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Excerpt from

Shape Up and Move Out

You’ve pared down your belongings as a result of loot parties and the stuff sale, yet, at this point, you may still feel somewhat baffled as you survey stacks of cardboard cartons and plastic-sack blobs. Where did all this stuff come from?

Your home has taken on the appearance of a warehouse. The sacks (labeled, of course), you will recall, contain the clothing, towels, bed linens, blankets and pillows you will not need during these last few days before the big event. The boxes teeter in stacks from corner to corner reminiscent of a famous Italian landmark.

About the only familiar pieces still in place are your TV and your favorite chair. With all this confusion, your bird, your cat, or your dog—if these are a part of your life—will be especially needful of your attention and reassurance, and giving it to them will provide the same for you.

Items for sale on consignment by your friend—such as the microwave, toaster oven, and blender—will be picked up a day or two before the move. Which brings us to this question. If you pack, give away, or sell all your dishes and furnishings before you move, how do you manage meals and normal functioning during these last days?

If you have ever gone camping, especially backpacking where you must carry all food, clothing, utensils and sleeping gear on your back, you will recall the need to travel light. If you have never indulged in any kind of camping, it may surprise you to learn how few toiletries, clothing, bedding, and cooking pots are essential for your daily needs.

Normally, you will not have given away or sold your refrigerator, range, or washer and dryer. In most instances, if you are leasing your home, some or all of these appliances remain with it. If your destination requires that you take them along, they will be disconnected and loaded by movers or gracious helpers on the last day. The moving instructions furnished by a moving company will include information about disconnecting appliances. Make sure a knowledgeable person does this. Failing to properly drain washing machine hoses and ice maker plumbing can result in extra messes to clean up.

Let’s say you are single and have five days until move-out. On the first day of that countdown, pack everything but the following: a coffeemaker (if required), one small pot to boil water for tea or to cook cereal or vegetables, a small fry pan, a plastic bowl and a set of eating utensils, a sharp knife and a tablespoon. Retain paper plates (from the loot party), a coffee mug, and plastic drinking cups. Paper towels, handy for many last-minute chores, can be used as napkins.

Make your own choices and adjust this list for the length of time you will be in transit and for any changes in climate between here and there. For the five days before move-out, basic essentials are: underwear, nightwear, comfortable shoes, a pair of work pants and top, a second pants and top or other garment for travel or for errands away from the house, a jacket (depending on weather), your medications, toiletries, and a couple of towels.

Pack these in the same bag you would take on a short vacation trip. All other clothing and incidentals can be boxed, placed in suitcases, plastic sacks, or left in garment bags in the closet until final day. You can always use the public laundry if necessary during your last week before the move.

Clear the fridge and clean it at least two days before your move. You may want to freeze a container or two of water to use in a food cooler for the perishables—perhaps milk or pet food—for your last day in the home. Neighbors are usually happy to have gleanings from your fridge, but you will be too busy the last few hours to deliver the quarter pound of butter, the stalk of celery, and the half-quart of milk. Such chores involve conversation which you do not have time for. Take your leftovers to neighbors and say your good-byes at least two days before Move Day.

Confessing my greatest fridge faux pas may be useful here. On one move, to save the renter electricity before he took over the home a week after I left it, I cleaned the refrigerator and turned off the power but failed to leave the fridge door open. The tenant sent me a bill for mildew removal. My intentions were good, but the execution was brainless.