|
|
Post by dtesposito on Oct 25, 2019 22:14:58 GMT -5
After 23 years in a condo, I'll be moving to my sister's house, tentative target date, September of 2020. Her health is declining, her husband died over a year ago, and neither of us drives and it's hard to visit using public transportation. Combined with my increasing dissatisfaction with the building I currently live in, it makes sense for me to move there so we'll be able to spend time together. I'll have the second floor of her house to myself (3 small-ish rooms plus a half bath) and will use the rest of the house and basement as needed. Fortunately my sister is not a hoarder, although she does have the usual accumulation of stuff that anyone has after living somewhere for a while, which she has been working through since her husband died.
I've made a lot of progress on dismantling my hoard over the last 10 years, but moving from 6 large rooms to 3 smaller ones will be a challenge. It's one I'm ready for though, I think this is the push to finally let go of some of the things I "thought" I needed.
I think I have plenty of time to do this, although if my sister's health gets a lot worse suddenly, the move might be sooner. Or, there are some factors that might delay it some--but I'm going to proceed as if I had 10 months to get ready. That would be way more than enough time for the average person, but for a still-somewhat-hoardy person, I will need all of that time to plan, sort and purge.
I'm going to use this thread to list some things as I think of them, and I will only commit to posting once a week, since I'm sure some of the work I do will be part of challenges elsewhere on this site. When I have a big project I like to break it down by time--doing 1/10th of the work each month if I have 10 months--and if I don't set it down on (virtual) paper I'm rarely successful.
And as always, I'm hoping my SOOS family keeps me accountable!
Diane
|
|
|
|
Post by dtesposito on Oct 25, 2019 22:20:23 GMT -5
LISTS I need to make:
Furniture to take with
Furniture to leave
Furniture-not sure about
Furniture, etc. I'll have to buy, and have delivered before I get there:
Lateral file cabinet
Compost bin
Mattress
Platform bed?
Utilities, etc. to arrange/adjust there
Phone
Cable
Mail
Things to check out
Library (already partly done)
Local transportation (already partly done)
Veterinarians
Medical/Dental/Optometrist
|
|
|
|
Post by dtesposito on Oct 25, 2019 22:25:19 GMT -5
I have already kind of wandered through my rooms, thinking about what furniture I want to take, but I can't make any definite plans until I get to her house and measure her rooms--it's been a while since I've visited her and we never spent a lot of time on the 2nd floor of her house--plus I didn't really look at those rooms as places to fit my stuff, so I need to go there and measure and take some photos. There will be some repairs and painting that will need to be done too. There's a separate entrance to the second floor, with a small porch with room for a couple of chairs, I haven't had that since I was in my 20s so that'll be nice.
The other thing I started doing was taking one file folder out of my file cabinet every day and going through and discarding what I don't need. If I start now I should be able to pare things down to the minimum by the time I have to move. This is something I'll have to do with all categories of my stuff.
And of course--BOOKS. I've been diligently trying to sell any books I can, and putting books out in our little library. Books is the category that makes me glad I have 10 months to do this! Many will come with me, but I want to make sure they're all essential ones.
Diane
|
|
|
|
Post by mylittlescholar on Oct 26, 2019 1:23:34 GMT -5
When I moved to CA, I rented before I moved, so was able to actually mark out where the furniture was going to go with tape, which helped me see how my floor plan might work. I also had very specific storage plans which helped me set limits. The one surprise was how dark my giant bookcase made it, because it covered up a white wall that reflected a lot of light into a dark corner.
|
|
|
|
Post by TML on Oct 26, 2019 8:00:54 GMT -5
Hi Diane - this sounds like a plan  I have an October 2020 deadline of my own - not house related. So I will be glad to work with you this next year to reach goals |
|
|
|
Post by dtesposito on Oct 26, 2019 11:56:39 GMT -5
The one surprise was how dark my giant bookcase made it, because it covered up a white wall that reflected a lot of light into a dark corner.That's a good point scholar, our things look different in different settings. I have more windows in my current place than I will at my sister's, but I also will have the tiny porch so for most of the year I can always go outside and sit in the light if I feel like I need to. Plus there's a back yard, although it's not appealing because there are no trees, just grass--very sunny in summer. But, that side has east exposure so the porch and part of the yard is shaded during the hottest part of the day. TML, yay, you have a fall 2020 goal too--what is it? I thought maybe I shouldn't ask since you didn't say, but if you're going to work towards it you'll have to tell us, right? Unless you just say "I did an hour of work towards my secret goal today"! Besides going through a file every day I'm going to start going through a closet or drawer on as many days as I can--even if it's just to look at stuff. I've gone through everything multiple times already in the last few years but now I have to see things with new eyes since I have a different goal. I realized even as I would go through stuff that I saved quite a bit "just for now", acknowledging that I could let it go if I had to suddenly move or something--thinking mostly hypothetically--I really thought I would stay in this place for the rest of my life. But now it's kind of freeing to say that I don't need to keep stuff just for now or just in case. I need to keep in mind that little story about the service that stores your stuff for you and only charges you when you need something from the storage. My condo will not sell for much in the condition it's in, but it will be something, so money will not be as tight as it is now. If I need some item later that I've gotten rid of I can go to the STORE and buy a new one. Diane
|
|
|
|
Post by TML on Oct 26, 2019 12:12:21 GMT -5
My goal is weight loss (healthy life) and exercising. I have PT exercises to do each day plus more in future. So it is planning meals working on my reading group books, journaling, self care, and etc. I go to my weight loss group boot camp get together in October of 2020. So the book club part of it starts this November. I want to get healthy so I can visit friends and family with no worries if they have some plans that involves walking and standing around. I still have house goals but those are just ongoing. The first week of October 2020 bootcamp goal has a time limit on it.
|
|
|
|
Post by dtesposito on Oct 26, 2019 13:20:42 GMT -5
TML, that's an excellent goal, and plenty of time to work on it.
