Time Out Today
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
I told you posting would get sketchy as events regarding my planned move across country take over sometimes. This is one of those days. The workmen finished up early Tuesday morning, and a fine job they did. On time, too.
Then I spent the rest of the day washing windows, re-hanging curtains, even packing small items I've cleared out so the apartment is mostly clutter-free for photos on Friday and Saturday.
Still more cleaning and primping to do on Wednesday and Thursday.
Apparently, clutter has more positive connotations for Ollie the cat: I put his toys in his toy box, he pulls out his favorites and places each in a different room. I'll need to police the apartment for toys when potential buyers are expected. I did confiscate all the toy mice that, if you don't look closely, can be mistaken for the real thing. Eeek.
All the above is nothing more than filler for having run out of time and not written a post; a place to put today's elder story link.
At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Lyn Burnstine: My Life with Chickens
Never sell your "filler" short. There may be others like me out there. I am trying to overcome pack-rat and procrastinating tendencies while simultaneously dealing with with boxes and boxes from my mother's downsizing. Your posts about your move, including this update on a list of things accomplished (yayyyy!) offers encouragement.
Posted by: Linda Skupien | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 at 03:51 AM
Linda...
Deadlines are a wonderful thing for getting stuff done. Digital cameras show every tiny dust mote that you don't usually notice otherwise, so I'm working extra hard to clean up for the photos on Friday.
Posted by: Ronni Bennett | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 at 04:18 AM
Decluttering is liberating.
In our younger days, we moved a lot. Once was a temporary spot, so we didn't unload all the boxes, we just stored them in the basement. And forgot them when we moved again - never went back for them. Never missed whatever was in them.
Posted by: Nan | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 at 04:47 AM
be be sure to bring some of Ollies litter in the box. Or you may have big trouble
Posted by: estelle bruno | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 at 05:02 AM
Funny, but I'm enjoying these stories-of-the-move, too. Don't apologize; it's a roadmap!
Posted by: mary jamison | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 at 07:04 AM
You remind me of my many moves and it's fun to keep up with your progress. It sounds like you are doing a great job.
You will probably need to take Ollie for a ride when your house is being shown. In my real estate class they advised us to never have the owners present when the house is being shown because the potential buyers are reluctant to open doors,and ask questions, etc.
Posted by: Darlene | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 at 07:25 AM
I recently moved my Mom to assisted living and I've been cleaning her home out and found some wonderful things, one
that will provide my son with delight is a box of baseball cards, we were a military family who moved often, I can only surmise that I asked my Mom to keep them until we got to our next duty station and then forgot about them; reaching up to move towels I stumbled onto this unusual box, and then I realized that it was my oldest son's baseball cards, opening the box I had a huge smile on my face, I remembered him faithfully organizing them into teams showing me each time he finished the team.
I mailed them to him - wish I was there so I could see him when he realized just what was in this package.
His Birthday is coming up so it is his Birthday present.Interesting what clearing out what is considered clutter somtimes turns out to hidden treasures.
Posted by: Elayne | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 at 07:31 AM
It’s interesting and also fun to share in this major event/journey with you. I have not moved often, but each time have had a cat and found that they took a longer time to adjust to the different surroundings than I.
Posted by: Claire Jean | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 at 07:36 AM
Glad you're on track -- may
I borrow a cup of energy?
Posted by: Kay Dennison | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 at 08:20 AM
Love your short post, that's how moving is. I'm contemplating a similar move and am following your story avidly. I'm thinking I retired in the wrong place and it "moves" me to see that can be corrected.
Posted by: Celia | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 at 10:23 AM
I hope you didn't have to wash your curtains too. I did that after having my windows replaced and they were so old they disintegrated. I had to buy new ones, dammit.
Posted by: Peter Tibbles | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 at 01:20 PM
This is a post. It tells us how to move with grace and a smile. Eeek, indeed.
Posted by: Mage B | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 at 02:01 PM
Ronni, this is NOT just "filler" to us. Like Celia, I don't want to stay where I am in retirement, so I know yet another move is my future. I'm looking for tips--on better moving, and on how to choose well where to move to. Moving and decluttering minutiae is fascinating to me. This age bracket seems literally to be about the "stuff" of life nonstop...ours, our parents', our spouses', and yes, even our cats' stuff. Including toy mice.
Posted by: Paula | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 at 02:14 PM
I like your "filler".
Also I have been wondering how Ollie is holding up facing the impending move. He is a grand old cat and I am sure he will roll with the punches.
Will you have to take Ollie with you
when the realtor shows your home? You two can stroll along the waterfront if it is a clear day.
Wishing you a quick sale and a speedy, psinless move.
Posted by: chancy | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 at 02:52 PM
Funny about your cat removing toys from the boxes. I had to hide my cat's fave toy, a small stuffed cat, because she kept on bringing it to me in the middle of the night, with all appropriate Pavarotti wails. Feeling guilty now, so I should de-hide it, and let her start the opera before I hit the sack. Best wishes for your move, Ronni.
Posted by: Brenda Henry | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 at 04:22 PM