Swimming in a Sea of Boxes

Oh the joys of moving...

Some people collect stamps, some collect baseball cards and some even collect old metal spoons...what do we collect? BOXES!! A couple months ago, before we even knew we were officially going to be moving, we decided to save boxes. I think I found the first few - sitting next to the apartment complex recycling bins. Great! When K got home from work I told him, "Hey, not sure when the move will happen, but I got some boxes. They're in the back of the Subaru." K responded with, "Ooh, good thinking." Since that day, we have given our notice of not renewing our current lease and signing a new lease elsewhere. And what has that resulted in? More BOXES!

About 1/3 of our balcony is occupied by empty boxes of all shapes and sizes - we don't discriminate. We've accumulated these boxes via K's work, friends and yes, even the dumpster (don't hate 'cuz I dumpster dive). Call us cheap, but if we can avoid having to buy EMPTY boxes, we will do what it takes. Buying empty boxes, what an oxymoron. About a week ago a couple moved in below us, I was SO close to putting a sticky note on their door that said, "We're moving soon. Can we have your boxes? - #304," but instead I checked the dumpster occasionally. Thanks #203 for your boxes. *wink* I hit the mother load the other day while taking J on his daily walk around the complex. For whatever reason, I felt compelled to check all the dumpsters as we walked by them, and low and behold I found these awesome, heavy duty Sterlite boxes - like 6 of 'em. FAB-U-LOUS!! I guess it pays to live in an apartment complex, there's always people moving in and getting rid of the boxes they PAID for...haha, suckers! When we got home from small group last night I went to put a few more boxes we got from one of the couples on the balcony and K asked, "Did you get more boxes today?" "Sure did," I replied. While looking outside, K said, "Um, I think we've got enough now."

Unfortunately, these boxes can't just be collectors items, they have to be filled with STUFF. So now the task at hand is the dreadful packing. Ugh! If I were rich, there is no doubt in my mind that I would hire someone to pack for me. Sure, I've been packing a bit here and a bit there over the past week or so, but it's such a tedious job. The packing job I cringe about the most is the kitchen - there's just so much stuff in there that needs to be INDIVIDUALLY wrapped. K's great, he'll ask me what he can pack so that he can help, but realistically there's not much he can do. I'll say something and he'll respond with, "Do you really trust me doing that?" He's got a point. Basically, he'll end up packing his part of the closet and the front closet items - tool boxes, painting stuff, etc. I am grateful, though, he packed ALL the books. I appreciate his willingness to help, but since he won't be much help with the packing, he can make up for it with the actual moving. hehe.

Saturday, September 10th will be a sad day...for on that day, I will no longer be adding to my box collection. I guess I'll just have to come up with something new to collect...any ideas??