Moving out of my country for the first time at 24 consisted of stuffing all the loose papers considered “records” into a manila envelope, downing a few glasses of wine with friends and putting everything I had into a bottle box and opening it in the middle. the area of my house. When I finally opened the boxes in my new apartment, each box I opened confirmed that the well-meaning package had breathed its last, fatal evening, further and further into madness. Desperately tearing apart the boxes in search of kitchen utensils, I constantly found that each box contained various contradictions, such as a lamp (without a shade), one shoe, a cutting board and a hair dryer. What seemed to be simplicity at the beginning ended with indignation at the finish line. As I painstakingly tore through the rest of the boxes, using my “Where’s Waldo” skills, I finally found a pair of lone shoes, but it was still fork-less.
A year later I met the love of my life. Beautiful, charming, responsible, and not too dirty flying in the sackcloth, I was shocked soon embedded in the military ranks of the Spouse. With a sense of duty and pride the inevitable PCS (permanent change of station) comes like clockwork every two to three years, or as the rest of the civilian world calls it: Moving.
Military moves, unlike moving in the rest of the world, require stacks of paperwork and planning, and military approval for everything from your medical access. records to set up to ship your car. As every military spouse knows, the first plan can make or break the moving experience, and with so much out of your direct control, the best strategy is to plan a successful move. So, cutting my shoe, lamp and table while using my old tax returns to wrap my dishes, I no longer adore doing developer Through trial, error and the complexities of moving overseas and back, I have outlined my secret tips for moving well where you are at the end of the journey is guaranteed to find wandering tridents.
1. Start with the List
It is easy to find all the steps you need to move, whether across the globe or on the road. Write down the details that pop into your mind. I carry a pocket-sized notebook full of tasks to complete whenever my short memory fails me. When it comes down to paper, I find it easy to flip back and cross items when done. This helps to get rid of the midnight alarm: “Do I remember to transfer the electricity bill and send post office. > Change of my address? Even small ones I like personal things, “goodbye lunch with the girls” is important so that I don’t forget your memory.
2. Search for your new home
The internet is a magical tool and my personal tool is Google maps. Look for your new home on paper and find out what’s nearby. Before I set foot in the state of my new home, I am armed with maps to the nearest grocery stores , rental shop, hair salon and schools. From there I can research the local ranking for these stores, crime statistics, weather forecasts for the next month, and local activities. It also helps me to print all this information from local maps of the country up to date. They are a great tool for GPS navigation, but from experience I have found new construction and growth in some communities is not included in the larger system . Today, the roads around my new home are mapped out in detail on Google maps, but my GPS still knows we live in an unknown wilderness. The more you know the lay of the land before you arrive, the less overwhelmed you will feel in your new home.
3. De-clutter your life
A big advantage of moving every two to three years is to allow your family to grow up. Before we move on to each one, we divide what we own into three groups: to keep, to donate, to throw away. Donating used items is a great way to help the community while writing a tax return for your family. In one move, my husband and I gave away everything old, college stuff and bags of clothes that no longer fit and ended up with a tax write-off of nearly $200. As an added convenience, the Salvation Army also picked up our old furniture for free. Dirty clothes or beyond repair, it is better to throw them away with the old canned goods that are taking up space in the back cupboard. When we moved into our new home, we found ourselves surrounded only by the things we wanted and used. It is freedom to take away!
4. Cleaning
Moving to rental properties and from rentals, the goal is to keep all of your rental deposit while not spending it all on cleaning. . When time is short, laundry and house cleaning services can be a life saver, but if you think a little in advance you can quickly and you can clean and polish it cheaply. For areas with major spillage potential, such as bathrooms, I find it easiest to mark one’s cleaning and use limits. You may end up with one shower for the house, but the same goes for spot cleaning and saves. Cleaning the walls and baseboards also make a big difference in how the world looks in the house. A quick smear of the walls and empty bases takes a few minutes, but it often fades into oblivion. carpet cleaners is also a great trick for cleaning money. Carpet cleaning services can charge hundreds of dollars to go through a three bedroom home, but hire one for $20 and work lightly more work than vacuuming, you can save hundreds. The stains that I’m sure will require carpet replacement came out with the carpet cleaner putting the entire security deposit in our pockets.
5. package
To learn from my infamy, one shoe, one lamp, one box experience, the most important advice I can give is to think about packing in categories. Obviously dishes with dishes, books with books, movies with games, but it’s also important to think about your time in transit. If you only want to be separated from your belongings for a couple of days, maybe you don’t need to worry, but if several months will pass before they are reunited (as I had to work around) you absolutely need to think about what you have. cannot live without it for a time. Ask yourself: Will the weather change while I am away from my affairs? Do I wear clothes to accommodate this? Need seasonal protein or kitchen utensils? If you find that you have special circumstances that require these, it’s easier to pack them up and send them to your new location than to wait for an extra bag at the airport.
As for the baggage and clothes I send, my time as a military spouse requires that I be searched in secret. Always put your clothes in plastic lidded bins. The cheapest place I found these in large sizes is in thrift stores for a few dollars. Covered plastic bins keep clothes free of moisture and dirt and can be returned every day you move them. For delicate fabrics, this is essential, as they fall victim to slimy clothes that are transported by ship across the ocean. There are special things to deal with in mobile too. Keeping jewelry and other valuables with you at all times keeps them from harm. When the motors are at my house, I keep everything piled up in the trunk of the car. Then, on the day of my travel, I pack them in my suitcase or carry-on. Theft is not inevitable, but I find peace of mind by taking that possibility off the table.
6. Documents
As any military spouse knows, the key to free capital movement is documentation, documentation, documentation. With personal items in the cart and out of your hands, keeping critical documents on hand is essential. Before each day of packing, go through your draw your storage and decide what you will have on hand for the trip and what documents are necessary. These are the types for me: moving documents – such as local maps and travel confirmations, personal information – medical records, passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates and school records, car documents – insurance, registrations and warranties, housing documents – current and previous agreements, security deposit receipts and insurance, and for military families: Orders – military movements cannot proceed without. hundreds of copies of heavy paper. Think through each step of the mobile process and collect the corresponding cards. Put each category in a school-style divided folder (preferably with a secure zip-up top) and carry it with you throughout your move.
Following the advice above, my family successfully navigated three military deployments, one overseas and back. Advance planning and organization are critical to a successful move, and it takes away the headache of locating that last pair of black stilettos that may or may not make it out of China for your wedding.
Wishing you the best of luck in your travels and success in your future move.
