My Seattle Move: Sunday, December 25

First off, Merry Christmas to those who are actually getting to enjoy the event.  I'm not.

So yesterday I got a lot done.  I didn't realize how much garbage I had just stacked and boxed around the place that I just never got around to cleaning up.  Not really "clutter", just boxed nonsense that was no longer valid.  Credit card statements from cards I'd gotten rid of over 5 years ago; that kind of thing.  I think I just was in such a haste the last time I moved that I didn't take time to sort stuff out, which isn't unexpected.

So anyway, the closet is completely clear.  I have to check the garbage bin to see if there's room - I ended up filling up half of it yesterday and it was already half full.  Problem is, between Christmas wrapping and tree cleaning I suspect I won't be able to discard anything until at least Tuesday.  My plan is to get the living room in a position that I can pack stuff up.  I had to make a hard choice yesterday, because my paycheck situation is still an unknown.

Right now I know I have enough money to physically move.  I've got gas money, plenty for the drive, I've got the prorate rent from my current place plus the transfer fee ($200), and I've got the rent for the new place which is full because of my start date.  Total it will be around $2700.  (For reference, if I hadn't done it this way, it would have been well over $4500).  But I also have to pay a junk hauling service, which I estimate around $400, and then if I were to move stuff I would be looking at minimum $900, whether I do a truck myself or hire a mover.  I don't want to sit in an UHaul truck for over 20 hours, and I don't want to waste gas in an inefficient drive.  The movers could be an option, but I would have to pay the day the stuff is delivered, and I'm not 100% sure I will have the extra funds needed to pay them.

Instead, I decided to just let the junk haulers take everything that is furniture away - meaning I will need to buy all-new furniture after I get there.

Hard decision.  The only real key part of my furniture set is the TV stand, which happened to be perfect for what I was doing.  Unfortunately I will no longer have that luxury, and in the new place I may just need to re-think my entertainment unit setup...wall mount and shelf where possible.  That leaves my two LCDs, stereo, media library, and computer equipment that I have to deal with, plus the crates of other stuff that I'm taking, and my clothes.  If I can get all of that stuff figured out I'll be good to go.  Unfortunately, my Altima is only so big...