Handle all of the little moving details
By: Alicia Crowder
I recently moved from Houston, Texas to Denver, Colorado and then, 7 months later, moved back from Denver, Colorado to Houston, Texas. The move back to Houston was really no big deal because I had already spent many years in Houston and knew what was what, where to go and who to talk to.
However, moving to Denver was much more of a challenge than I expected it to be. I was fortunate that within a couple weeks of my arrival, I found a nice house within a five-minute drive of my new job. However, what I didn’t count on was how difficult it might be to handle all of the little moving details.
In Houston, I can find nearly everything I ever need on-line by using a simple keyword search and poof, I have the information that I need to do anything that I need to do. I never gave the level of appreciation that was owed to such magic though, until I moved to Denver, Colorado.
I found it to be an interesting place, with quite a variety of people who had moved there for the amazing scenery from all over the world. It is also quite a hi-tech town in a lot of ways. It seemed that majority of coffee shops all had free wi-fi, and almost anything you wanted to purchase was extremely easy to find on Denver. Craigslist.org. It was amazing.
However, try to find a garbage disposal service that will come to your house in the suburbs by looking online…. Trust me, it is not an easy task. I looked up every keyword I could imagine only to be hit with one brick wall after another. When I finally found my neighbor at home, they were able to go rummage through their bills to get me the name of the company that they used and finally the struggles were over in that arena, but I was living there for over a month before that miracle occurred.
Had I not been able to get my neighbors to speak to me, I would have either been SOL or I would have had to stay home from work and stalk the garbage man, standing in the middle of the street and preventing him from moving forward without threatening my life in order to get this little, simple piece of information.
I (NOT exagerrating!) called about 20 different places before receiving my neighbor’s help and of course, I couldn’t do this all in one day, as I had to work during the working hours that the other businesses were open. Ironically, none of them “serviced my area!”
Then there was the water company, the cable company, the electric company AND the gas company all to deal with. I have moved many times around Houston area, but never found it to be so amazingly complicated as it was there.
This was also not my first rodeo where cross-country moving was concerned. I have moved from Minnesota to Nevada. I have moved from Minnesota to Texas. Both of those experiences were relatively smooth and simple. There were usually moving packs that came in the mail or simple web or phone book searches always provided me with a few minutes of work and suddenly, I was moved and could focus on the important part…..unpacking!
Basically, this experience taught me that you never know what you will expect when you move somewhere very new. One lesson is to NEVER assume a house that you are moving into has air conditioning. It may not.
Wow, how spoiled we are down here in Houston. The house I rented in Colorado only had a swamp cooler, which, I’ve been advised, isn’t worth much. Not to mention that it was only located upstairs!
I never ended up getting water put in the swamp cooler and seeing how well it would do though, but don’t take my laziness in that regard to mean that it doesn’t get hot in Colorado during the summertime, because that would be another sad mistake to make. I was told that it didn’t get all that hot in Colorado, but it was all lies.
I’ve found that there are certain, favorite places that many people visit and overly romanticize. When you choose to move somewhere new, just expect that there will most likely be problems you may experience that you never even imagined having to deal with until you have moved across the country and into “unfamiliar territory.”
No matter what anyone tells you. No matter how nice a place may have seemed when you visited. You still may be hit with any number of little complications or very strange, peculiar little scenarios when you move across the country.
Talya Drissman Said,
February 18, 2008 @ 6:56 am
Moving locations is one of the most stressful occurrences that can occur in your lifetime, and it is amplified by the distance one is forced to travel. My experience with long-distance travel is extensive, but different, since I have never personally moved more than nine miles. Rather, my personal experience is the torture and fun (yes, fun) of moving my closest friends.
Some years ago, I helped my best friend move from Detroit to Boston, and the following year, I moved her from Boston to Chicago. Needless to say, we worked out most of the kinks the second time around.
To make sure that your move is more fun than torture, preparation is key. Be sure to make a list of everything you need to move: boxes, enormous amounts of tape, and bubble wrap – do not pop them until you unpack; how much time you need to get to your destination – then add several days due to traffic, stopping to sightsee, or heck, just getting lost; and determine how much money the move will cost – then add another 25%. Keep in mind that there will always be surprises along the way, and make sure to take them in stride. Moving does not have to be a chore – it can be a road trip.
Some tips:
*LIGHTEN THE LOAD: Throw out or give away whatever you can manage prior to your move. The less you have to physically move, the easier the move. Seems logical, right? It’s not so easy.
*USE APPROPRIATE SIZE BOXES: The heavier the objects, the smaller the box, and vice versa. Be sure to label ALL your boxes (content and room), and on more than one side (it may get turned around in the moving van). Keep in mind that books are VERY HEAVY.
*RENT A VAN: Make sure you have an idea just how much you’re moving so you get the most appropriate size truck. Too large and you’re paying too much as well as risking the items shifting around. Too small and… well.. you have to unpack everything, get a new truck, and start over. NOT fun.
*GET A VAN WITH A/C AND A RADIO: This tip was borne of personal knowledge. Fortunately, we were lucky enough to get the proper size van. Unfortunately, we were stuck without a radio or A/C. Fortunately, we got along well enough to keep each other company for most of the night. Unfortunately, my friend doesn’t like to drive and likes to sleep. Fortunately, I can amuse myself… It’s all what you can handle.
*USE REST STOPS APPROPRIATELY: Don’t push yourself more than you can handle. Take frequent breaks, either to stretch your legs, to nap, or to grab snacks along the road. The human body can only handle so much monotony before it starts drifting.
*THINK OF TRAFFIC: My friend and I were driving from Boston to Chicago and there was a lot of construction between the two cities. Our solution? We didn’t leave Boston until after 5pm rush hour and drove throughout the night. That way, we missed all the traffic AND got to see a gorgeous sunrise.
*BRING A MAP: But don’t be afraid to ask for directions. Most people are incredibly helpful and polite. One lady in Boston even had us follow her in her car instead of trying to give us complex directions.
*REMEMBER IT’S AN ADVENTURE: Even if you’re leaving work, friends, or family behind, just remember that you are not just moving literally, you are moving figuratively. Better things may lie ahead, interesting people, and new experiences. Your friends and family will always love you, support you, and visit you. They only want the best for you.
One last thing. As my best friend and I always say, it’s not a road trip without at least one U-turn. The same can be said of life. Make the most of it!