Checklist for Moving

I am right in the middle of moving and find it helpful using a checklist. It soothes my nerves and eases the uneasy feeling that I perhaps have forgotten something.

Week 8

•  Research.  Start investigating moving company options. Do not rely on a quote over the phone; request an on-site estimate. Get an estimate in writing from each company, and make sure it has a USDOT (U.S. Department of Transportation) number on it.
• Schedule an appointment with a moving agent. Set a convenient date for the agent to visit your home and determine the size and weight of your belongings. Your agent will then prepare a written estimate for your personalized move plan.

• Is your company paying for the move? If so, refer to their policy to determine the moving services the mover will be authorized to perform.
• Need help with packing? Moving a car? Your salesperson will discuss our variety of moving services with you in case you need extra help.
• Make sure to show the agent everything that is going to be moved. You can add or subtract items later, but that will change your estimate. Any items you forget to disclose or are added later to the shipment will increase the cost, even if you have been given a binding estimate. 
• Sort and purge.  Go through every room of your house and decide what you’d like to keep and what you can get rid of. Think about whether any items will require special packing or extra insurance coverage.
• Create a moving binder.  Use this binder to keep track of everything—all your estimates, your receipts, and an inventory of all the items you’re moving.
• Organize school records.  Go to your children’s school and arrange for their records to be transferred to their new school district. 

Week 7

Sign your Estimate and book your move

• Sign the Estimate/Order for Service once you have a clear understanding of each section. Ask your move coordinator if you have any questions.
• Lock in your move-out date and confirm your plan once you officially book your move.

Week 6

Change your address

• Now it is time to begin notifying others that you are moving; the post office is a good place to start. An online Change of Address form is available on the United States Postal Service website.
• Change your address with your banks, insurance providers, credit cards and magazine subscriptions. 
• Update your information with doctors, lawyers, accountants and any other professional services.
• Order supplies.  Order boxes and other supplies such as tape, Bubble Wrap, and permanent markers. Don’t forget to order specialty containers, such as dish barrels or wardrobe boxes.
• Use it or lose it.  Start using up things that you don’t want to move, like frozen or perishable foods and cleaning supplies. 
• Take measurements.  Check room dimensions at your new home, if possible, and make sure larger pieces of furniture will fit through the door. 

Week 5

Give away, sell, toss or recycle anything you do not need

• Go through every room in your house to sort through what will move with you and what will not.
• Have extra stuff? Organize a garage sale or online sale to get rid of anything you won't be taking with you.
• Donate any unwanted clothing, furniture or other household goods (pots, pans, dishes, bedding, etc.) to your favorite charities in town. Don’t forget to grab receipts showing the items’ approximate value for possible tax deductions.
• Buy only the food you will need up until move day. Clean out your cupboards and donate or remove any perishable items you will not need prior to the big day.
• Start to use up items like household cleaners, rolls of paper towels, etc.
• Toss or recycle anything that can’t be donated, sold or gifted. Keep in mind there might be a limit as to what you can put at the curb each week. (Here in Germany, we can’t curb anything without applying for Sperrmüll. Then we putt he stuff out on the curb and a company comes by to pick it up. If there is anything left after the scavengers!)
• Be sure to check the non-allowables list for items not allowed in your shipment. If you are unsure of how to properly dispose of these items, Mayflower recommends visiting earth911.com to help you find appropriate recycling centers in your neighborhood. 
• Choose your mover and confirm the arrangements.  Select a company and get written confirmation of your moving date, costs, and other details.
• Begin packing.  Start packing the things that you use most infrequently, such as the waffle iron and croquet set. While packing, note items of special value that might require additional insurance from your moving company. Make sure to declare, in writing, any items valued over $100 per pound, such as a computer.
• Label.  Clearly label and number each box with its contents and the room it’s destined for. This will help you to keep an inventory of your belongings. Pack and label “essentials” boxes of items you’ll need right away.
• Separate valuables.  Add items such as jewelry and important files to a safe box that you’ll personally transport to your new home. Make sure to put the mover’s estimate in this box. You’ll need it for reference on moving day. 
• Do a change of address.  Go to your local post office and fill out a change-of-address form, or do it online at usps.gov. But in case there are stragglers, it’s always wise to ask a close neighbor to look out for mail after you’ve moved. Check in with him or her two weeks after the move, and again two weeks after that.
• Notify important parties.  Alert the following of your move: banks, brokerage firms, your employer’s human resources department, magazine and newspapers you subscribe to, and credit card, insurance, and utility companies.
• Forward medical records.  Arrange for medical records to be sent to any new health-care providers or obtain copies of them yourself. Ask for referrals. 

