Crystal Williams

The title is not a cop-out, this is a post about stuff. My stuff, specifically.

I’m getting a bit introspective and over-caffeinated, starting in on the pre-moving process. Again. I’ve learned that there is a major difference between moves where you see your stuff the next day, moves where you see your stuff the next week, and moves where you throw everything in a portable box and hedge your bets before getting on a plane.

I’m prepping for that last type again, though there’s going to be a truck involved. I have a reasonable (or unreasonable) amount of experience with this already, but it’s still not easy or worry free. I was 25 the last time I did this, and honestly, the only large item I’ve acquired since then (not counting my car) is one (1) Ikea bookcase (the large, chunky – could also be a bench model). I have still yet to muster the will/acceptance of terms to buy a couch. Couches are symbols of sedentary lifestyles to me. I’m more in the hot-swapping countries camp.

So the process goes something like this:

• Sort everything into “need on a weekly basis”, “comfort items I want to keep”, and “purge”
• Pack, Clean, Pack, repeat as necessary
• Take care of every last lingering piece of paper, to-do item, to-mail item, etc. (This step sucks, btw)
• Freak out a bit, grasp tightly at LA a bit, remember WHY I’m doing this and move forward
• Spend a much caffeinated couple of hours in front of computer changing address on EVERYTHING
• Party with friends I’m going to miss
• Give things away or sell them until it’s just me and the boxes
• Put things in truck, hope for the best
• Put me on plane, ditto

I’ll be traveling up to Seattle via Foo Camp. So if you see me there and think “man, that chick REALLY overpacks” you’ll please understand. We fly up to Seattle on Sunday night and start work again Monday. Last couple of weeks of July will be work-heavy, first couple of weeks of August are owned by Black Hat, Defcon, and some sort of decompression post-con. The plan is to move into a guest-room-enabled place after that, retrieve my stuff, and proceed with a life devoid of 7am Monday morning flights. imagine!

I’ve grown less and less attached to ‘stuff’ in general. My books (by replacement cost) are by and large the most expensive thing I own. My bought-for-$200 stainless steel dining table is by far the heaviest, but it’s so solid and versatile (look ma, no coasters!) that I keep moving it. I’ve opted for plastic stacking drawers instead of a dresser. I haven’t owned a couch or a bedframe since 2004. I don’t collect anything but books and plants. (and the plants can’t be moved.) There’s a lot that I keep/move not because the replacement cost, but simply because I don’t like unnecessary buying.

Here’s to starting fresh.