Anyone who has moved at least once in their life (which is probably most folks) understands what a huge undertaking it is to gather up everything you own and transport it to a new location.
I started packing a box every day about a month in advance. Visitors to our house gave me strange looks when they saw boxes stacked in the corners and found out we weren’t moving for another few weeks, but I am so glad I started early. The packing process ended up taking much longer than I had expected.
I had about 20 boxes saved from our previous move and had to acquire 10 more. (A word to the wise: Rather than paying for moving boxes, ask local grocery and clothing stores if they have any to get rid
of. Kmart pulled through and gave me all I needed for free.)
On the day of the move, Mr. Handsome’s family brought their van and trailer over, and nine of us transported everything in just a few hours. Although it was evening, it was the hottest day of the year, so we were all sweating buckets, but the feeling of accomplishment at the end was well worth it.
It’s going to be a while before I finish unpacking, organizing, and changing addresses, but I’m trying to enjoy the process. I am especially thrilled because we made it through the move without any major catastrophes!
How many times have you moved in life?
Anonymous
Bless you! next to yard work, I despise moving! In 57 yrs of living, I have moved 11 times and several of them with small children. The worst is moving when school is in session. I can't imagine how it is for military families. God Bless.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
You must be a pro by now! I agree, military families sure do sacrifice a lot.
Ellie
SuperJames526
The most significant move I have ever made was when we moved from the States to here in Ecuador. Next week will mark our 11th year since we moved.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
That is definitely a significant move. Do you see yourself staying in Ecuador long-term?
Ellie
SuperJames526
Yes! Totally!
Well, for now I feel like God has called me here for the time being, but to be honest, I'm not so sure whether I'd like to stay in Ecuador for the rest of my life. Only in God's Perfect Timing will I know.
Anonymous
I have moved 7 times since college! At this point I have a system lol.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
I'm sure you do! Any tips?
Ellie
Anonymous
Ugh, I just counted 25 and I may have missed a few. You would think I would be a pro, but no, it's been pretty awful, well, most of the time. I guess I have to give credit to my parents for the moves earlier in my life, so the pain is theirs, but I've done my share, too!
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Wow, 25 is a lot. Do you have any tips/advice for those of us who are less experienced?
Ellie
Anonymous
My husband and I have been married for eight years, and we have moved six different times.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Six times in eight years is quite a lot. 🙂
Ellie
Anonymous
My husband is military. We have done over seas moves, but fortunately two of the six moves were local. We have lived in Ohio, Korea, Kansas, Kentucky, and now we're in Hawaii.
Anonymous
Being in Hawaii, do you worry about what North Korea is doing? I heard the U.S. was going to hold "nuclear drills" in Hawaii. I don't know how you drill for that. I remember the 1960's when we were told, in school, to duck and cover if we saw a bright flash. I realize now that would have been of no help! Have you heard of or experienced any drills in Hawaii? What's the buzz from there?
Jessica Browning
I recently helped a family friend move out of the house she had been living in for 30 years and even though she had been working on getting rid of stuff and packing things up for a while it was kind of amazing how much stuff there was. It was a good reminder to me that I need to make hard decisions about things sometimes and just get rid of an item.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
I completely agree, Jessica. One of the positives of moving was that I was forced to look through all our stuff, and we were able to give away the things that we don't use. Going forward, I am going to be intentional about not buying things unless we absolutely need them.
Ellie
Anonymous
Coincidence for me, cause I just moved too! As hard as I sort of tried, there was a crunch and with kindly from a good family member help things worked out ok! It would be nice know more about your new place.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
That's funny! And yes, I had that "crunch" too. I thought I could just wake up on the last day and leisurely pack our last items into boxes/suitcases, but it was much more hectic/time-consuming than I had imagined. Did you move far from your previous home?
Ellie
Anonymous
2 hours 43 minutes on the google map route finder.
Anonymous
Good luck in your new home. May you have love,happiness and peace in the new address.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Thank you, Joan, Marion, and Marilyn!
Ellie
Anonymous
I hope you enjoy your new home Ellie & Mr.Handsome
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Thank you! We appreciate that. 🙂
Ellie
Anonymous
Have you and Mr H bought a place Ellie? Good idea to keep the boxes from your last move and also to start way ahead. I do that as well and find it easier to be ready for the actual moving day and cleaning. You guys are having a very busy summer and yet you are still maintaining all the blogs. Thank you so much for that. And congrats if you have purchased. Some of those cats that visit you are going to miss you! Eileen
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Hi Eileen,
We haven't purchased a place yet, but hopefully sometime in the next couple years. I was just thinking about the cats the other day. I'll definitely miss them!
