Packing

Not the best shot but it shows how much help I’m getting packing everything. Miss Nosy likes to get into the empty boxes just as I’m about to put something in them. Sweetie :).

 

So it always gets worse before it gets better, doesn’t it? This was the state of the garage on Saturday as I started to pack everything in the storage room. Stuff kind of spilled over. While I was packing I also collected all the things I’ll be bringing over to the house later this week like tools and paint etc. Can you believe we’re finally getting full access to the house on Thursday? Wiiie!

 

If you think the garage looks messy take a look at the storage room pre boxing everything. The way I’m going about it is that I’m actually boxing boxes. Since I’ve understood that the movers prefer if all the boxes are uniform in size I’m placing my boxes inside their boxes. Next to my smaller boxes I add loose things to fill the spaces. This way I can just lift my boxes out and it’ll be easy to get reorganized when I get to the house.

 

Here’s a photo mid way. Almost done packing Wille’s and my belongings in the entire basement. Martin will be getting his stuff in a week or so and then I can spread my boxes out to stacks of three which is the preferred height for the movers apparently.

All these boxes are reused so previous user’s contents have been scribbled on them in various places. I’ve chosen to write my contents on white stickers and they’re all placed on the upper right corner of the boxes so I’ll know where to look. I used markers so the contents will be easy to spot later. I haven’t marked the backs of the boxes so Wille and I will be supervising as they arrive so the stickers will be facing out.

On Sunday I didn’t get to do a whole lot of packing as I had other stuff to do (like make a final decision on the floor for upstairs and the kitchen at the new house) but now that the basement is 95% packed away I’m confident that the rest will go smoothly. Packing is FUN!

Comments

[esther]

It all looks AMAZINGLY organised!! Don't know if fun is EVER a word I would associate with packing. I quite like unpacking though. Can't wait to see how it all takes shape in your gorgeous new house!!

[Älvan]

I wish my husband liked packing... I kind of like it, though. But unpacking is the best! And I love that you really sort through all your stuff and get rid of a lot of things when you move. I guess I'll have the same kind of helpers as you do

[Anne]

Oh. I've nothing left to teach you... Looks absolutely professional.

[jja]

Wow lot of stuff! I hope you get some help from friends. Without them I would go mad during all my movings.

[Hxx]

Well there be no bits 'lost' in unopened boxes for you! We couldn't find our iron, a useful lampshade and bin for about a month after moving in. Never label a moving box with "Misc. items"!

[Maggie]

I don't think you are weird for being so organised, I love it, and I love the little details you blog about, but I can't tell if you are joking or being serious when you say packing is fun. Maybe packing is fun for the right person and I just can't imagine it, like running, my best friend loves it, and to me it is like torture. Are you really having fun? is it because you get to deap cleanse and touch all of your things?

[Bex]

Ha! It may be fun now...talk to me when you're chucking random things in that last box as you walk out the door! Oh, hang on...this is Benita we're talking about right? Scratch that...XXxx.

[Eunice from PEi]

Isn't it funny how cats jump into a box just as you are about to fill it with things... almost like they are doing a test to make sure it's ok to use.
:) :)

[MacLeod House]

I'm moving 9600km at the end of June. I'm trying to think about all the good stuff. I'm actually more of an "unpacking is fun" kind of girl. Packing, is not my favourite!

[Sara]

Packing is FUN, Miracle Girl??? Now I know for sure that you're crazy. :)

[Carlos]

I am honestly really having fun! Wille made fun of me the other night because I said I'd just go downstairs to do a bit of packing for the fun of it :). I don't think it has anything to do with touching all my things, it's much more the idea of starting over and having all the projects ahead of me and kind of picturing where the stuff will all go in the new house.

[Orghlaith]

You have such a positive attitude. It encourages me. I hope you find much joy in preparing your new home.

[Zosia]

"Packing is FUN!" I would not quite put it that way :-). In February, I packed 148 boxes (not including pieces of furniture) for an overseas move (Canada to Poland). I moved before, but packing for a shipment overseas is quite another story. You have to wrap almost every single thing (except maybe books or towels) a hundred times before you put it in a box and then you have to secure the boxes much better with packing tape. I think, it was my most labour intensive move so far, but, you are right, I still managed to have some fun http://polonicahomeagain.blogspot.com/2011/01/cardboard-box-magic-trick-sztuczka-z.html

[Ellen W]

Oooh, moving is exciting! :D
It must be so nice for you to start over againg in a new house.

I´m a little curious, do you declutter as you pack? I can imagine you don´t really have much clutter, being the queen of home organizing...

I´m so looking forward to seeing what you´re going to do around the new house!

[devil]

Well, it's a good thing Miss Mini is there to supervise. :)

I LOVE the idea of all the boxes being the same size and I'm not even sure why. Maybe because it looks more neat and organized it would seem less overwhelming when it's time to unpack?

