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More Moving

joshLeave a comment

Moving boxesIt’s been quite some time since I posted my initial announcement about moving, so it’s probably time for an update.

The move is still happening. In fact, it’s already started. I moved out of my place at the end of April, and now live with the bf in his apartment, which is currently way too full of stuff. The real move is scheduled for May 30-31. We’re planning to drive, with the two little bundles of joy (the cats) and should arrive hopefully June 1. Exciting, eh?

I have only a few days left of work. This will be my first time being unemployed since I started college. It’s more than a little scary! I have done a little work on looking for jobs, but not a lot and I’ve had no success so far. I’m concentrating on networking, since I think that will be more likely to get me a job than just sending in my resume to jobs I find online. In my previous attempts at job hunting, I found that you almost never hear anything from that approach, which is very frustrating. I know that the people doing hiring don’t really have this kind of time, but wouldn’t it be great if you got feedback on why they weren’t interested in you? “You don’t have enough experience.” — “We’re looking for someone who has done XYZ.” — “Your resume is a hot mess and we think you have the writing skills of a turnip.” Good to know!

I’ll be sad to leave Chicago. I wasn’t born here but I’m close to having lived half my life here, and it will always have a special place in my heart. Of course, there’s a very good chance we’ll be back here in 2-3 years, but that’s not guaranteed. Who knows what the future holds. Of course, more than the city itself, I’m going to miss the people. Not all of the people, just the ones I like. My dear friends! I’ve met so many great people here!

Where are we going to live? Well… that’s not been decided yet but (=sigh=) it’s looking like it’s going to be in New… Jersey. It’s a bummer not to be living in NYC itself, but it’s just soooo expensive. We decided that–at least to start–we’d be better off with a place with a decent amount of space to ease the transition to this whole living-together-thing. And we simply can’t afford a place with that kind of space in the parts of NYC we’d want to live in. But I am sure I’ll get a job making big bucks any day now, so then we’ll see. (Heh, a boy can dream, can’t he?)

This is definitely a new chapter in my life. I don’t know what lies ahead, but I know nothing will ever be the same again. Wish me luck!

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Saying Goodbye

joshLeave a comment

clutterAfter my last post, you might be expecting something maudlin about dealing with the passing of a loved one. But that’s not what this is about; it’s not something I wish to dwell on. So on to other things!

How do you declutter your life? I am not a hoarder as you may have seen on TV, but I think I’d qualify as a pack rat. I–without a doubt–have too much stuff. That needs to change, and soon! Unfortunately it’s hard for me to get rid of things. I tend to associate objects with memories, as many people do. But the problem is I keep lots of  things that aren’t associated with significant memories. Like a mundane memento from an insignificant trip. I also tend to keep freebies, which I almost never need. Like a Frisbee from some bar that was used a plate at a food event. I can’t remember the last time I played Frisbee! Most of them aren’t even on display or anything. They’re just sitting on a pile or in a box.

So how do you make yourself get rid of these things that are just taking up space in your life? For many people it’s probably easy, but I find myself getting oddly attached to these silly and pointless doodads. Or I think “I might need that some day!” Never mind that I haven’t had a need for it in years and could probably acquire a new one in the unlikely event that the need some day arose.

I’ve been working hard on decluttering the last couple weeks and I’ve made some good progress (the freebie Frisbee is gone). But I am not there yet. I know I’m still holding on to too much stuff.

So how about it? Any other recovering pack rats have advice on how to say goodbye?