"Well we movin' on up..."

Since 2001, I have lived in five homes. There is a story behind each move; a strong and rational force behind each one. When we moved 1500 miles, R's company paid to have us moved. One Tuesday, the guys showed up with boxes, tape, and coffee and began to shove our belongings into corrugated cardboard. I steadfastly refused to allow them to do the bathroom and my unmentionables drawer. While being quite open-minded, I am a bit Victorian in my conscience as to strange men seeing what I purchase and present for R's peeps only. It also made me feel quite naughty to think of them handling my "undergarments." The head guy was quite nice about it all. He told me what was allowable ("nothing flammable" so unless I wanted to pack it in my own suitcase and drag it along Interstate 70 across flat plains and Rockies, I had to give it away. My girlfriends, though sad at my departure, at least feigned a bit of guilt in acquiring some of my things) and then asked me to tape and label the box according to his personal specifications. I learned why they have men come and pack, they packed several things that I had in the sink (planning, of course to wash them); I firmly believe a woman would have felt obligated to ask me if I wanted to clean them up first.

We lived in a rental waiting to find a home that we thought worth mortgaging thirty years of our lives. So, when we found it, closed, and set a moving date, I decided that I was never packing another box again. We could rent the truck, but I was by gosh gonna pay someone else to pack my life away. It was the best $600 I ever spent (and that has to be saying something for this confessed recovering materialist/Shopaholic). I took the girls to the bookstore, out to lunch, and then to the park and came home to 300 boxes neatly stacked and ready to roll out the door at 7 A.M. sharp.

I tell every woman I know who is going to move, "Let someone else take care of the packing." Pay for it if you must. It is far easier to bribe ten guys with beer and pizza to come and load a truck of pre-packed boxes than to attempt to poke, prod, cram, and jam yourself, your spouse, and any children into boxes.

The premise here? When you get to move for free, even better! No cost to pack; nothing for moving-one begins to think, why not? So, I am moving a likely story to mu.nu (Munuviana). I have longingly looked at the blog housing Movable Type offers: more space; interesting design; creative interiors. Blogger has been good, but it's time to move out of spec housing. So give me a few days to get everything set up over there. I will be sure to leave really good directions so that you can find me at my new digs. I look forward to the house warming party, you bring the comments and hits; I'll provide the whine, cheese and entertainment.