Week 4

Check in with your move coordinator

• Was your garage sale a big success? Donate more than you planned? Notify your moving company if you add or subtract items from your planned move or if there are any changes in dates.
• Confirm any extra stops required to pick up or deliver goods to a location other than the main pickup or delivery      points.
• If your car is being moved, be prepared to drive it to the loading site for auto transport. Also be prepared to pick up your car at your destination location; again.

Week 3

Confirm your travel plans

• If you are driving to your new home, get your car tuned and ready for the trip.
• If you are flying, make sure you book your air travel and any other necessary transportation.
• Book any hotels or stops you’ll need to make along the way.
• Consider what items you’ll need for the trip and for your first night in your new home. Set them aside so they don’t accidentally get packed.

Start packing

• If you’re packing yourself, get a head start now so you aren’t overwhelmed at the last minute. Books, out of season clothes and decorative items are a great place to start.
• Plan your approach.

Preparing your household

• Send rugs and draperies out for cleaning. Leave them wrapped for transit once they are returned.
• Have any antiques or high-end items appraised in writing before the move.  Find receipts for any big ticket items and keep them with you, just in case.
• Pack Last: Prepare a “Load Last” box with any essentials you may need on your first night in your new home. Pack things like bottled water, paper towels, soap, a first aid kit and anything else you may need. This box will be the last box loaded and the first box unloaded during your move.
• Dispose of any flammables, fireworks, cleaning fluids, matches, ammunition or poisons. Visit earth911.com to help you find appropriate recycling centers in your neighborhood. 
• Schedule an appointment with a service technician to prepare any major appliances for the move.
• Drain fuel from your power mower, and discard or recycle the propane tank on your grill.
• Confirm the date that all of your utilities will be disconnected.

Week 2

Plan for your pets

• Make sure you have made travel plans for your pets.
• Take your pets to the vet and ensure you have any required health certificates or inoculations – every state/country has different requirements.

Finish your errands

• Pick-up anything you had cleaned, stored or repaired.
• Empty your locker at the club or gym.
• Return anything you have borrowed from friends or neighbors.

Week 1

Last minute details

• Make sure that all mechanical and electrical equipment is properly serviced for shipping prior to the arrival of the moving truck.
• Be on hand when the service representative arrives to prepare your appliances for shipment.
• Refill prescriptions. Stock up on prescriptions you’ll need during the next couple of weeks.
• Pack your suitcases.  Aim to finish your general packing a few days before your moving date. Then pack suitcases for everyone in the family with enough clothes to wear for a few days. (Remember the story about the moving fan that caught fire?)
• Double-check the details.  Reconfirm the moving company’s arrival time and other specifics and make sure you have prepared exact, written directions to your new home for the staff. Include contact information, such as your cell phone number.
• Plan for the payment.  If you haven’t already arranged to pay your mover with a credit card, get a money order, cashier’s check, or cash for payment and tip. If the staff has done a good job, 10 to 15 percent of the total fee is a good tip. If your move was especially difficult, you might tip each mover up to $100. Don’t forget that refreshments are always appreciated. 

Day before moving day

• Identify any extra-fragile items needing special attention. If certain items should not be packed or moved, mark them appropriately.
• Defrost the freezer. If your refrigerator is moving with you, make sure to empty, clean and defrost it at least 24 hours before moving day.
• Label any items or boxes you will want first when the truck arrives at your new home (valuables, electronics, etc.).
• If you are doing your own packing, make sure everything is ready to go before moving day. Upon arrival, the van operator will check to see if boxes have been properly packed.
• Collect things you definitely want packed together, such as children's toys and place in separate groups.
• Unplug all electronic appliances 24 hours in advance of a move, except plasma televisions, so that they will be at room temperature on moving day. This includes home computers, stereos and audio/video equipment. 

Moving day

• Verify.  Make sure that the moving truck that shows up is from the company you hired: The USDOT number painted on its side should match the number on the estimate you were given. Scams are not unheard-of.
• Take inventory. Before the movers leave, sign the bill of lading/inventory list and keep a copy. Make it a point to be on hand to see that all of your goods are loaded; remain close by until loading is complete. After making a final tour of the house, check and sign the inventory list. Be sure to get your copy from the van operator and keep it safe.