Love your attitude, Benita. Your good life is gonna get even better.

[Ms M]

This almost makes me want to pack all my stuff in boxes, just so I can get organized. :P

I like to label things on both the side and top, so that I can easily see what's in the box before I open it. It also provides a bit of "insurance" when the movers* don't stack them all facing the proper way.

*For me, "movers" are usually stubborn family members who refuse to cooperate with my "overly strict" organization methods.

[Erin Kleider]

I always think packing is fun at first as well, but by the end, I hate it. Unpacking is the same way....however, I think you far less clutter than I had. I got rid of a lot of junk when we moved, but I kept too much as well. I am sure you are far more organized!

[Kari]

Ah the joys of packing--particularly with kitty helpers!

Looks like you are making terrific progress. And yes, it always gets worse before it gets better!

Keep up the good work.

[Kathleen S.]

We are in the same house we bought shortly after we got married. I'm doing an internal move. Starting from the bottom up in the basement. Paint. Declutter. Store. It's pretty satisfying. Not sure I'd opt for the fun category yet, but I'm working into it. Two more floors and the attic to go. You're an inspiration. I'm pleased you'll have all those new projects in the new house! Love your blog!

[xin]

That looks really good! You are having fun.
Just make sure you supervise the movers really closely when they unload these boxes. Last time we moved, the movers put all boxes in the kitchen and dining room area, instead of putting them to their own room, even though I wrote clearly on the box which room it should go! If they are not going to put them in their room, at least on the correct floor! We had to drag 6 big luggages up to the second floor ourselves, along with tons of boxes! Not fun! And yeah, unpacking is really fun! like Christmas morning! I guess I have to do some serious declutter first, so I can make the packing part fun too! =)
Good luck with rest of the packing! Have fun!

[r8chel]

Benita, I love to pack too, and people always think I'm so strange for feeling that way. Glad to know I'm in good company!

[Donna]

You look so organized...but...are you sure 100 boxes is going to enough?

[Carlos]

I don't have any clutter left to declutter. After Martin and I split up I did all the decluttering, tossed and donated and put on Martin's pile. I thinks so far I've tossed two things.

[moi]

When we moved about a year ago, the movers didn't want us to put more than three boxes on top of each other, due to damage risks, and insurances and so on. :)

[Zsuzsi]

Deeming packing 'fun' sounds totally crazy at first glance. But now that you wrote that, I started to think about it and you're right! We started to pack up the boyfriends HUGE dvd collection a few nights ago, and there's something so satisfying in seeing things disappear into boxes. I wish everything was as easy to pack up as dvds. :D (I'll hate packing up the kitchen :S How do you tackle that?)

[May]

As always you make everything look easy. I admire your attittude!

[Melissa]

In the first picture your sweet kitty looks like she's saying, "Don't forget to take me!!" :)

[isa]

I know I don't know you at all; although I've been reading and lurking for over 2 years (!) but I feel soooo excited for you! A fresh start, a clean slate. Maybe I'm living vicariously through you wishing I could strike it out on my own a bit too :) Can't wait to see how you make a home out of the new place. Best wishes to you and Willie....

[Pierre]

Hello Benita, wish u good luck for your new moving and packing time...what i know from the cats psychology is if they go in your box, its because they see that you are moving soemewehre and that they wnet to let you see that they are part of your life and they want to go with you in your new place... thats a sign to let you see they are part of the family;-) cut isnt it ?;-)miaauw!!!

[Nancy]

One trick to help the movers to get the boxes into the correct room is to put colour coded stickers on each box and a sign in each room; ie, red for the kitchen, yellow for the first bedroom etc.

Now that I know that you are packing your storage boxes in cardboard boxes, can I revise the number of boxes that I think you will use to the original amount I stated, 106?

[jja]

I also love to pack. And unpack. It is so fresh nad clean start every time again. And perfect chance to declutter since I always have things to get rid off, even as soembody who is by no means a packrat.

[Carlos]

I haven't started on the actual kitchen yet but I have started to pack the vases, bols etc in the dining area cabinet and so far so good :). I just wrap each piece in paper and then put it in the box.I have to say I don't have a whole lot of stuff like that luckily :)

[Robyn :)]

I have gotten spoiled having the US military do 2 moves for me :) You look like you are really coming along!!

My cat likes to inspect all empty boxes, too.

[Sam]

I'm really happy for you. Moving is exciting, even if it's stressful. I look forward to seeing what you do with this next stage of your life. You are awesome!

[Peta]

I would have liked to pack / move like that!! We moved here from a rented apartment that was only a few streets away!! So things just got piled in the car and after about 100 trips back and forth we were done! It was very messy!!!

Glad to see the kitties are helping you pack too!!
;-)

[julia]

I think if I ever have to move I'll set fire to the garage and walk away.

[Ali]

Enjoy packing up your stuff! I'm wishing you a terrific time!

~ Ali