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I have been looking for positives about The Move That Wasn't, and I think I found one.
See, for years, one of the shelves on my bookcase was not right, because it was missing a support piece in one corner. I always meant to get around to fixing it, but never did, mostly because I didn't know where I would put the books.
Well, once I had boxed all my books for the move, I finally fixed it, finding a replacement for the supporting piece.
So, I guess that is a positive, right?
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Folklore (1) has it that the written Chinese word ...
... for crisis is a combination of the characters for "Danger" and "Opportunity."
While there wasn't a lot of danger in your not-move, there are a lot of opportunities.
- You know how many moving boxes you need ...
- You've had a "semi-dress rehearsal" ...
- Packing and unpacking has given you time to reflect on your "stuff"; and to ask yourself the question: "Is this item worth it (to me) the cost of paying the movers (3) to move it?" Or would you get more pleasure in donating, recycling or discarding it? (2)
- You have identified a reducible external stressor. Reducible only if you say "No" as needed. And, you have a bargaining chip: "I help you, but =first= you help me."
- The funds that would have gone to pay for the move, can now be used to:
-- Go into your WTF fund. ("WTF" is military-grade.)
-- Used to fix/replace something/buy something needful.
-- However much I miss my Humanist group on the Sundays when we do not meet - I now have $13 (that I usually spend on 'coffee hour' goodies) to spend on something else.
- We can expect many books to stay in print or in libraries or on-line for a long time. Do we really need our personal copies of Moby Dick, War and Peace, or ... And what is the value of a 10-year old Mechanic's Illustrated or Newsweek magazine ... ?
- Or the value of school notes and textbooks? My favorite charity/resale shop explicitly refuses textbooks.
And all those "little things" that "I'll fix someday, but have lived without for years ..." (I gotta tell ya, I'm as guilty as sin on this one ...)
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(1) I leave researching the origins of the Chinese character for 'crisis' as an exercise for the student.
(2) "THINGS are in the saddle, and ride mankind." - https://www.azquotes.com/quote/352298
(3) When an elderly dog passed away on us, leaving as her "estate" a nearly full bag of dog food, my Wife said "Let's send it my son and his doggies." Until I found the shipping cost was the same as the price of a full bag ...