Adjustment Period

As you know, my life officially fits into a 5x5 storage unit and the back of my car. However, as much as I had everything planned out, there were a few things that weren’t so well thought out.

1. I Can’t Find Anything: There is a big question of where I put stuff. I tried to be very deliberate and organized as I packed. Although I'm a fairly experienced mover... in my 5 years of college I moved 11 times, I never had to be that organized. Usually when I come down to the last few boxes, I just say “F it” (F = forget for the PG version of the story), throw everything into one box, and figure it out when I get there. However, despite my desperate attempts at organization, I’m still not sure where half my stuff is.

(This is my storage unit)

2. Unintentional Raw Foods Diet. I took over a drawer of the refrigerator at the office; however, right now I have no way to cook things, I am only eating things that don’t need to be cooked. I had a chat with my coworker Ammie today about what small appliance I might need. She had a lot of good suggestions, and I need to do some investigation.

3. Theft: I have a bit of a concern about keeping so much stuff I my car (because of security purposes). My goal was to get it down to what could be kept in the trunk and covered. I’m overflowing into the backseat right now, and I don’t like it. I’ll work on it though…

(The Trunk of my Car)

4. How to Pack: My last concern is regarding packing. I’m leaving tomorrow for my next trip and need to pack. Right now, it’s unconfirmed but it looks like this is going to be my plan:
- 4 Days Detroit for Steph & Derek’s wedding weekend
- 5 Days Cedar Rapids, IA for work
- 2 Days Chicago for fun
- 3 Days Cedar Rapids, IA for work

Packing for this under a normal condition would be difficult for me (especially because of my moral opposition to checking luggage). But my packing experience today was one to be remembered. The suitcase I needed was full of other stuff that wasn’t going with me and I didn’t know where anything was. So my strategy was to drive to the Storage Unit and pack in the parking lot there. That way, anything I couldn’t find in my car, I could run upstairs and take out of storage.

Of course my luck, it was torrential downpour as I was trying to do this. So there were clothes thrown all over my car: the drivers seat was for the “maybe taking” pile, the passengers seat was for the “taking” pile, and the backseat/trunk was the “not coming with me, but need to get it out of the way” pile. Although I ended up soaking wet, I think I have most things that I need for the trip all ready. I got a friendly reminder from my Mom not to forget my bridesmaids dress or shoes… but just in case, someone please check in with me tomorrow to be sure I have it!