I love moving. The chance to start over again, a fresh new place, a focused opportunity to toss old belongings. That's the good part. The not so good part: packing. Iin of it itself packing can be a drag. Why not invite your friends to help and turn a dreary task into an event? Wrapping glasses in newspaper becomes a lot more fun when it's combined with music, spontaneous dancing, drinking beer, eating pizza, catching up or meeting new friends, reminiscing about the good times had and the good times to come. Here's some ways to throw your own packing party.
- Let people know what time you'll be at the old place (or the new place if you're actually having an unpacking party). Let them know that you'd be happy to have their help for however long they can stay. Fifteen minutes, an hour, it's all good. And, even if they don't help, sometimes it's just nice to have the company.
- Provide plenty of newspaper, boxes, markers and tape.
- Even kids can join in; they can pack books, soft goods and non-breakables.
- Pizza's a traditional easy-to-eat food but anything you can eat quickly and out of hand is good. Beer is nice and a good thirst quencher (packing's exhausting work). Champagne makes it festive.
- Upbeat music keeps the energy up. Be sure to sprinkle your play list with some old favorites that everyone knows the words to.
- Don't forget the pump soap. Dust can make some folks itchy and newspaper quickly dirties your hands. Also good to have on hand: hairbands, bobby pins and elastics for people with long hair, old shirts, dust rags or feather dusters (some things — books that haven't been moved in a while — may be unexpectedly dusty).
- Be clear about what you need packed; have stuff separated before people come and set them to specific tasks.
Images: Flickr member Spakattacks licensed with Creative Commons
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I'd have to trick my friends into coming to a "packing" party. Hey! Its a party! NOW GET TO WORK. Nice idea, though.
Wait.... "meeting new friends"? At a "party" where guests have to wrap your stuff up so you can move? Uhm, no.
I can hardly imagine anything that would make me crazier.
I think I've moved about 6 times in 4 years and I'm about to do it again in a month, and since I label each box with its contents and put together "like" things or items that will go together in the new place, I feel I need to have packed them myself. All my organization would go totally out the window if anyone else interfered, I mean, "helped."
I can't imagine asking my friends to help me pack.
I don't think I've ever encountered those first 3 words before!
My friend had a party for moving in/unpacking. It was fun since there were a lot of people so no one had to do too much. (Put together one Ikea bedside table, done.) It at least got all her furniture and everything big done so she could just focus on the more personal organizing like clothes and books.
This works very well when done ironically... "hey, it's a party! I've got some Journey, some champagne..." "Yeah right, just hand me that marker, will ya?"
But, meeting new people? Are you kidding me??? "Hey stranger, mind packing my underwear and swarovski collection for me?"
And pizza is not a packing-party food... don't need tomato stains on my throw-pillows. I'd prefer some "clean" food at that point.
Hmm....Assuming anyone actually showed up, I'd end up with a few packed empty beer bottles, a dozen caps and at least 1 pizza crust.
Sounds like a recipe for chaos when you get to your new place.
Great idea for moving from one Dorm to another...
...but for us adults with valuable items in our homes - Hiring a bonded & licensed packing & moving service is the way to go.
I think an unpacking party works better. (Although I tend to think of it as just "asking friends for help unpacking"!) People would be more motivated to see the new place which is hopefully a clean and empty space, and you can organize how you like on the packing end without fear that someone else will mess it up.
Debbie downers! ;) I prefer being packed by the moving company, too. And when my friends hire movers. But in the times that they can't, I think a packing party can be a lot of fun! We had one last year and it ended up being a pretty fun time.
The friend that asks me to pack for him/her (unless there's a reason like she has a broken arm or whatever) is not going to be my friend long.
Pizza and beer while packing - great idea until the grease from the pizza or a beer gets spilled on your furniture, clothes, etc.
Meeting new friends? I'm sorry but I'm not going to invite strangers to pack my stuff and would be seriously scared of those who chose to offer.
No thanks. I pack slowly over time. I don't want friends packing stuff wrong, breaking things, losing things, and generally making a mess.
I'd be very busy on the day that my friend just happens to have to pack. I love them, but no way. Now helping move and unpack, sure :) bring on the pizza and good music
I am in the process of moving right now. Packing is certainly not the fun part of the entire event. One sweet friend had also recommended this "Packing Party". Sounds sweet, but I don't know if having your friends to help you pack is the best way to meet new people. But, hey pizza and beer!!
I'm moving in 16 days and I'm 95% packed. I'd rather pack myself so I can put things together. I know where everything is and pretty much what box.
I'm a definite party pooper...if you can't pack your own things, don't move!
Maybe just save that "help me pack" favor (and the beer and pizza funds) for when you really need some help -- like asking for some muscle when you have to cart heavy stuff up a flight of stairs or when you're putting together furniture? (But if you have friends who you know would come help you pack in exchange for food, party on!)
I wouldn't ever have a packing party, but whenever I move to a new place I have a moving party. Get a bunch of friends to help load up the furniture and boxes, make a couple trips to drop things off at the new place, and have pizza and beer for everyone at the new apartment when we're done! The heavy lifting is the hardest part of moving, anyway.
I love packing and unpacking--it is a chance to get everything cleaned up and ready for the new place (splurge on clean newsprint, instead of newspapers; the ink can stain some things permanently). I would enjoy being a professional packer--I find it realxing and the process of organizing and fitting things in is kind of a puzzle.
I am kind of a control freak about moving--very organized and want things done my way, so this wouldn't work for me. Ditto with unpacking; I set up the house as I go and I need to do that myself.
I agree with ameliepoulain. Moving parties make more sense.
But those freaking out about "strangers packing my stuff," I think you misunderstood. I presume the author means that you invite your friends from various circles, and THEY will be meeting new people (each other). You, however, would know and trust them all.