One more moving related question

[DubaiSis]

OK, probably NOT my last moving related question. Just consider that bait and switch if I come back with another in the next week.

GCers of the world, unite! And tell me, how do you pack up very large awkard items that you don't want to throw willy-nilly into the pod, they aren't breakable, but do need to be protected. 2 examples I'm dealing with: my (sewing) cutting board, which is approximately 2 1/2 feet by 3 1/2 feet, is flexible, but if it's not kept more or less flat will warp. Second is my large, I think they're called French pillows. Big square decorative bed pillows. Now, all of this stuff was moved to the other side of the world and back, so clearly they went in a box before, but I can't figure out how, unless there was a significantly larger box available. I'm thinking about the largest trash bags I can get my hands on and hope and pray nobody involved confuses them with actual trash. What do you think?

And by the way, my agenda is set. 2 nights at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach (fantastic vacation location for the 2 nights my friend is here before we leave), The Palms in Las Vegas, 2 nights at the Hampton Inn Sedona (yes, not as exciting, but the price disparity made it a good choice for me), 1 night at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya in Albuquerque/Santa Fe, 1 night at a dump in OKC (friend's free night certificate so not my choice), and then to my re-new home! My plot twist this week is my boss contacted me and needs me to start ASAP. She actually wanted me to start on November 11th. Not arriving until November 9th really makes that impossible since I have to find an apartment, get electric, cable, blah blah blah set up, buy new furniture AND get it all delivered and set up. I told her I can start on the 18th, but yikes, even that is going to be rough. It is very calming to be WANTED, but all of my organization skills are going to be tested to their max.

[IndianaSigKap]

Can you place the sewing board vertically against the edge of the pod? Won't the rest of the furniture and boxes keep it wedged in?

I hope you and your friend have a fun drive back. You're stopping in some great cities.

[DubaiSis]

Yes, and that would definitely be a solution if it were the only tricky piece. But there are several that will be problematic.

Then I'm trying to work out how to get the boxes from my apartment to the actual pod. When we moved in (and virtually every trip to Costco) we passed boxes over the patio wall. Our apartment opens onto a parking lot so that makes in and out really easy. The problem is I packed the boxes the way the pros do - HEAVY - but I'm not using professionals to move the boxes. I have a cart truck, but there are 4 or 5 stairs if I take the boxes out the front door. I hate to play the damsel in distress card, but I may have to engage the few men I know here I may be woman, here me roar, but I'm a weakling.

[adpiucf]

I pack pillows in bags. If you are worried about them getting tossed, you can get clear storage bags (like the ones where you vacuum out all the air). Another option is putting the pillows in a plastic storage tub. If you only have trash bags, get masking tape, label it and the put the tape on the bags: "DUBAISIS's PILLOWS. NOT TRASH. LIVING ROOM"

[AGDee]

Yes, I would use bags for the pillows. U-Haul stores sell all kinds of shapes and sizes of boxes. You might want to find one there that will allow you to pack the cutting board and pack things in with it so it stays flat. In fact, given the size, maybe the pillows can go in that box with the cutting board?

[DubaiSis]

Yes, the cutting board will go nicely with the pillows. I bought all new boxes at U-Haul along with a really nifty dish box. The stuff cost a fortune and I thought I'd be returning several but not so much! It looks like I will be returning 1 large and 1 medium box. And I guess I'll go back to see what they have for really big. Or I may just go buy whopper trash bags at the hardware store and be done with it.

I did have to discard ALL of my semi-professional clothes. In addition to them now being substantially too large, styles have gotten much narrower, so even if they fit, the legs are too wide!

Did you know U-Haul has a program where you can share your used boxes? I totally would have tried to do that if I'd known BEFORE reading about it on the boxes I'd just purchased.

[rockwallgreek]

A veteran mover, more than 13 military moves, 2 civilian! hand carry your cutting mat. Mine went under the seats, I did have an SUV, cat sleeping on it did not hurt. Pillows...the best way is to get those bags where you use you use your vacuum to suck out the air... Space savers? Don't pack heavy. It's weight that counts!

[DubaiSis]

Thanks. One more issue resolved today. A friend of mine volunteered her brothers, one of whom was a mover for awhile. So they should get the load done lickety split. Unloading will be another story, but I'll handle that when the time comes. So far with this move, all the pieces just seem to be magically falling into place.

But here's the most recent PLOT TWIST or an update on the last one. I NEED to start the new job on the 11th. The reason the old boss was excited to have me back is because she is taking on a new corporate account, Merck. The Amex corporate hoohas (and possibly Merck people, don't know for sure) are going to be in the office training from the 11th to the 15th. If I'm not there I'll spend the next month trying to play catch up and that's just no bueno. So I'll suck it up and go in for the training and somehow figure out how to find an apartment, buy new furniture, get cable, electric, etc. set up, have everything delivered (presumably with me there to receive it), all while training and starting a new account, and getting used to my new life as a single woman. I am woman, here me roar, right?

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Where is the new job?

[DubaiSis]

In Overland Park Kansas. It's an old/new job. I'm going back to my previous employer. She's a great mix of completely professional AND supportive as a business owner and human. I'm not stoked about going to such a heavy corporate travel job, but I have the freedom and an incentive of sorts to still sell leisure travel. I'm just hoping I have the time to do so! I really like selling vacations; there just isn't enough money in it for me in my current circumstance. I need to build into it and hopefully this will afford me that opportunity.

[DubaiSis]

I'm sure you're all on pins and needles waiting for an update. The pod was supposed to arrive between noon and 4 PM. It arrived, had consult with the driver, found the place to put it (EXACTLY in front of the door. Woo hoo!), signed the papers and he was outta there. By 2:15. So yeah for that. The guys (brothers of a friend) who are going to help with the move haven't confirmed yet when they're coming, but the container now holds my cutting table and 1 box. At first I was freaking about how small the thing looks but with a box inside I'm more confident. I have 3 large boxes (from Uhaul), several medium and a couple small, plus several plastic bins. Now I think I'm ok that they'll all fit. If they were all mismatched sizes I might be in trouble, but one more reason to just pay and get the good boxes.
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[DubaiSis]

And here are all my worldly possessions. Well, except for the 2 bags, my laptop and a few plants that will be going into the car.