I’m starting to realize that our move is very near - too close for comfort, really!  I’ve packed a few boxes in the past couple weeks, and now I’m trying to start packing in earnest.  I’m finding it a little rough going though, and not exactly for the reasons you might expect.  Yes, packing is a pain, and packing with a 5 year old and an 18 month old “helping” doesn’t exactly make things easier.  But what I am finding most difficult is my inclination to look at many of our things and think “well, this is the last time I’ll be seeing you for a couple years”.  Some things - glassware, fancy serving stuff that I hardly use - isn’t so bad, but it is the things that I do use but won’t be able to use for awhile that are the hardest.  Things like my bundt cake pans, my roasting pan and my big soup pot were somewhat difficult to pack away.  Now don’t laugh (too much) but I almost cried when I tried to pack my waffle maker - just think, no waffles for two years!  I ended up putting it back for now because I think we’ll make them one more time before that gets put away.  And then there is the thought of packing my KitchenAid mixer and food processor…  *sniff sniff*  It will be like saying goodbye to friends.

I think part of why it hits harder than I initially expected is twofold.  First, it is a very real sign of the adventure we’re about to embark upon.  Second, they are in a certain sense a part of my identity.  They are tools of my trade, necessary items (in my mind) for my role as wife and a mother.  Being able to make delicious and interesting things is part of how I care for my family, and it is a creative outlet for me as well.  Of course I’ll still be doing this once we move and are camping on the property, but it will be with a different set of tools and on a more limited scale.  There is only so much I can do with a BBQ and a camp stove!

It should all be very interesting…