The Art of Moving (aka Newton’s Third Law)

Moving from the Lower East Side to Queens is putting a year and a half of life, or more precisely 534 days, in boxes. A year is long enough for me to collect a list of my favorite neighborhood spots, including Croissanteria on Avenue A (hands down the best croissant in the City) and Pain D’Avignon in Essex Market (a winner for baguette and breads in general). But a year is also short enough that I do not call the neighborhood home.

I hired movers to help me with the move. And having packed and unpacked boxes, I’ve learned a few things about the art of moving.

Irony: “Honestly, I don’t have much stuff!”
That’s what I had believed and when I called the movers, I informed them that I have very little luggage. I had a large suitcase, five boxes (and maybe a little more), a mattress/frame, desk, chair, small bookshelf and two lamps. But no, I stressed that I travel light.

Turned out, I was a little off in my calculation. Either the boxes I salvaged from my apartment’s recycling bin were too small, or I was a hoarder of not-essential-but-might-be-useful-later things, instead of five boxes I ended up with 12.

The first rule to mastering the art of moving, More, not less boxes, seriously, stop deluding yourself.

(image credit: allaroundmovingcom)

You + Your Life = Boxes 
Excluding furniture, my roommate summed up her years in the city as followed: “This is what I am, 20 boxes.”

As for me, my New York life thus far fitted into 12 Fresh Direct boxes.

Odd really, as depressing as the notion that my time in the City amounted to only 12 boxes, it was also beautifully refreshing. Sure, moving is a hassle no matter when, where or under what circumstances, but at the same time, starting afresh in the City is deliciously easy. Simply pack and move (literally and metaphorically).

And now, we come to the third and most important law: Newton’s third law.

For every packed box, there is the unpacking
Moving, like Newton’s third law where “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction,” every packed box comes with unpacking. In fact, I would argue sometimes the opposite reaction is not only equal, but greater.

Certainly that was the case for me. In the spirit of equal and opposite reaction, do think about what you need or not need to take with you.

Happy moving!

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