Some people spend their entire lives in the same city, the same neighborhood, and even the same house for their entire life.
I am not one of those people.
I have moved eight times before going off to college, and if we were to count total number of addresses I've been a resident of it would be twenty-three times going on twenty-four next week, and twenty-five in four more months.
As a kid who moved every 3-5 years, I envied my new friends and their stability, their friendships from diaper age, and even having the same room every night.
As I grew up, I realized I had the upper hand.
I knew how to make new friends, and quickly.
I knew how to pack fragile items so they wouldn't break in transit.
I also knew how to set up mail forwards, clean a place before moving to get my full deposit returned, and how to find the best take-out places in town within hours of moving there.
Maybe it's a little ironic that after college I was looking to settle down, get a little more permanent, even "plant some roots" somewhere, but the man I married gets transferred every 1-3 years for his job.
We love the company he is with and have enjoyed nearly all of the moves.
With our next move a week away, I decided to write about saying goodbye to the town you are moving away from.
Step One is admitting to yourself that you are moving.
Relish in your friendships by going out to dinner with friends, co-workers and acquaintances that you want to stay in touch with post-move.
Undoubtedly, there will be the going-away lunch through your job, and everyone will tell you to, "Stay in touch!" Let's face it, we all know that is highly unlikely.
Show your appreciation of friendship to those you do want to stay in touch with, make sure to exchange current addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.
Step Two is acting like a tourist.
Many of us when we move to a new place act like a tourist for about a week or two, then get into our own routine.
We've found the places that will make us happiest and forget to continue to explore.
If you've heard of a great restaurant just opening up, don't miss it! A new attraction, a hiking trail you haven't walked yet, an art exhibit you've been meaning to go to but haven't yet, go.
Even if you are moving within the same state, think about these last weeks or days as your last ever in this city.
Enjoy it! Step Three is the moving process itself.
Locate a new place to live, box up your belongings, clean or hire a professional cleaning company to come in, and get a truck, good friends, or a moving company to physically move your stuff.
If you have friends willing to give up a Saturday to help you, make sure to compensate them.
Friends will waive it off, but at the end of the day give everyone a Thank You card (or within the same week of your move) and in the card include a gas card for the driver, and gift cards to restaurants or your favorite place to go together for those who helped box, load and unload.
A nice bouquet of flowers and a vase could be sent to those who really went above and beyond the call of friendship, and can brighten up their own homes.
Step Four is the easiest to forget to do.
Remember step one where you were going to stay in touch with those you wanted to? The ball is typically in your court.
Reach out via email, phone, Facebook, or carrier pigeon and let those folks know that you are settling into your new place, new job, and are feeling comfortable.
If you are within a two-hour drive, encourage getting together for a yoga class, shopping or dinner out at a place mid-way, or invite them up for a Saturday or Sunday to check out your new place.
If life happens, and it always does, try to at least stay in touch like you promised you would.
I am not one of those people.
I have moved eight times before going off to college, and if we were to count total number of addresses I've been a resident of it would be twenty-three times going on twenty-four next week, and twenty-five in four more months.
As a kid who moved every 3-5 years, I envied my new friends and their stability, their friendships from diaper age, and even having the same room every night.
As I grew up, I realized I had the upper hand.
I knew how to make new friends, and quickly.
I knew how to pack fragile items so they wouldn't break in transit.
I also knew how to set up mail forwards, clean a place before moving to get my full deposit returned, and how to find the best take-out places in town within hours of moving there.
Maybe it's a little ironic that after college I was looking to settle down, get a little more permanent, even "plant some roots" somewhere, but the man I married gets transferred every 1-3 years for his job.
We love the company he is with and have enjoyed nearly all of the moves.
With our next move a week away, I decided to write about saying goodbye to the town you are moving away from.
Step One is admitting to yourself that you are moving.
Relish in your friendships by going out to dinner with friends, co-workers and acquaintances that you want to stay in touch with post-move.
Undoubtedly, there will be the going-away lunch through your job, and everyone will tell you to, "Stay in touch!" Let's face it, we all know that is highly unlikely.
Show your appreciation of friendship to those you do want to stay in touch with, make sure to exchange current addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.
Step Two is acting like a tourist.
Many of us when we move to a new place act like a tourist for about a week or two, then get into our own routine.
We've found the places that will make us happiest and forget to continue to explore.
If you've heard of a great restaurant just opening up, don't miss it! A new attraction, a hiking trail you haven't walked yet, an art exhibit you've been meaning to go to but haven't yet, go.
Even if you are moving within the same state, think about these last weeks or days as your last ever in this city.
Enjoy it! Step Three is the moving process itself.
Locate a new place to live, box up your belongings, clean or hire a professional cleaning company to come in, and get a truck, good friends, or a moving company to physically move your stuff.
If you have friends willing to give up a Saturday to help you, make sure to compensate them.
Friends will waive it off, but at the end of the day give everyone a Thank You card (or within the same week of your move) and in the card include a gas card for the driver, and gift cards to restaurants or your favorite place to go together for those who helped box, load and unload.
A nice bouquet of flowers and a vase could be sent to those who really went above and beyond the call of friendship, and can brighten up their own homes.
Step Four is the easiest to forget to do.
Remember step one where you were going to stay in touch with those you wanted to? The ball is typically in your court.
Reach out via email, phone, Facebook, or carrier pigeon and let those folks know that you are settling into your new place, new job, and are feeling comfortable.
If you are within a two-hour drive, encourage getting together for a yoga class, shopping or dinner out at a place mid-way, or invite them up for a Saturday or Sunday to check out your new place.
If life happens, and it always does, try to at least stay in touch like you promised you would.