Ellie
Anonymous
Enjoy your new place Ellie. I thought this move might also have something to do with starting a family. Blessings and best wishes for you and Mr H in your new home. I hope you have more storage area in this kitchen. Hope you can find some realx time ahead! Eileen
Anonymous
Do you still live in Nashville?????Jane
Anonymous
Oh! In 1975 my hubby and I purchased a house, got married and we still live in the same house today…Jane
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Wow, how wonderful to live in the same house for so many years! Have you had to do any renovations/major house projects?
Yep, we still live in Nashville. 🙂
Ellie
Anonymous
Maybe you could go back and catch one.
Anonymous
Hi Ellie, Our house was built in 1940.. We finished the basement, finished top floor-add master bedroom, had 13 replacement windows put in, new roof, kitchen cabinets and patio on back of the house. Last year I got kitchen granite counter tops, do like those….Jane
Shela G
congratulations on the move!! Hope y'all are already enjoying your new place. It does take awhile to get settled. You have the right attitude of enjoying the process. I have moved three times in my adult life. The biggest was from Oregon to Texas 16 years ago as a young single woman. I have lived in the same house every since. When my husband and I got married he moved in with me. He has told me he was happy that I already a house so that we did not have to hunt for one. Even though it started out as my house we have enjoyed making it our home.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Thanks, Shela! That's wonderful that you had a home going into marriage. Do you plan to stay in that house long-term?
Ellie
Shela G
Yes I think we will be here for a very long time. We are close to family and the size of house is good for us. Although we would love to do some updating.
Beth
Until I left for college, I lived in the same house my whole life. After I married my husband we moved 9 times in 9 years. One of those moves was from the US to New Zealand. The worst move of all was when we had to move 2 weeks after our daughter was born. As I had to have a C-section with her I was not able to help and it was so frustrating!
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Hi Beth,
That would certainly be frustrating. May I ask what promoted the move from the US to New Zealand?
Ellie
Anonymous
Eight moves for me, not counting college move-ins/outs. I could possibly have a few more before it's over (old age moves).
Your do-it-yourself local move sounds like a piece of cake, despite the heat. If you've never had a military moving experience with military-contracted packers and haulers, consider yourself lucky. They're great, if you never want to see your stuff intact again! (I know someone who lost all their stuff in an overseas military move when the cargo ship caught fire…)
Our oddest moves were into and out of three houses on the same street. We rented a house when we first arrived, then bought one down the street, then bought an even larger one further down the street when it went up for sale. The mailman joked that at least we kept moving down his route, so if he missed delivering our mail at one address, we'd still be ahead somewhere on his delivery route! DH and I claim that after having 3 houses on one street, we're almost entitled to build a hotel. (Think Monopoly game.)
Do you rent or own your new place?
nashvillewife@gmail.com
How funny that you have lived in 3 places on the same street! Did you rent moving trucks, or did you just carry everything?
Ellie
Anonymous
The first move was via moving truck, but the second and third moves were do-it-yourself. We had a friend with a tractor that had a haul-behind trailer. We loaded some stuff in that and he tractor'ed it down the street! We must have been quite a sight. The Beverly Hillbillies on the move again. LOL
Anonymous
Not every place will give you boxes these days. My grocery store has a program of knocking down the boxes and selling them to a recycler, so they will not give you boxes at all. The best place around here for a box is the liquor store, where they're piled at the back door, free for the taking. People also announce on our neighborhood online site if they have empty moving boxes they no longer need, or if they need boxes for a move.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Great tips. Thanks!
Ellie
Candice
We've been married 10 years, but for a busy stretch of 6 years we moved 6 times…while having 3 of our children. Moving while pregnant, and with little ones is not easy. We've been settled in our own house now for three years, and I'm relieved our youngest has not had to endure any moves. Transitions are hard, especially with little ones.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Six moves in six years would be tough. Hope you're able to stay in your house for the long-haul. 🙂
Ellie
Anonymous
In my 17 years I have moved 10 times and am about to make it 11. However, being the youngest of my family I have moved the lest out of everyone. My dad was a military child when growing up so in his 48 years he has moved almost 70 times! And yes it took a long time to count that up:)!
nashvillewife@gmail.com
70 times in 48 years is very impressive! Will you be moving far away?
