Red on the Head

I am preparing to move. Again. Oy.

I do not look forward to this. I hate packing up my worldly possessions, and hauling them from Point A to Point B. I hate all the details that go with moving. I hate paying deposits, and having to deal with asking for deposits already paid to be returned. I hate having to go back to the old place, one more time, to make sure everything's all clean and clear. I hate going to the new place to clean and prep. I hate sweating. I hate lifting. I hate newsprint on my stuff and little packing peanuts scattered everywhere. It's all a pain in the butt.

"If you hate it so much, why don't you just stay put?" I can just hear the question rolling around in the brains of those who know me...and to you I say, "Shut up!"

Sorry...that was the frustrated mover in me speaking out.

I have moved a lot in my lifetime. It started when I was in college, out of necessity. You rent a room at someone's house, and you can only stay there so long. So you must move. Then you rent an apartment with a roommate, and then someone graduates, gets married or moves out for whatever reason. So you move...

Eventually, I got off the roommate train, and decided to go it on my own. Now I move only when my job dictates. Still no fun. Necessary...but no fun.

I will say this: moving keeps you from becoming a pack rat. If you have to pack it up and haul it, you're less likely to hang onto it. I have never been one to rat my pack...I've always kept things pretty streamlined. Even as a kid. I kept things organized and if I didn't need or want it anymore, it went bye-bye. I'm still like that. If I haven't touched, worn or used it in a year, it has to go.

On the flip side, this whole move thing is kind of exciting. The whole idea of being nomadic is somewhat exciting and romantical and junk. But the sentiment can only get you so far...and then you find another box that has to be hauled.

Will I ever settle down in one place? Maybe. If God so leads. For now, I'm keeping my options open. And I'm keeping my boxes and plastic bins. I wonder if U-Haul gives frequent driver rewards...