It’s no exaggeration to say that I’ve been decluttering stuff in my life for the last 5 years. Knowing that I wanted to move eventually, I’ve been culling things which are worn out, duplicates and no longer needed.
That said, I still packed 250 boxes for my move + a bunch of furniture and random items.
I’ve actually been keeping track during my unpacking process (1 week today since the POD arrived) because moving 20 or 50 boxes is easily trackable. Moving plant stands and bed frames and nightstands and fans and step stools and rugs is harder. And often more difficult to move, if the memory of me flip/dragging my desk up the porch stairs is any indication.
I’d always said that I would likely declutter again as I unpack and that’s proving to be true. When I’m hauling boxes, physically and mentally exhausted and ready for a shower and a beer, I am cursing my need to hang on to “stuff.”
But when I’m opening those same boxes, unearthing my books and flamingo plant holder and china and gumball machine, I love my “stuff.”
It’s interesting from a statistics standpoint to evaluate the physical weight of the things I own (thankfully the POD price was not impacted by weight, just distance), but I tend to think more about the emotional weight.
One thing I was careful about when packing was not to bring along too many unfinished projects. If something had been lingering on that mental to do list for years, hauling it 2,000 miles was not going to make it easier to finish.
So while I sweat from my shins and haul boxes and furniture and all my “stuff,” I consider if each item has a purpose or brings me joy. If not, it’s in an empty box headed for charity.
As soon as I find the closest charity shop…