10. Movin’ on up
The dreaded process of moving house is nearly impossible to avoid. In my early twenties, I’m about to move into my fourth place to live since living with my parents, an average of one move per year. I can tell you that is more than enough. It consists of a lot of self-reflection, wondering if it is worth keeping that wristband from that fun concert from 2021. Aren’t the memories of the night enough? Clearly, not for me and a million other events or days, memories I attach to hoarded objects for years and years. Some objects I don’t know when I will part with, but after the moving process, it’s time to face the facts: I’m an acute hoarder. I’ve lived out of a suitcase for a few weeks, in a temporary residence and I never wished I had that face mask I had been saving for a rainy day or that birthday card from my colleagues from two jobs ago. Basically, I am looking for some common ground, someone please tell me I am not alone.
Then there are the clothes. I came across clothes I wore years ago that don’t suit the era I am in right now. The clothes I haven’t thought about in years were found in the back of the cupboard (straight to the op shop). And then the clothes you have tried to sell twice and honestly cannot stand how much room they take up in your wardrobe, but too good to give away for free, but the wrong size to wear. It’s like doing the walk of shame to the op shop when you’ve got your fifth bag of clothes. I’m sure the volunteers wonder why one person has so many clothes in the first place.
I have moved cities and am in the big smoke (cue dramatic rain and the radio in the taxi playing “You’re on Your Own Kid” by Taylor Swift). The embarrassment of all the crappy little-sentiment-carrying items I packed, follows me to my new place. With a new house comes a new address. There’s a new postcode to remember and a location to set as “Home” on Google Maps. The change of scenery is exciting, although adapting to the aisles and product placement of a new supermarket is far from enjoyable. Although moving to the city brings more opportunities and social outing options, I’ll feel out of place for a while.
There are expectations we have of the towns, cities and suburbs we move to, and although sometimes the stereotypes are true, this time I’m trying to keep open-minded. Whether you move to a stuck-up area or a grungy inner city ‘burb, you don’t have to change or conform. I’m keeping an open mind. What will be will be.
