The Art of the Move. Moving for us has become in a sense a form of art. From the mundane logistics of the move itself to the opportunities moving provides in terms of purging, buying and designing. From a logistics standpoint, this move was actually more of a headache than any of our other moves for the simple fact that we only moved a mile away. You don’t really pack anything as you would for a 1200 mile trek and with the number of times we’ve moved, we could probably open our own packing company. In this case, we did use some boxes, but this was done more out of convenience than actually protecting any fragile pieces – nothing gets wrapped in paper or bubble wrap; I do however concede the occasional dish towel or pillow. This type of move definitely tests your packing ability – what works well together in the same box and how to pack the Jeep properly so you don’t hear that familiar tinkling sound of broken glass. I think I must of made 50 trips back and forth with the Jeep over the course of a week (we did rent a small U-Haul for the larger pieces). I can honestly say that with the number of times we’ve moved, nothing has ever been broken (knock-on wood). Again, it comes down to design. So why did I save all the packing materials from our previous move? I guess you could say that part of the art of the move is in the preparedness.
DESIGNING..PURGING..BUYING.
With a new house comes the sense of new beginnings. A fresh start per se. One that is readily at the forefront because we are not buried under 100 or so boxes that need unpacking. We can see how each room is going to play-out in terms of what we already have and what we’ll most likely need. Each room is like a blank canvas providing unique opportunities for design. For example, the built-ins in the front studio/office allow for some wonderful presentations of our art pieces, taking advantage of the recessed lighting, creating an almost museum like quality. This room would however benefit immensely from a nice, warm brown leather couch to accompany the drafting table. Each room could actually use as they say ‘a little somethin’ – a new piece of furniture, pillows, a throw, curtains, a rug, etc.. This is where the purging and buying begin. These two, at least for us, seem to go hand in hand. They shouldn’t but they do – everyone could do with a little less clutter in their lives and it would be nice to be able to park in the two car garage (hahaha!).
Have you ever noticed how your furniture can look entirely different from house to house? Whether it goes well or not. For some reason in our previous house, it did NOT! Here it works really well for the most part but the house is lending itself to something more. We’re now a month into our furniture/accessories search and unfortunately don’t seem to be making much headway. At least the selling (purging) side of things is taking just as long – come on craigslist.
ART APPRAISAL.
With the move, we finally took the opportunity to have some of our artwork appraised. This was a long time coming. Another good reason to have saved all those specialty art boxes and packing paper. Upon a recommendation, we acquired the services of Read & Mullin of Charleston. The experience was wonderful and very educational. We were able to consign a few items – a number of watercolors by William Paskell and a lithograph by Louis Icart, but much to our chagrin, we didn’t have a real Van Gogh 
thanks for reading and remember moving can be fun!
I am finally where I want to be and for that matter, need to be. It took a long time to get here. The struggle was not only our physical location but an emotional one as well. I have always said that I wanted to live where I could put my toes in the sand. Not just for the oft chance out of a couple of months a year, per New England, but of the more everyday affair. This point would often be my mantra for any opposition I’d face to my moving south; Now that I’m here and able to do this all year ’round, it is more than rhetoric, it is a necessity! There is nothing like putting your toes in the sand at the beach. It provides a sense of solace in an otherwise ‘temperamental’ world.
With springtime in full swing here in the Lowcountry – albeit a few weeks ahead of schedule according to the local prognosticators due to our warmer than normal temperatures – what better way to mark the passage of time and seasonal transition than through our own sense of smell. Having lived in New England and now residing in Charleston, I have found that smells are often quite distinct in their locale. The smell of the ‘salty air’ on an early morning walk in Kennebunkport, the smell of a ‘freshly cut lawn‘ in Marblehead, or the overwhelming smell of ‘urine’ in any of Boston’s subway stations. Unmistakable, right!
The beauty and charm of Charleston is undeniable. From the antebellum homes along The Battery designed to catch the afternoon sea breezes, with their exquisite gardens hidden behind the most amazing wrought ironwork of the 18th and 19th century (I could do an entire post just on the decorative ironwork alone) to the live oak and palmetto tree lined streets that seem caught in a era gone by. For an ‘old soul’, Charleston is like a stroll in the park or an old photo album you simply can’t put down.
