The movers are here – random panic edition

Posted by Jul on 7 November 2007

Even when one has the luxury of full-service movers (paid for by a kind and generous employer), there’s still plenty to stress about before they arrive and while they are packing. What can’t we live without for 2 months? Is it all over in the “safe” corner? Where are my shoes? Don’t let them pack up the trash! Or the shoes I was planning on putting on! Dammit, where’s my cell phone charger? What the hell is he trying to say?* Did we run the dishwasher? Empty the tea kettle? Was that ceiling lamp here when we moved in? Help, that dust bunny is trying to eat me! Can blackberry jam be poured down the sink? Did he just say they broke the bed frame?

*This one applies particularly when the movers speak a version of Swiss German that you’ve never even heard before.

Tags: international relocation fun

Comments (8)

• 
  Buda Baby

  November 7th, 2007

  Getting ready for the same fun here in 6 weeks – luckily things are still pretty organized from the last move! Best of luck with your show and your move. I’m looking forward to learning about Munich through your eyes!

• 
  Marcy

  November 7th, 2007

  Oh goodness… you’re making me dread our eventual move back to the US! We foolishly insisted on packing up ourselves when we moved out here, only to have the movers re-pack all our boxes (and completely do away with any sort of organization scheme within the boxes). Is moving ever stress-free?

• 
  Jul

  November 7th, 2007

  Good luck with your upcoming move, BB. May you learn from our mistakes and not forget to tell them that the shelves on the kitchen wall came with the apartment…

  Marcy – I’ve determined that the ideal move would involve leaving all but my most precious possessions behind in the old place (for someone else to sell, donate, or incinerate). Then at the new place, personal shoppers and decorators who know my taste exactly would have already gotten me all new furniture, appliances, and clothing and moved it in before I arrived. Do you think I can ask my employer to pay for this service next time around?

• 
  CanadianSwiss

  November 7th, 2007

  Wow. I’m a very organized mover, but I’m not sure how I’d be if I had to tell them what “they” can take and what not. You need eyes everywhere!

  At least the move is not that far away (time and distance wise)! Lots’a luck

• 
  GL'sD

  November 7th, 2007

  The comment about not packing the trash really made me laugh. We moved from Georga to Ceiba PR. The packers come in and did a wonderful job of getting things ready for over seas shipping. Long story short when we unpacked almost three months later there was the carbage from the sink still packed very neatly with the coffee ground drid out.

• 
  Jul

  November 7th, 2007

  I’m just proud that we remembered to take out and empty the ice cube trays in time for the movers to take them. Big fat American-sized ice cube trays are hard to come by here!

• 
  precession

  November 7th, 2007

  Hi Julie: Nice blog – pity you are moving so soon (I just found your site!) . . but Munich is nice I am sure you will enjoy it there.

  Since you still have an expo in Zurich on the 17th …..maybe you can take a moment to visit the exhibition of one of Colombia´s top artists in Zurich at Perez Rojas Gallery – also on the 17th – such are the co-inki-dinks of life.

  He is called Luis Luna and he will be in Zurich by this Saturday.

  Here is some info:
  http://colombianart.wordpress.com/2007/11/01/luis-luna-words-culture/

  Take care and keep blogging!

• 
  zandria

  November 11th, 2007

  Now THAT is some stress! And you just know something is going to end up with the “packed” stuff that shouldn’t be there, and vice versa. But you’ve gone through this before, so I guess (hopefully) it’s a little easier this time around.