• There will be some necessary paperwork on the big day:
  High-Value Inventory form: complete and sign stating whether or not items of extraordinary value are included in the shipment.
  Bill of Lading/Freight Bill: includes the terms and conditions under which your goods are moved and is also your receipt for the shipment.
  Extraordinary (Unusual) Value Article Declaration: If applicable, check this box on the Bill of Lading.
• Give the van operator the exact destination address.
• Be sure to let the van operator know how you can best be reached, pending the arrival of your belongings.

Take a last look around

• Water shut off?
• Furnace and air conditioner shut off?
• Light switches turned off?
• All utilities arranged for disconnection with service providers?
• Windows shut and locked?
• Old house keys and garage door openers surrendered? 
• Have you left anything?

Delivery day

• Be on hand to accept delivery. If you cannot be there personally, be sure to authorize an adult to be your representative to accept delivery and pay the moving charges for you.
• On the day of delivery, the van operator will attempt to contact you by phone and/or will stop by your new home if he/she is unable to reach you. If you or an authorized individual cannot accept delivery of your belongings within the free waiting time (i.e., two hours) you may request additional waiting time (for an additional cost) until the delivery can be made.
• Check your household goods as they are unloaded. If you notice any damage or that something is missing, personally report any it to your salesperson or move coordinator. If there is any change in the condition of your property from what is noted on the inventory list, note discrepancies on the van operator's copy of the inventory. By signing the inventory, you are acknowledging receipt of all items listed.
• When unloading, each piece of furniture will be placed as you direct, including placing of rugs and setting up any beds that were disassembled at origin. If you would like your mattresses unpacked or appliances installed, check with your salesperson or move coordinator beforehand.
• It always helps to have a guide. Place a floor plan of your new home by the entrance, so the movers can determine where each piece of furniture should go. It is still best if you stand there and direct everything.
• Keep all your moving documents in a safe place. You will need them for verification of moving expenses when you file your federal income tax returns.
• To prevent any possible damage, leave appliances and electronics turned off for about 24 hours while they adjust to new room temperatures.

Settling in after your move

• It is time to make it official! Check in with your new post office for any mail being held and ask for delivery to begin.
• Check state (and local) requirements for auto registration and a driver's license.
• You may want to select an attorney to discuss laws that pertain to your destination state, county and/or city. Be sure to cover such matters as wills, transfers of property and investments, insurance regulations, inheritance laws, taxes, etc. Most laws affect a family as soon as residence is established in the new state and city.

Sicily

Looks like I just dropped off the map!

I am in my second week in Sicily, the first week was a painting course around Scopello and this week I am in Palermo. I have a large room on the eighth floor and look out over the roofs of Palermo.

My goal the last two years was to learn something new that I might enjoy and would be difficult for me - painting and Italian.  I surely picked well!

My painting instructor was very patient with me and I did make progress. If I keep it in the perspective of STRETCH, it will be fine. But I often let my ego get mixed into it. Yet that is the point - doing something that I don´t do well and trying to get pretty good. Well, actually, the goal is to have fun and expand my horizons.

I was walking up the street and found a language school and immediately signed up for Italian lessons. Wow! My first private lesson was with Giulia and I understood about half of what she said. At least she taught me past tense. I´ve done my homework and will have a two hour lesson today.

On Sunday, I took a two hour ride on a sightseeing bus, riding around enoying the view from the top, soaking up the sun after many cloudy and rainy days in Germany. Yesterday I took a walking tour for over five hours and saw things most tourists don´t bother to see or don´t know about. I´ve drawn and painted watercolor while here and done some interesting reading about happiness.

I also watched a scary video about the dangers of sugars, which put the fear of the Lord into me.

► 89:37► 89:37

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

31.07.2009 - Hochgeladen von University of California Television (UCTV)

Watch "The Skinny on Obesity" with Dr. Lustig: http://www.uctv.tv/skinny-on- obesity Robert H ...

Motivated to do without sugar, I tried to eat meals without some sort of sugar in them. Now try THAT in Sicily! Breakfast has tons of enticing rolls, cakes and sweets, lunch is bread of some sort and I had to pay 25 euros the other night just to get one plain old fish and some cold veggies.

Undaunted, I forge onward!!

La aiuta gli audaci!   (Fortune favors the brave)

Oct. 17: 
My soggiorno in Sicily is drawing to an end - boohoo. Yesterday, I had a two hour private Italian lesson and it was great. The teachers here use lots of games which are fun and help me learn better.

It still is quite warm during the day. 😓 I like to go out in the morning but by noon I'm dripping with sweat.

When I get back home, I must clean out all the useless dustcatchers I have been senselessly storing for years. Then I'll move in December. I really don't know how I am going to get along with one less room.

Sticky Fingers welcome

There is something immensely motivating in terms of downsizing: MOVE!