I should actually join you, because I need to lose weight too. Since I cut back on the dog walking I feel myself becoming less limber and it's kind of scary--I'm too young to feel like I'm slowing down this much. Ever since I had to stop the weights exercises I've had a terrible time doing any kind of planned exercise or even stretching--I miss the weights so much but get terrible shoulder pain whenever I try to do them again.
Diane
|
|
|
|
Post by def6 on Oct 27, 2019 0:40:50 GMT -5
Hello Diane....I'm just reading this and getting caught up on all of these new happenings in your life. What a lovely sister you are!! You are so brave to rise to this challenge. I wish you all the best ...and look forward to following all that you do.
|
|
|
|
Post by creativechaos on Oct 27, 2019 1:15:55 GMT -5
dtesposito, you have been one of my big inspirations here and because of all the releasing you have already done, it was good prep for this goal and you're already exercising those release "muscles" regularly. I love how methodical and rational you are! How kind of you to join forces with your sister and be with her. i always admire how you walk everywhere; but this sounds like it will be easier for you both and i love the thought of you on your little porch sunning with a good book. i don't know how big the yard is but some large shrubs or small trees grow pretty fast and can be low maintenance if you want a little shade.
I'll be here in cheerleading capacity for sure! we KNOW you can and will do it! 
I want and need to get out of ONE of my THREE storage units - that is my goal for Oct 2020 or before. i have carefully thought of a plan that i think will work; i just need to implement it and keep consistently working toward it one bag or box at a time and somehow stanch the INflow.
i'll probably use a challenge thread for this goal, and just check in more to cheer you on and the others joining you in an Oct. 2020 goal.
|
|
|
|
Post by dtesposito on Oct 28, 2019 20:03:24 GMT -5
Def and CC, thank you for the kind words. For sure, the efforts I've made so far has allowed me to make this decision, otherwise I'd probably be several years away. Not just with the amount of stuff, but mentally. I had a moment today that I was happy about--for the last few days I've been taking time to just walk around and look at things and think about if I need to take them with or not. Today I looked at my unabridged dictionary. For a book and language lover, an unabridged dictionary used to be the height of perfection--all those words at my fingertips! All those word meanings, homonyms, synonyms, antonyms...all in one place. I remember buying it--it was on an unexpected sale (a very, very good sale) at a book store that I had gone to by bus--back when there were still book stores.  I had to have it, so I somehow lugged it home on the bus along with the other things I was carrying. For the first few years I owned it, I had it open on a surface, so that I could look at it as I passed by. After a while it moved to a bookshelf, then a more inaccessible bookshelf, now it's on a bottom shelf, under other books. When I need a definition, I look it up online. Yes, it's still fun to open a dictionary and browse through, but being strictly honest, I tried to remember the last time I did that--I can't even remember. When was the last time I used that book at all? At least three years? Five? Maybe longer? If I were staying here I would keep it, but do I want to pay someone to move this heavy dictionary and then have it take up space on a shelf when I won't use it? I was happy when I realized I can let it go now--sad too, but happy that I've gotten to this point. This book has given me a lot of pleasure in the past, but I could say the same about so, so many things, and I can't keep them all. I'm guessing that no one even wants an unabridged dictionary these days. Anyway, the shift in attitude is going to be what lets me downsize. I'm going to report on Mondays, I have a little tablet next to my computer and when I decide to get rid of something I'm writing it down, so I'll report items each week, as long as it doesn't get to be more trouble recording than it's worth. For example, I'm not counting papers I'm getting rid of, that will drive me crazy. As for books, I'm counting books I had planned to keep or give to a specific person, I still have piles of books I might be able to sell, but those have already been designated as going so I won't count those. This week I got rid of 3 board games, 10 notebooks/tablets, 2 packs of looseleaf paper and 1 pipe tool. I also found something I didn't even know I had--a set of Star Trek lights--little plastic tvs with Star Trek scenes, on a string, with a light in each tv.  I honestly don't remember acquiring it. But it's going. Research done this week: Movers, shopping, real estate information Diane |
|
|
|
Post by dtesposito on Oct 28, 2019 20:04:21 GMT -5
CC, that's wonderful that you have an October 2020 goal too! I will watch your progress!
Diane
|
|
|
|
Post by Unswamping on Oct 29, 2019 11:44:45 GMT -5
Cheering you on Diane! I know you have talked about doing this before but i think setting a concrete date will be helpful. You have done so much work, especially mentally. Im sure you will be able to do this. Great job on the dictionary! Yes that would be a hard one. I have one too along with other reference books.
I think measuring and diagraming your future space will be a very helpful idea. Also mark locations of windows, electric outlets, ac vents/baseboard heat and anthing else that might be an impediment to future placement. Take note of doorway widths and the stairs. Are the stairs a straight run up or is there a turn? Anything that will make it difficult to get furniture/boxspring etc in.
Im excited for you. Looking forward to reading your progress and thought processes.
|
|
|
|
Post by notanotherdecade on Oct 29, 2019 12:32:09 GMT -5
Wow, you are truly focused there, I'm certain you'll be prepared ahead of schedule  |
|
|
|
Post by TML on Oct 29, 2019 20:32:41 GMT -5
|
|