Ellie
Regina
We moved so many times as a child I can't even begin to count. One area we moved from was because a freeway was to be built.
As an adult I have moved probably haved moved at least ten times. Our last moved was to AZ last summer.
We moved out of my husband's childhood home which was rather sad for us. But the Lord has us here in our new home in a new state and we love it.
Enjoy your new place and unpacking. We actually still have a few boxes still in the garage we haven't unpacked but they contain items that don't necessarily have to be out.
Did you end up getting rid of anything before the move?
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Thanks for sharing your story, Regina. Glad you're enjoying your new state. 🙂
I was able to do a big drop at Goodwill, which made packing much easier!
Ellie
Anonymous
At least 12 times. Wow, KMart, lol. Kind of a funny comment, but I thought they went out of business 25 years ago!
Anonymous
No kmart is alive and I'm sure glad! I love it a lot because it's not so huge like walmart, uggg. They also have great prices at kmart!
Anonymous
The K-Mart nearest me is all but dead. No wonder, since it's dreary and disordered and depressing. They never have more than one checkout lane open, that's how few people shop there. A club I belong to had a winter sock & glove drive, and I stopped in there on the way to a meeting to pick up some things to donate. The clothing department was positively scary, disheveled and full of merchandise very cheaply made. Is that the best they can do?
I don't see how they can even keep that store open any more. I'm waiting for that location to be among the ones that close. Around here, Target is the place to go.
Anonymous
I've moved about 15 or more times, lost count. Yes liquor and grocery stores are best to get boxes at! And family are a great help at moving time!
nashvillewife@gmail.com
That's quite a lot! Do you have any other tips/advice to share?
Ellie
Anonymous
Can you give us a photo or video tour of your new place Ellie??
nashvillewife@gmail.com
Great idea. We're still unpacking, so I'll have to wait until it's presentable. 🙂
Ellie
Anonymous
The kmart near me is great and always clean,neatly organized, and friendly checkout workers, minimum of at least 7 sometimes more out of about 12 lanes total! It couldn't be any better they are doing great there! Also love the prices there and the clothing is always nice too with many choices! Love kmart!
Anonymous
I'm an army brat and I've moved 10 times so far.
Odie Boggs
We've moved than I can count. A little trick I Learned about getting boxes. Bookstore boxes are very sturdy.
nashvillewife@gmail.com
That's a great tip, Odie. Thanks!
Ellie
Anonymous
Luckily, I have lived I in the same house since I was four… however, moving to and from college has been so stressful (I attend college out of state and have to fly each time)! When I was packing up to come back home for the summer, I swore to myself that I'd get rid of a bunch of stuff, and never join or marry into the military!
Anonymous
In life I have always been on planet earth, but I truly want to go to heaven one day. I understand the kingdom of Heaven is within me and I have to live by the spirit of God even right now here on earth. I have to not choose the flesh, which is dead, but choose the Spirit of God, by the power of Christ now in me. That is the greatest move of all, from death to life. I aske zjesus tobe my saviour, to them that received Christ He gave the power to become the children of God. Living in the Spirit should lead to eternal life. Jesus said I am the door, I am the way. Peace.
Anonymous
My son has moved 6 times in 13 years, as he has worked to establish his career. One move was to another country. He always seemed to arrive before his stuff did in most if not all of these moves. However, work always began right away in the new city, even if the new apt. was still empty.
Mom to the rescue. I went to Goodwill and the dollar stores and got him enough stuff to get him through the first few weeks until the moving truck arrived. He'd bring an Aerobed and a pillow in a suitcase, but the rest of the stuff for the first weeks was up to me to mail (to the doormen) at his new addresses in advance. And I'd think of everything he'd need for his arrival, right down to towels, a shower curtain (with rings), and a bar of soap! A few kitchen things, so he could heat some soup or make a cup of instant coffee. A small lamp with light bulbs, because empty apartments can be dark. A TV tray and a folding chair that acted as a desk and a dining table. It worked! And it saved him expensive hotel bills.
He also had me send, over the years, a lot of stuff that he left at home when he first moved. So I joke that his movers were the mailmen and UPS.
