WFMW - Moving Mayhem

Moving is one of my strengths. Or used to be anyway. After this last one I'm beginning to have some doubts. But maybe that's just 'cause I'm getting older. And slower.

Anyway, because of my vast experience in moving -- 12 times before I went to college and 16 times since I've been married -- and because I'm a bit OCD, I've developed a system that really helps. It takes a little more time up front but saves LOTS of time at the end.

First thing I do is buy a new notebook. I could use an old one that still has pages in it but where's the fun in that? Nope, new notebook for each move.

As I pack a box, I list every item that goes in. I label each box on all four sides and the top with my code. B-1 would be the first box of bathroom items, K-3 would be the third box of kitchen items. See? So I can later look in my notebook and see that K-3 has the mixing bowls, the Pyrex 9x13 pan, some dish towels and all my spices.

Labeling the boxes according to the room where it belongs helps in the actual moving process, too. "Oh," I can tell whoever is helping us, "K-3 goes in the kitchen."

Of course, it isn't completely cut and dried. Because I like to use my towels and bed linens and some clothes to wrap more delicate items. I usually label those boxes "M" for miscellaneous. But because my notebook clearly tells me that M-2 has all the framed family pictures wrapped in our long underwear, I'll know to have the box put in the spare room and I can get to it later. And should I need that long underwear Pronto! I can easily find it.

I put books in smaller boxes because of the weight and although I could have a list of which books are in what box, I am not that OCD. I just label those boxes BOOKS.

When I'm using plastic bins that I really don't want to write on, I write the label on a piece of paper and tape it to the top of the bin. Didn't catch the hubby in time this last move though so some of our bins will forever be M-6 and K-7. Or something.

This time I quickly typed up the info because we had to provide a shipping manifest to the customs people and, while I was at it, I grouped all the K boxes together. (Not so neat and tidy in the notebook.) This was also helpful, but not absolutely necessary.

Let me tell you, at the end of the move you will be SO GLAD you have the master list of everything in those boxes. No more searching through 15 before you find the potato peeler, because the notebook tells you that all the kitchen utensils went into K-4.

This system works equally well for things you just store seasonally or temporarily in the garage or attic.

And that's my tip for this week's Works For Me Wednesday. You'll find tons more ideas over at Rocks In My Dryer!