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August 18, 2007
Moving On Up
Well, it's finally happening. The papers are signed, the financing is approved, and in twelve days I'll be moving to my new place.* Seven days ago I had no idea this would be happening at all (having laid eyes on my new place only on Monday), so it's now a game of "hurry up and move".
Tonight I began the process of packing. Since moving back from Sweden two years ago, I haven't really collected many new things (relatively speaking), and a good deal of my previously owned stuff is still stored away in the attic and basement, along with a smattering of furniture still distributed among various friends—namely Ms. Wish to See and Ms. Secret Blog. Going from a 3 bedroom place to a 1 bedroom place is going to be a challenge, and I have a sneaking suspicion I may be donating several truckloads of things to the Salvation Army. If you want to stop by and claim anything you've had your eye on, speak now or forever hold your peace.
But to get back to my point, my room is basically all that needs to be packed. You would think that would be pretty easy. After all, my two dressers don't need to be re-packed, my winter clothes are already boxed up, and my filing cabinet is good to go. What you might be forgetting, however, is Lesson #1 in Packing:
Ms. Write Again Soon's book collection is ridiculous, and moving it should only be done by professionals and/or those with strong backs.
Will I ever re-read The Art of War, so carefully placed by The Art of Seduction and The Art of Traveling? In what reality but mine would The Communist Manifesto be shelved next to The Army Field Survival Guide and The Prince? Why on earth did I think it was reasonable to pick up Lonely Planet books on Spain, India, and Crete from the library sale, besides the obvious logic of adding them to the China, Africa, Sweden, Prague, and Budapest litany of guides?
Please keep in mind, dear reader, that the approximately 150 books I packed up tonight do not take into account the 15+ boxes of books still packed in the attic. The books in my room are ONLY those that I bought in the last 2 years since returning from Sweden. It is for this reason that I am definitely collecting back from friends the bookshelves that I "loaned" out. And by loaned, I mean "thrust upon cheerful friends who were gracious enough to find room for them".
The sad part is that I haven't even begun to tackle the Big Idea books, conference proceedings, supplies, letterhead, computer equipment, and random paperwork. I'm going to leave that until the absolute last possible minute, so that I can continue to work 12 hour days before tackling this lovely moving adventure. When this is all over, I'm going to need a vacation.
* This assumes, of course, that in the next 9 days my dad doesn't decide to take the proffered job in London, thus leaving their Falls Church townhouse without a tenant. In such a case, said townhouse will be rented to me for a ridiculously low price and I will forgo the lovely condo awaiting me in Silver Spring. Such a decision is unlikely, however, so I'm banking (literally) on buying the condo.
