With a Little Help from my Friends...

Sum of all Fears

Hubby and I have started the task of boxing up our life. It is shocking how much junk we have. I have gone through each room with a trash bag and just tossed things that are obviously trash: old receipts lying on the counters, junk mail, etc. I then went through the drawers of my dressing table (gasp), which had a shocking abundance of bent up bobby pins, 2-year-old lipstick, broken blush, and ink-less pens. Trash. I moved on to the bathroom. I cleaned out the medicine cabinet, the drawers and the cabinets and found - trash.

What is wrong with me? I never use lip-liner, so why on earth did I have three of them? Trash. Broken compact? Trash. Mini bottles of shampoo and conditioner? Homeless shelter. I got into a really nice groove. I felt good. I was making progress.

I was also watching Hoarders on Netflix while I was going about my business. It really aided my process. Every time I thought about keeping something, I would look at the filth on my computer screen and wa-la. I wanted to throw the thing away.

I highly suggest this method of motivation to anyone who has put off cleaning out. It will make you afraid to keep your junk. It's great.

To Risk, or Not to Risk?

All this thinking about moving has me feeling excited, adventurous, and a little scared. The town we would be moving to is a little 4 hours from where we are currently and a little under 2 hours from our families' homes. We don't know anyone in this town and it is quite small - small enough that I don't know that I will be able to find even part-time work (thankfully his salary would cover everything we need, but I would like to have the option). Hubby currently has a job that makes up the difference between my salary and the amount required by bills, but that's all it does. We have a tiny, and I mean tiny, emergency fund, credit card debt and student loans. So... if we move and things go south we very well may end up having to sell everything we have and move in with Hubby's parents. I love his parents and honestly, as far as living with family goes, I can't imagine a better situation. I would just like to love them from my own house. You understand.
On the other hand, should things be as we hope, this job/move would be like being led out of the desert into the promised land. You think I'm being melodramatic. I'm not. We've been married almost 14 months, and have been spinning our proverbial wheels both financially and in regard to careers. We're just ready. Do I hear a "set, go"?

I want to relocate, but I don't want to move...

Hubby and I are facing the very real possibility of a move. Nothing is for sure, but if the decision is made it will likely be a very quick move... as in a month or less. Being the Type A personality that I am, I naturally want to be as prepared as possible for if/when that gun goes off and it is time to go. I am resisting (successfully at the moment, but I can't comment on my stamina) the urge to take all the books off my shelves and box them up. I mean, I can always put them back if we end up staying, right? I am researching moving strategies... no joke... and thinking through the best ways to go about the task, should it present itself. I just want to do something, anything that will make me feel more prepared. I would really welcome the transfer, I just wish there was a simple way to move our stuff.

I find this picture completely amusing. I look nothing like this when I move. 1) I generally have at least one meltdown the day of 2) They aren't sweaty 3) Is that make-up I see? 4) Their house is clean.