After weeks of workaholism on my part, we FINALLY did some packing yesterday.  Trish purged her wardrobe of many articles of clothing (some 4 garbage bags worth – thankfully the clothing bin at the local FD had room).  We packed one suitcase full of warm weather maternity clothes and stuffed animals until it was 50lbs.  We’re working within the confines of Continental’s checked baggage policy – each of us gets 1 bag checked for free and can add a second for $25.  Each bag can have a maximum weight of 50lbs, which we have to stick to because going over equals an extra charge of $50.  And even that has a max of 70lbs, at which point they’d just refuse the bag.  The good thing is that there are 4 of us, so we can check 8 bags for $100 extra total.  Not a bad deal at all.  So one down, 7 to go! 

In the process we’re craigslisting, freecycling and just plain getting rid of Stuff.  And that feels GREAT.  I never felt possessions as a weight but getting rid of them feels like a weight lifting.  Maybe it’s chi – who knows?  I think getting rid of stuff that are remnants of a past life is really it.  It’s hard to move forward if you keep looking behind and the closer we get to the move, the more I find myself looking forward and not back .  It took me years to learn to just move on and stop wishing that this & that were different.  In some ways, I don’t have a choice so there are no more excuses to procrastinate.  And I don’t think it’s reinventing myself as much as just becoming me.