MOVING AND MAIL

Moving?  Changing your address?

All right, so you have moved to a new home.  You’ve planned well, making the tough decisions about what to keep, what to donate, what to trash.  The newest key word in your lexicon is “downsizing”; and no, it’s not a new fad diet.  You’ve made hundreds of decisions ranging from what type of residence  you want to move into, what furniture, books, photograph albums, painting, pottery, clothing are for keeping, what will be discarded, donated, no longer part of your life. 

If you’re as organized as I try to be, you’ve made endless lists, planning where all your belongings will be moved, fitting into the floor plan; which kitchen shelves will house your pots and pans and dishes and spices....you know the drill.  And then you move!  And gradually settle in, and gain a sense of place so that you stop opening the wrong drawer in the kitchen and master the automatic reaching out for the light switches which invariably are in a different place.

A deep sigh....a sense of comfort, a fitting into your new home.  But wait:  the daily New York Times is not at your front door, and mail service is unusually light.  Of course!  You have notified the post office of your address change, but not the dozens of businesses, organizations, service contacts and contracts with phone companies, magazine subscriptions, invitations to parties and fundraisers for your favorite elected officials, notices of subscription renewals for magazines, theatres, concert venues... none of this mail is forwarded after the first month.  Arrugh!  If I had the presence to start monitoring the regular mail deliveries before the move, this process might have been less challenging, but we all know how easy it is to make logical plans in hindsight, so for those readers beginning this transition, a few hopefully helpful hints:  

·       Keep a pad handy where-ever you typically open the mail;

·       Check through your various subscriptions to make sure you keep receiving magazines, concert and theatre notifications from local venues, medical services (including insurance companies);

·       Use the time to decide whether you want to continue magazine subscriptions, store sales notices;

·       Decide which old friends you’ve lost touch with warrant a reconnection;

·       Use technology; this is one time when facebook can be your friend, to help you stay “friended” with others. 

And as for the junk mail, sorry but somehow they are typically the best at discovering your new abode so they can continue to fill your mailbox and trash can with their teasers:  buy this NOW AND IF YOU BUY ONE YOU CAN GET A SECOND ONE FREE!