Moving Conversation

 It’s Time We Had a Rather Moving Conversation

If you follow my blog, you know my mother moved to Florida. Mostly. She has been living in a condo about six miles from our house. She bought it and moved in right away. One little glitch…most of her belongings were still in Ohio.

She had a bed, a couple of chairs and a sofa. She had a small dining set, a washer and dryer. Basics.

I loaned her a small skillet and saucepan. Doable for the short term. As for dishes? Paper plates, plastic cups, and disposable silverware is fine for a picnic or party. But every day?

Fortunately, Mike had a spare coffee pot and we had mugs. But still…

Even her car was safely tucked away in her Ohio garage.

Mom has lived that way since the end of March. 

She made the most of her time. She has met several neighbors, gone on long walks with a few of them. We pick her up in Mike’s truck on Sundays for Cowboy Church and in Mike’s boat on occasion for our Friday night cookout. I take her with me to the grocery store.

Living in a space without all your own stuff surrounding you gives you time to reflect on your true needs. 

This past week, Mike, Mom, and I headed north to retrieve her “things.” Mike rented a 6’X12’ U-Haul trailer and we packed it, making good use of every inch. Actually… not “we” exactly. The sons-in-law and grandsons helped Mike.  I stood in awe. If you had told me we could practically fit a house of stuff in that trailer, I would have said, “Impossible.”

As we worked through closets and cupboards; desks and boxes, we came across photos and newspaper clippings; lots of books and old letters or documents. It is interesting the amount of plain old “stuff” we accumulate.

"STUFF"

Mom has lived in that house for twenty-five years. Moving and packing, you relive your life. The process brings back memories. Mom’s good nature and positive attitude helped us work through the process. But it WAS a process. 

The experience magnified for me the need to turn loose of things. Purge as you go. 

That cute party favor you saved from your niece’s wedding?  Send her a card on her anniversary and pitch the favor. She’ll be happy to hear from you.

Received beautiful cards or sweet notes from someone you love? Put them in a scrapbook. Or better yet, call the person and tell her or him you came across a sweet note and it made you smile. Then toss the note.

Saving that sixteen-place setting of good China for some unknown special occasion that may or may not happen in the future? Let’s face it, if you’re entertaining sixteen people, do yourself a favor and use paper plates. You DO NOT want to spend your evening in the kitchen cleaning up.

Simplify your life now. It is freeing. And…. It will save you a lot of stress when you move to Florida.

If you missed the post about picking Mom up at her Dock, CLICK HERE.