I've been at this for two years but more "on the side". My basement has hardly been touched and is full again. It is hard on my ego when the moving company representatives suck in their breaths in horror at the sight. I've sold books but there are at least 300 to go. I have furniture and knick-knacks I never look at.

By the end of November, I have to have all the stuff I don't want to drag into the new apartment OUT OF HERE. I've thrown myself into selling. Some special students are receiving gifts of cute things I've enjoyed and I hope they like. One did wonder why I gave her a bunny cup. Another surprised at a picture frame. Aww, I mean well kids.

If I don't get a handle on this, I'll have to throw a whole lot away. At least if I put the stuff out in front of the house, the things will magically find their way into other hands, er, sticky fingers. In this case I don't mind at all.

9 Ways To Be Happy In A High-Stress World

9 Ways To Be Happy In A High-Stress World

Rick Foster

Can we live in this high-tension world, and still be happy?

The answer is yes!

Happiness, and how we generate it, has been my field of study for more than fifteen years. With my partner and co-author, Greg Hicks, I've traveled the world and talked with thousands of people. We've interviewed an array of people on six continents from all walks of life - rich and poor, young and old -- and every other demographic that you can think of. What we've learned is that happiness isn't the result of economic or social circumstance, but, rather, how each of us individually chooses to react to those circumstances.

Choice is the key word here. As we discovered, there appear to be nine choices that self-identified happy people consistently make that give them a feeling of contentment and well being regardless of how stressful their lives may appear to be. We found that these same nine choices were made by people as varied in age, background and geographical location as an impoverished octogenarian in Vietnam, a bell hop in New York City, a restaurateur in rural Mississippi, and a teenager in the south of France.

We wrote about these nine choices in our first book, How We Choose to Be Happy. After publication of that book in 1999, we found ourselves coincidentally working with health organizations and it was the doctors and nurses who attended our lectures who began to draw the parallels between the nine choices that happy people make and the choices made by patients who were most successful in dealing with their health issues. These aha moments became the basis for our future work with such organizations as the Mayo Clinic and for our collaboration with Dr. Jen Seda on Choosing Brilliant Health.

What became clear is that the choices we make have a significant effect on our physical well-being. This connection comes as no surprise to those in the field of positive psychology but, for the first time, we were able to codify these choices and relate them directly to people trying to live their lives to the fullest potential, no matter what their current state of health.

When adopted and practiced, these nine practical choices become the means for anyone to navigate through our stressed-out world:

1. Intention: Having the intention to react differently to circumstances. The active desire and commitment to be happy, and the decision to consciously choose attitudes and behaviors that lead to happiness over unhappiness. The instant we make the choice to relax when we're paying exorbitant prices at the gas pump, or we cool our rage and decide to laugh at talk radio, we leave behind the heavily stressed flight-fight-freeze reactions of our "victim brain." We feel a lot happier -- and it's biochemically a good choice for our health. We may not be able to choose our circumstances or the events around us, but we do have the power to choose our reactions. And happy people take that special power and choose wisely. And, by the way, this is not denial - it's the choice to not let external circumstances over which we have no control guide our reactions.

2. Accountability requires taking ownership of that part of your life over which you do have control. It's the opposite of blaming others. Happy people take life by the horns and take action where they can. When you're in a state of blaming, you're back in that "victim brain" mode and it's not a happy place to be - nor a healthy one. You're much better off if you focus on what you can do to make your own life and the lives of others better, rather than stewing about the international oil cartel.

3 & 4: Identifying your passions and centralizing them in your life are crucial to overriding your political angst. Centrality: The nonnegotiable insistence on making central to your life that which brings you happiness. Happy people purposefully envision what they love and care about and focus their energies on these things--family, friends, health, community, work. And in so doing they achieve a happy sense of proportion about the world. All is not bleak when we engage with people dear to our hearts and do meaningful things for our communities. From a stress management standpoint, political and economic woes pale in comparison to good work. And, let's keep in mind that your activities don't have to be fueled by money. In years of asking people what makes them happiest, costly experiences and consumer durables aren't normally on the list. Family, friends, reading, walking on the beach, giving of ourselves (more on this one later), or cooking a great meal are some of the most frequent low-stress entries.

5. Recasting may sound like a psychological jargon but it is a simple concept that we witnessed all over the world. Recasting has three steps. First, whatever the setback may be, we allow ourselves to acknowledge our emotions -- we don't bury them. Second, we analyze what this setback means and what we can learn from it. And, third, we look for the opportunities that arise from our understanding of the meaning and lessons learned. The process can take a few minutes, or it can take years, depending on the depth of the problem. But however long it takes, recasting enables us to convert unhealthy stress and anxiety into hopefulness, healthfulness, and personal growth.

