It would be so much easier to either take all of my stuff, just
dump it into boxes - and lie to myself that I will decide what I need when I
got out west, or I could just dump it all into garbage bags and buy new stuff
when I get out there. Either possibility would mean that packing would be quick
with little or no thought involved.
But in my attempt to be responsible and organized, I have
decided that I will take neither of those two simple paths but instead will look
at every single item and decide what to do with it before I pack it into a box.
Nothing is ever simple. For example I decided that I don't need a turntable or
a VCR. The local St. Vincent de Paul thrift store tells me that they can't sell
them so I can't leave them there. I take the VCR to the electronics dump and
try to give away the turntable. A week later it is still sitting on my dining
room table. I think someone is coming tomorrow to look at it. If they don't
want it, I don't know what I will do. I hate the thought of throwing away
something that works just fine.
Similarly I no longer need my queen size futon. I am almost
giving it away - please just come and get it. After countless e-mails and two
postings on Kijiji - I think someone is coming in an hour to look at it. It
would be so much easier if I packed up my car and left everything else behind.
If I did that I would not have to waste my time thinking about how many pairs
of dress pants or long sleeve, button collar cotton shirts do I really need or
do I need to bring the heavy crowbars with me and if so, do I need three
different sizes?
There are a few obvious problems in going through stuff so
methodically. One is that it takes more time and therefore I have stuff already
packed in sealed taped boxes. In this process of sorting and packing I have
discovered a fundamental rule of nature that within one hour of sealing a box
with a mile or so of tape, there is something in that box that is needed. There
are also boxes scattered around the apartment. It is getting hard to navigate.
I suspect that when the truck is almost loaded, I will find stuff that I did not
pack because I did not see it. Sorting stuff means that I have to look at stuff
and then make a decision. I have not used the electric blanket since selling
the farm (although I have lent it out to two different people), I clearly do
not need it so it should be an easy decision to dispose of it but there is that
little niggling voice at the back of my head- what if it gets really cold? My
mind is exhausted having these conversations with itself.
But the worse part of this process is coming across stuff
that I forgot I had. Pictures of trips, me building the canoe, the kids, etc.
Do I really need them? Will anyone else? But some of that stuff I just can't
throw away - some things that the kids or grandkids have made for me are going west
as are far too many keep sakes or knick knacks that have been given to me over
the years and some family items such as my Dad's christening cup and my
grandmother's button hook. The long and short of it is that I have more boxes
of stuff than I thought I would which if nothing else means that I will need to
build more shelves when I get out there.
And I am not even close to being finished yet. Don't get me
started on having to roll $540 worth of coins, taking apart the loom or in the midst of this
chaos both washing five fleeces and getting ready for a one day show a week
before I leave. I never said I was very bright.