Anonymous
That's so sweet! 🙂
Sarah Cooper
I have moved 22 times! 11 since adulthood. I'm 37! AND we look to be moving at the end of the year as well. My husband is a minister and we've had to move towns for college and through the various training stages of ministry. We've lived in our current house for almost 4 years and that is the longest since we've been married. All for Jesus, never done in vain. He goes before thankfully. Why did you move Ellie?
Sarah♥
I'm in my late teens, and have moved around 13 times. I'd say that my family is a group of pro movers 😉 When we work together, the job gets done so much faster. Good to hear that your move went well!! 🙂
Anonymous
I've moved 9 times total in my life, but the best one was this last move. I moved into my first apartment, got married, and then my husband moved in! He's only moved twice and not since he was 4! I love our little place. It's been two months and I almost have all the boxes unpacked and organized. I'm pretty proud of how it has come together.
Blessings, Claudia
Madelyn
Congratulations! 🙂
Sarah
I moved 5 times in 5 years! Not fun!
Moon Sparkle
Hope you're settling in to the new house ok. 🙂
I moved around a lot up to 4 years old because my dad taught at universities in different countries. I was born in Swaziland in South Africa and also lived in England, Lesotho in Southern Africa and Fiji. I moved to England permanently at 4. I've lived in 3 places in my town in England, although moved 4 times because I've lived in my grandparents' house twice. (Once when we first came to the UK and then moved back later).
Anna
I really liked the idea of packing some things every day. I am about to move first time after having my own family and I felt like I did not know where to start from. I will start packing the soonest, thanks for the tips!
Unknown
I have moved quite a few times but bought my home about ten years ago, debt free, I paid cash. My biggest tips are these. When I pack things away I always do it in see through boxes, labeled on the side. Inside every box whether I am going to be storing it in see through boxes or packing a moving box I make an itemized list of what is in the box…place it on top before I close the box and label the outside with a category or room and a number which corresponds to the list inside the box. It helps me decide which box to open first. And I have things in my attic from 20 years ago, that are family heirlooms and things I use but not frequently. I always know exactly what is in the box which save me on frustration and time. Good luck unpacking. Why did you move? Just to a bigger place or what. I know that is a snoopy question, sorry.
Anonymous
I moved quite a few times. One trick that saved me a lot of effort as a single young woman who had to move to a city where I didn't know anybody and had to do everything by myself , is to put heavy stuff in luggage with wheels and light stuff in boxes. So I put my books in luggage with wheels, and my clothes in boxes (I don't have a lot of clothes).
Josée
Anonymous
I still live in the same house that I grow up in. My parents brought this house in 1971 and moved in 2 months before I was born. So I live in the same house 45 years.
Both my parents have passed away.
Anonymous
Sorry too hear that both of your parents have passed away. It's awesome that you are still living in the same house from the time you were born. Hope you have lots of good memories. God Bless You..Jane
Anonymous
Enjoy your new home! I have moved across town and cross country. It was a lot of work each time, but I recruited friends and their kids to help me. A different group each time. I had a great dinner for them as part of my thanks. Couldn't have done it without them!
Anonymous
I'm 21 and sick and tired of moving-and No we are not Military or in the Ministry field.
With my parents togetherr
I was born in Oregon
Left Oregon at age 3 along with my 3 month old brother
Moved to Mississippi for 5 and 1/2 years
Left Mississippi for Alabama having gained my other 2 younger siblings, a sister aged 4 at the time of the move and a brother aged 1 at the tome of that move
With parents seperated
Left Alabama after 13 months and Mom took the 4 kids (aged 10, 6, 5, and 3 at the time) and moed in with her parents in Iowa for 9 months during which we were in 2 different Duplexes. After Iowa we moved to Illinois and lived there for 15 months during which we were in 2 seperate apartments and a house over the course of that time!
We moved to Az. from Illinois in Sept. 2008 and lived there (in 5 different houses!) until June 2015 when we moved to Virginia and into an apartment that we only just got to move out of and into a house last June!
So yeah we have moved a lot and I have Autism which makes change and moving more difficult and I am tired of moving but Virginia is no long-term solution we hope to eventually move back west when finances allow but Mom is an extremely, extremely, extremely busy divorced Single Mom just finishing up an online Masters Degree with Liberty University Online. She graduates in December! Then she can get a teaching job (degree in Special Ed.) and supplement child-support (parents dovorced 2011. Dad remarried 2013 and still lives in Az.)