6. Extremely happy people approach the world by opening up options, not closing them off. There is always more than one way to do something, more than one possible outcome. By doing this they avoid being trapped - and they avoid developing the unhealthy, heart-pounding biochemistry shared by all trapped animals. This isn't flexibility for the fun of it. Having options is synonymous with having hope; lack of options leads to depression and despair. If you want to get rid of that despair, create new ways to travel through your life. Find new ways to do things and new approaches to everyday problems. Happy people analyze problems by opening up a maximum number of options and solutions and then choose from among them.

7. All the stress-inducing horrors of the evening news can be mitigated with a dose of appreciation. It may seem simple-minded at first, but extremely happy people use appreciation to keep themselves rooted in the present moment. In the instant we remind ourselves of what we have to appreciate in our lives, worries about the past fade and so do anxieties about the future. We're energized, and creating a feeling of appreciation makes us all the more able to take action, to live well, and to be happy in spite of the news.

8. Nothing lifts us from negative emotions more effectively than giving. The happiest people will tell you that if you feel put-upon -- give. If you're angry -- give. If you're disappointed -- give. If the world is making you feel burned out, remember how much you have to give. Share your intelligence, community-centeredness, problem-solving skills. Giving will energize you.

9. Truthfulness: Truth and truth-telling are hallmarks of extremely happy people, organizations, and cultures. Nothing frees us like the truth, and nothing elevates us above the anxieties and unhappiness of our everyday circumstances like truth. The happiest among us tell us that truth, however disturbing it might sometimes be. And, it may sound paradoxical, but all emotions -- even anger, sadness and fear -- go well with happiness, so long as they are grounded in emotional truth. Believe it or not, it's a happiness practice to feel angry and frustrated about what's happening in our world, and it's completely desirable to tell the truth about it. It is depression that is the killer.

We might consider Aristotle's words: "Happiness depends upon ourselves."

Moving out!

Goodness! I'm on a roll.

I canceled my contract for this apartment and have found a new one in a cute town, closer to the cities I work in and close to everything I could ever need. All in one week!

I was a bit worried that I'd have to live in a dinky flat on a noisy street. So I decided to search for a large apartment costing less than my flat does now. Everybody said "You wish!" yet it worked.

Sometimes we get so convinced that our goals and dreams are out of the question that we don't even try. So, somebody else goes for it and gets it.

It's always worth a try.

September 12
Yesterday, I had a moving company in to make an estimate on moving to the "other side" of Düsseldorf. Argh! Moving makes you really look at how much stuff you still have. And I was thinking about what I'd have to pay to get the junk moved over. No way!
Yep, I still have my work cut out for me but I still have two months. Tomorrow the landlady is coming over to take some photos of this apartment for an ad on the internet. Gulp. Better get moving!

September 14
HaHA! I sold my couch and armchair through ebay! Unfortuately, I couldn't unload the heavy piece of furniture that has been blocking my office for 14 years! It has shelves, drawers and a fold-out table, which should make it a dream to own. Just somebody else besides me please.

September 21
Now the couch is gone. Many a client has sat upon thee. ;-)
I've been organizing moving companies, have bought a new kitchen and put the old one on ebay to sell. I've printed out a floor plan of the new place and so much has to go before I move! It won't all fit, of course. I really don't have much furniture. But I DO have tons of shelves.
Here in Germany, we have Sperrmüll, which is a chance to put all of the old things out on the curb and it is all picked up and discarded. And, along with this, there are the Spermüll-Scavengers - people who drive around and pick up the stuff they could use or just plain covet. I think it is illegal but nobody watches.
Organizing the piano move is an extra chore. Moving companies don't want to do that. The company moving mine will pick it up a few days before the move and bring it to the new apartment a few days afterward. That way, nobody is underfoot.
I cancelled my phone company and they called, offered me a great deal to stay, so I did. Chuckling the whole time.
I did commit a huge "sin" though. I took part in my first (and last) ebay auction-last-minute-thrill and "won". I now own a brand new iphone 6 for about 300e more than it will cost in a few days.
Wonder if I'll ever really win this game...

September 29
I sold three Ikea bookshelves for 30€ and one ice-cream-parlor table. The shelves are incredibly old but are still in fine shape. I won't need as many shelves in the new place. As soon as I sell the 100 books I have to get out of said bookshelves before the new owners come to pick them up. Sheesch.