My Life In a Box

It began with the seemingly innocent reorganization of two bookshelves. One became the gathering place for books I'd like to read in the coming year. The other held the books I probably won't use anytime soon. 

Next, it was the sorting of the china cabinet and the careful wrapping of vases and a tea set in lesser-used tablecloths which then got packed in a box. Soon, though, I was asking for a budget with which to buy numerous plastic storage bins. Where will it end? 

Yesterday I used up all the boys' nap time going through my sewing room, culling fabric I will never use, etc., and last night I spent several hours sorting, wrapping and packing in the kitchen. The result was a slightly less cluttered space, four bins to take downstairs and a few more things to tag for the yard sale. 

Yes, pre-packing has begun in earnest. In a few weeks we should be down to just those things we will take with us plus the furniture we will be leaving in the "partly furnished rental". The thought of leaving my home is not one I let myself entertain very often, but I have to face the truth, I suppose. The day of reckoning is nearly here.

Although my dear husband would like to have every detail in place before spreading the news, I am here to leak the information in true D.C. style. He will be a Franklin Fellow at the State Department's Policy Planning office beginning at the end of June. The fellowship can last 9-12 months, so we are planning to move ourselves back here next spring or summer. The plus side of this move to NoVa is that we will be close to my parents and younger sister's family, not to mention my aunts, uncle, and cousins. It will be a rare opportunity for us all to live near extended family and I look forward to it. Fairfax, such as it is,  is my hometown. It has changed a lot in the past 18 years, but then so have I. 

My life now fills a few more boxes than it did back then.