Moving is widely ranked as one of life’s heaviest stressors, bringing with it a grueling mix of physical exhaustion and financial strain. The average American moves about 11 times in a lifetime, averaging a move about once every 5-7 years for most people.
I’ve just completed my 30th move. <gulp> It’s a staggering number. The closest I’ve seen is military people who move so much.
It’s never intentional on my part; I don’t consider myself a nomad, it just seems to come up situationally.
Whatever initiates it, it is a hot mess!
But when you are a fiercely independent woman who has packed up her life 30 times—and navigated three children and three daddy-break-ups along the way—moving isn’t just a chore, it’s schooling for situational survival.
I can’t count how many times I’ve maintained two residences for a few days up to a few weeks, which means paying double utilities, double insurance, and overlapping rent/mortgage, not to mention food, phone calls, utilities, timing, deposits, appointments, etc. Don’t even get me started on nit-picky property managers, unreasonable owners, and move-out checklists and last-minute expenses!
The frustrations of relocating are universal whether single, coupled, or familied, but the reality of doing it sola amplifies every single pain point.
- Moving is never as cheap or as smooth as the preparation or budget dictates.
- The physical burden of packing and moving affects muscles, meals, eyes, skin, & sleep.
- Teenagers (and kids of any age) are not generally good moving helpers.
- Emotional triggers can come with touching items that carry the energy of former relationships, old versions of yourself, and good times past.
Every item packed into a box is a confrontation with the past paired with a decision to bring it into the future.
- Where/when did I get this?
- Do I ever use this?
- Why am I still keeping this?
- How much square footage does it take up?
- Does it stay or go?
My life has been defined by decisions and transitions, but those 30 addresses do not represent instability, they represent resilience. Each of my moves has allowed me to experience diverse communities, explore new places, see new things, and immerse myself in different cultures.
Each relocation fueled immense self-empowerment. I took risks, faced the challenges of uprooting my life, and survived every single time. Whether you are moving for the first time or the twentieth, you will survive the chaos too. Give yourself grace during the transition time and settle in at your own pace.
If you are standing among a sea of cardboard boxes today, give yourself permission to feel overwhelmed. It’s okay. Everything always works out.
- Cry if you need to.
- Let the house be messy.
- Order take-out.
- Make poor decisions.
- Follow hunches.
- Call on help however you need to.
- Give yourself grace.
You are not just changing zip codes; you are evolving. With each new space, you move into a stronger, wiser, and more authentic version of who you are meant to be.
Welcome home!