Wednesday February 23, 2005
Every household move has its moments where the movee is pretty certain nothing will work out. My current move is fast approaching one of those moments.
The new place is tiny. Did I mention that before? I was having a hard time figuring out how to get the stuff I thought I ought to have in my place to fit - based on not purchasing/bartering any new furniture. This was, as usual, accomplished using graph paper. Even on paper it wasn't looking workable. Then clarity struck. I had to start thinking of my place as a hotel suite - without the maid service. Much better.
The search for storage took about a day in which I learned some important things about multilevel buildings offering such services. Two important things: the freight elevator's floor must come within 1/2 inch of the building's floor; the swinging door on the outside of the freight elevator must have a tether to keep it open. I ended up having to move the first droplet of stored things from the third floor to the second to get around these problems. I scored a bonus when the elevator to the second floor turned out to be directly across from the dock I would most likely use and is large enough to hold two trolleys. [Sorry if you really don't care about such things, but they are my life right now.]
Before you give me grief about the other kinds of storage available believe me, I have compared price and accessibility and location in this search. This one is a good price (even better since I had to move into a larger unit because of the problems above), close to my current apartment, not too far from my new one and I can get to my stuff 24/7. This is important when you need something and for the NEXT move.
So far things seem to be working okay, huh? Just wait.... The newly installed door closing mechanism on the new digs meets the fire code but requires a full body press to push my way in. Leaving (pulling on it) is even tougher. It's hard to escape getting smushed on the way out. I thought it was just me, but in any case, I found the construction dudes and asked them to adjust it for me. One of them admitted that he could hardly open it, so I don't feel as old and feeble as I did earlier.
There's a huge dumpster occupying 95% of the width and 50% of the length of the driveway. I was hoping it was going to leave soon, but the estimate is that it will be there for at least a week. This complicates moving somewhat. Especially the convoluted path that must be taken around the dumpster and then around the side stoop to reach the sidewalk to my apartment at the back of the building.
So much for timing my move around that impediment... see, I'd been hoping to use a trailer but the street is pretty busy and there won't be any room to pull it all the way into the drive.
The best I could do for a truck rental was Monday afternoon. I've reserved it at UHaul for now, but I'll be looking for alternatives. The problem with a weekday afternoon/evening move is finding people to help. Weekends are better which is why everyone else is moving on the weekend - right?
Now I have also rented a person and a van to help me get the futon out of the basement tomorrow night. Tomorrow during the day I will be moving the office (as much as will fit which is pretty much just the stuff that needs plugging in) and the TV/stereo equipment. These go together because the cable connection will be moved for both of them as soon after that as I can schedule it.
My roommate is moving her stuff out on Saturday which means I should have my new kitchen set up enough to cook a bit that day or the day before. Getting this set up before the storage move for the big and/or heavy stuff will allow any excess to go along to storage. Temporarily. Because my life just has to get better soon. My psychiatrist says so.
But first, my surgeon says it is going to be very inactive for a couple of weeks post surgery. And it'll be two months of wearing a cervical collar. But it's worth it as far as I'm concerned. If I had a job, I'd be ready to work in about 6 weeks. As pain free as possible. Because he's still thinking 2 discs need removal. A radiologist is being consulted for a second interpretation of the MRI.
I'm pretty worn out after all the running around today. Made a couple of trips to move things I could fit in the Jeep. Hoping some sleep tonight will be possible.
And now, I'm thinking maybe I won't need a truck on Monday after all. Hey... if the futon gets moved tomorrow, the rest of the stuff that's going to the new place can go in the Jeep. And the stuff that's going to storage can probably fit in a trailer. Granted there'll be several trips for each, but still.... Hmm. I'm going to sleep on that.
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