Packing Up & Moving On

Literally, just started it so not sure it will tell you much about Dubai. I will make it a point to post more though.

Link Text ( http://nouneh.typepad.com/life_maze )

What's the link to your blog, Nouneh? I'd love to read it so that I know what I'm getting into with this move!!

Jules

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania ( http://www.blogher.com/topic/world/australia-nz-oc... )
Dragongirl blog ( http://www.dragongirl76.blogspot.com )

It is terribly difficult to filter your things down to the 'bare essentials' for such a move. I too have made several big moves and have found that the packing process can be very emotional. In general, I take the normal things (select clothes, running shoes, etc.), a few key personal things that carry memories, a few pics that reminder me of times and people that are important to me, and I take a couple new books (for the first nights /weeks before I get internet connection set up). I live in Dubai now, and can attest that you are moving to a great place.

I do this twice a year, to some degree, I pack up all this STUFF and move it halfway across the planet. Luckily, I'm actually rooted in one of the places, so it's not so bad, but every year, before I leave my place in Seattle, I go through almost everything I have to see what I don't need/want anymore.

Once, I threw the old love letters on the fire. Man, was that the right thing to do. Whew.

Art, photos, treasured objects, I keep. Almost everything else - clothes, furniture, detritus - is replaceable. I know that, but it doesn't really make it any easier.

Nerd's Eye View ( http://www.nerdseyeview.com )

Sometimes its just nice to hear someone else say "yup, I know what you're going through."

And the packing continues...

Jules

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania ( http://www.blogher.com/topic/world/australia-nz-oc... )
Dragongirl blog ( http://www.dragongirl76.blogspot.com )

As someone who has made EIGHT major moves around the world (Edinburgh,London,San Francisco,Los Angeles,Paris,Amsterdam,Bali,New York)I can relate really well to the 'stuff' issue. Each time, something had to go, and many times I was reluctant to let it go. This led to some pretty hefty limitations when looking for a new place to live. My last move from Amsterdam to New York was the worse because I went from a house to an apartment. There was so much stuff I had to give away and sell off. The final straw was arriving at my large-for-Manhattan apartment and finding my beautiful dining room table and chairs that had traveled around the world, wouldn't fit in my living room! I sold it and bought something smaller but it was like losing a part of me. So many stories of the table and the people who sat at it. The other amazing thing is this. You put stuff in storage and leave it there for a few years. When you come back to look at it again, you find yourself wondering why you kept it in the first place.

I can't tell you what to leave or to store because it is so personal. The only advice I can give is this. The things you thought were very important (and I'm not talking pictures, books, etc.) generally turn out to be something you can live without once you let go of the emotional attachment.

Enjoy your adventures. Remember, it's only stuff!!!

Fearless Fifties - because life is too short to grow old.
Supporting women to be the best they can be in the best years of their lives!

Kalyn - you can be sure that I'll be blogging about my expat adventures in Dubai! I'm sure there will be a LOT of blog fodder there!!

And yes, I am very lucky that my parents have agreed to let me store all of my sentimental can't-take-it-with-me-but-can't-stand-the-thought-of-giving-it-away stuff at their house while I am overseas. Still, trying to figure out what to pack so that my new apartment will feel like "my space" has been really hard.

Jules

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania ( http://www.blogher.com/topic/world/australia-nz-oc... )
Dragongirl blog ( http://www.dragongirl76.blogspot.com )

What an exciting adventure you're undertaking. I worried all the way through reading the first part of your post, and was so relieved to hear you are at least renting enough storage for photos, letters, and things like that. I've never moved more than a few miles and I can't imagine how I could part with a lot of my posessions. Fridge, washer and dryer, furniture, no problem. But I do have a collection of African art that no one I know would want but which is precious to me. Like you, what I couldn't ever part with are the things that bring back memories of who I've been at the various phases in my life.

Can't wait to hear more about your new life.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen ( http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com )