I love packing. I mean that in a completely serious, get excited about it, break out the boxes and let's sort shit kind of way. The making of order from chaos, the removal of painful memories and the promise of a clean break and a new start - I love it.
More about the joy of packing below the dooblydoo.
I don't fuck around about it either. I've taken 8 musty old cardboard boxes and sent them on to their next lives and packed the contents into three plastic boxes. I've sorted out the clothes languishing in the closet as my weight has ballooned and filled 2 bags for Goodwill. I've culled 2 boxes of books to donate to the local synagogue. I've gone through all my papers and filed them all so they are ready to go and not scattered in piles or shoved in a drawer. I found things from my ex and tossed them in the bin. Take that, Chaos!
In short - I'm getting ready to go home. The car has been repaired, ColCatLady is tinkering on a few last minute items now, but they are little things - I wanted a new cabin air filter put in and the "smart" rear view mirror isn't so smart anymore - the electronics died an ugly death in the Arizona heat. New brakes, new shocks and struts, new AC compressor, a bath - the car doesn't know what to do with itself its in such good shape now. The drivers side window goes up and down too, that was making me crazy. So not only will things fit in the car, but the car is ready for the long drive home.
On the down side - it's freaking everyone out but me.
Mum is being combative and picking fights, realising she will be stuck here with ColCatLady and The Beast on her own and no one to shop or chat with anymore. ColCatLady is freaking out realising that no, he doesn't have any control or say and I am doing exactly what I said I would from the beginning - leaving. Even poor Nigel is out of sorts, I guess he's concerned I might leave him here in the kitty dumping ground and not come back. I'm seriously considering getting a little plastic box to pack his toys in so he knows he's going too.
I still have about 3 weeks EDIT: we're leaving 2 weeks from today! (Sunday 5/18) to go before leaving time actually arrives, so I'm not packing up the things I use daily or regularly, just the things that have been sitting put away, waiting to go back. Sailing Partner may actually fly down here so we'll have the whole trip together - which should be super fun! A road trip across the US and onto our new beginning as a sailing team, with videos and pictures and silliness all over the place! YAY!
Of course, it will freak my parents right the fuck out - she's not only female, but a different race! In our house! In my room! People might think we're dating! (we're not.) It will be so expensive having another adult here! (we're leaving.) What will people think! (who cares?) We might be able to shave a couple miles off the trip as well, since we don't have to stop in Phoenix anymore. Works for me.
Once I get things properly sorted and packed it will all go back into the closet for a couple weeks - but I'll know it's been done. I hate last minute scrambling around trying to get ready when I don't have to do it that way. I'll be free of all this crap that's piled up and accumulated that I don't want or need - and I'll be ready to go home.
Home.
What a wonderful word.