Moving as a Coping Strategy?
They say that the stress involved with moving is equal to that caused by death or divorce. I know this wasn't the case with my Grandma, and I have been trying to figure out why.
Do you know any frequent movers? You know the ones - every time you try to call them they have a new number. They are almost fidgety about moving. It's as if they are driven by a motor or something. (Sounds familiar.)
This has brought back to my mind memories connected with moving. These center on my grandmother, who could have easily been an honorary Gypsy. I believe the statistic connected with this "hobby" of hers was somewhere in the neighborhood of one move for every two to five years. This "hobby" always stressed her family out, but it seemed to make her very happy.
Is it restless energy, or a coping strategy?
Right now I'm in the middle of a big move - well, to me it's a big move. I lived in the same town for nearly all of my life, and I have only moved (within that town) twice since getting married 10 years ago.
Think for a moment: The longer you live in one place the more settled in with your belongings you become, not just mentally but also physically. You find more and more places to tuck things in around yourself. However, when you move, you force all of that stuff that you've squirreled away OUT. You can then take a "head count" of EVERYTHING you own.
This may be a little drastic for some but before you stop reading think about what this approach actually does for you:
* It gives you a chance to sort EVERYTHING you own.
* You now have a deadline. (You must be out by the...)
* Friends and family are always ready to assist you with a move. (Not so for normal sorting.)
* This gives you a chance to vacuum under and behind your couch and your bed.
* You get to find everything that was ever lost since you moved in.
I could go on, but you get the picture.
For some of us, moving frequently may be just the kind of spring-cleaning we need. I'm beginning to think that my grandma may have been on to something.
Ginger