Two months after we moved here our landlords came in to do something I forget what; they noticed a stack of boxes in my office/craft room and made a comment about how we hadn't finished unpacking yet. I said no we're finished. I never unpack everything from boxes. The strange look I got said enough. I've decided there must be some psychological anxiety that scares me out of settling in completely so I've started going through my things and purging. To date we've thrown out and recycled 13 boxes. Not all of them were packed full. But that's 13 trips out to the truck we won't have to make the next time we move. And I think it's been a healthy experience. It's good to remember it's just stuff and it's ok to settle in sometimes.
It has been fun going through and remembering things! I found a bunch of hair accessories from high school. They're a little broken and will get tossed but remember these?
excuse the poor iphone quality!
And this!! Peeling nail polish!! What a weird idea that was! Do they even make it anymore?!
I've still got several boxes to go through. It's hard to know what to do with some of the stuff! Am I really going to want to keep my kindergarten drawings in 30 or 40 years from now? What do you do with sentimental things you've kept? Is there a good way to store and keep them?
I've moved approximately 20 times in my life. (Several before I can even remember!) and I usually average 2 years in a place. I totally understand the not unpacking boxes! When I was in the 8th grade we moved to a place where we were going to be "for a little while." We ended up being there 5 years - a record for our family! I had boxes that I just lived out of. They sat on shelves in my closet and I would pull things out of them as I needed them. Now, the boxes that were never opened we eventually went through - I figured if I didn't miss it, I probably didn't need it! But, I agree with not being able to settle in entirely. The only place I've truly settled into was my apartment I had for 4 years. It's the only place I can remember crying when I moved out. And it was only place I ever unpacked all my boxes! But, I have the most fond memories there! I hope you're able to go through all of the boxes and not have any anxiety, it really is wonderful to just settle in! (I'd add more but geez...this comment got really long!)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to know I'm not the only one. I do feel better now that some of them are gone through! Now I just have to tackle the rest!
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