Big News!
As some of you may have picked up on from various tweets or Facebook updates, I’ve been packing lately. That’s right … I’m moving.
I moved to Indianapolis just over two years ago now (time flies), and have since been living in a nice little apartment complex conveniently located close to both Fry’s Electronics and family. Next week, however, I’m scheduled to close on a house – and I’ve been packing in preparation for the move! It’s a nice little house with a nice little back yard – and perhaps most importantly, it remains … conveniently located close to both Fry’s Electronics and family.
The whole house-buying process has been (and continues to be) an interesting experience. I’m excited for the big day, but my mind is also swimming with all the many many things I have to do prior to and then just after closing. There’s all sorts of little logistical things to be done around the final paperwork and contractual milestones, not to mention working with my apartment complex to break my lease early (that’s gonna hurt). Then of course there’s all the change of address stuff that will have to be done, and more urgent matters like getting High-Speed-Internets ASAFP. Then of course all the fun stuff like painting and making the house “mine” begins.
And of course … there’s the packing. I hate packing. I also hate clutter (which is strange because I always seem to be surrounded by heaping chaotic piles of it wherever I go). So, in an effort to lessen both of these things in my life, I’ve been trying to “80/20 my life” while I pack for the move. To “80/20″ one’s life involves getting rid of the 80% of the ’stuff’ one has but seldom uses (or even sees), and only keeping (and thus in my case packing) the 20% of ’stuff’ that is actually relevant or meaningful to the person.
I have, through this process, confirmed my suspicion that I … have a sh**-ton of ’stuff’ I should have just thrown away ages ago. I’m not kidding … the other day I opened a box that I’d just stored when I moved to Indianapolis (two years ago). As I opened it (having long since forgotten what was inside), I wondered how much of it I’d be willing to just toss out. I mean after all, I’d not even looked in this box for two years and I clearly wasn’t missing whatever it was that was inside. When I opened the box I realized … this wasn’t a box I packed when I moved from Chicago to Indianapolis. It was a box I’d packed when I moved in to my last Chicago apartment! I’d been carting around a box to be stored from one apartment to the next for YEARS … even though clearly I did not have any need or desire for whatever it was was inside. So I tossed it all.
I have been relentless but judicious in tossing things out. I’m amazed at how much I’ve just gotten rid of rather than packed up for the move. I wonder how long it will take me to re-clutter my life? (I’m putting the over/under at 3months)
Anyway … if all continues to go to plan, I’m moving at the end of the month. Once it’s all done and official like, I’ll post photos so stay tuned.
David Meade ... Indianapolis based vlogger, geek, rock star, protector of innocents, defender of the weak, role model to millions of children everywhere.
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