Packing

You'd think that we would be pros at this by now. I mean we HAVE moved 10 times in the last 12 years. Each time though, it seems, gets harder and harder.

Every time we move, we condense, we declutter, we sell stuff, we donate. How is it then, that every time I get ready to start the process again, it seems as if we have amassed more shit than we came with?!

When we rented this beach house it came fully furnished and decorated. It used to be a vacation rental and part of the deal of allowing us to rent it annually was that it stayed fully furnished (and decorated), because the homeowners didn't want to have to pay to store their belongings. When we met with our landlords before we moved in, I asked them if they would be okay with us redecorating...putting our own touches on things and they said absolutely. I am just not sure when they said yes, they realized that I was going to COMPLETELY take down the house. From the wall hangings, to the kitchen pots, pans and plates, to the towels to the bedding, to every little thing in between.

If you have visited us here, you know I take pride in telling you where I have hid away and stored all of the homeowners things. Under every single bed, behind the TV, at the top of every closet where I can't reach, in unused drawers...pretty much if there's a nook or a cranny, I have stuffed something in there.

Which brings me to my dilemma now...putting it all back together! EEK!

Unfortunately, I wasn't smart enough to take photos of how she had it decorated. I have a few photos from the rental listing but that's it. I have a rough idea in my mind of where things went but it's mostly going to be a, I am putting this here and I hope that you are okay with that, kind of thing.
So, I have to pack away all of our nice things and figure out how to put the house back together the way it was.

It's going to be strange living in the house for the next 4 weeks as I pack and transition it back. It will no longer feel like our home, but truly, what it is, a rental home. I thought I would be okay with living in someone else's home with someone else things but it's been a bit weird to be honest. Not having any of our own furniture, save for a few small bits and pieces, has been like being back in college.

I cannot wait to move into our new home and begin picking out pieces that make it feel like ours. I cannot wait to decorate it and put back out all of our personal things that make my heart smile.

As I pack away our personal photos and mementos, I will remember fondly the year we have spent at the beach. It has certainly been an adventure. But I am ready...ready to settle down with my husband in a place that we can call all our very own!

Now if I can just remember where I put that packing tape?!