. We still have boxes of Stuff in storage, but I make it a point to go through them on a regular basis and get rid of as much as I can. Next time we move we’ll be down to the bare minimum.

Actually this really belongs in a blog post of my own! I must get round to writing it.

Personally, I think stuff REPRODUCES in hidden corners, like rabbits when you aren’t looking.