I Am a PCS Worrier

I have PCS on the brain, and we're not moving any time soon.  But those 36 hours back in April set my mindframe and started the worrying process.  We will probably be moving a year from now, and the crazy is already setting in.

It all started with detergent...

I had finally run out of the special "without optical brighteners" detergent I use to wash my husband's ACUs.  So at the store, I grabbed the biggest, most economical jug and started to put it in my shopping cart.  And then I paused.  My husband is deploying soon for nine months, and then we will PCS a few months after that.  If I buy the big jug of detergent, that means I will either be throwing most of it away or I will be lugging it via POV to the next duty station.

(And trust me, that's something I would do because I am a freak when it comes to wasting things.  When we PCSed to Germany, I packed a mostly-full bottle of sesame oil in my suitcase because I thought it was wasteful to throw it out and buy a new one when we got to Germany.  Naturally, the bottle leaked into my suitcase and all my belongings smelled like Asian cuisine.)

That one act of buying detergent set in motion a chain of crazy.  Now I am looking at everything in the house with PCS Eyes, mentally weeding through it.  I am mentally putting stuff into storage so we can "stage" the house to try to sell it.  I am looking at all the things we brought with us when we arrived 2 1/2 years ago that we have not even touched the entire time we've lived here, wondering if we really need to take those things on to the next duty station.

People, we are not leaving for another year.  I will go insane if I do this for the next twelve months.

Comments

[Andi]

Heh. I was meaning to ask you this weekend, because you kept talking about PCSing, if I had missed something and if you were about to PCS. Now I know - you just jumped on the crazy train earlier than usual. Don't worry, you're in abundant and good company!

[angela]

We don't leave for 2 more years and I am already thinking it. My daughter asked if she could get a new bed since hers is broke. I told her to make it work and we will dump it before we move and get a new one at our new place. She then pointed out that is 2 years away. I guess we could get a new bed now I am just always thinking of what we can get rid of before a move.

[dutchgirl]

HA! I'm glad I'm not the only one. For awhile there I thought it might be a Dutch penny-pincher thing, but I'm glad to know it's more universal!

My dh and I even have a name for it: the glide path. As in, "What? No! we can't buy any more relish, it messes up the refrigerator glide path!" (I do believe it's a term we picked up when we were stationed at an Air Force Base.)

[Sarah]

Dutchgirl -- I will have to steal that phrase...

[Marine Wife]

I had to laugh at Angela's comment b/c I'm having bed issues too. Our 8 year old is quickly getting to a point where her twin bed will be too small. Shh, don't tell Stretch but I'm already planning to dump one of the girls' twin beds before the next move and move her into the queen guest bed. But then, what will we do about a guest bed? Hmm. The plan needs work. Oh, and we're not moving until next year.

The move might be 12-13 months away (not that I'm counting), but I'm already in that mode of weeding out what won't make the move. You are not alone, Sarah.

[Basinah]

I call it fighting the "Urge to Purge". Likely move date: fall 2010. Already given 9 bags of clothes to the battered women's shelter, and haven't really bought much new for the last 2 months. If I am not careful I am going to have 3 different outfits left, and not much else. Everything I buy gets the "do I really need this? If I do, do I want a cheap one that I will get rid of, or a really great one I am willing to move?"

[Ann - AF spouse]

That's too funny, I had the detergent moment two months ago when we were told we were PCSing, but now we aren't.

I bought a vaccume sealer cheap (tuesday morning)before the last PCS and went crazy sealing anything that would leak. Tupperware is my best friend, and I would enclose all sorts of stuff in my "modular mates" before a move.

yes, Pcs is a year away, and I am already working on the closets and junk drawers.

I also won't buy any new potted plants.

[Kate]

Im SO happy to hear this isn't just me! I've been eyeing everything I own with PCS eyes for over 12 months now, and now i'm less than 2 months out its getting to the stage where I dont want to buy anything consumable. Everything I buy at the supermarket has to pass the 'will I use this up before August' test, sadly many things just aren't passing...

[She of the Sea]

You are so not alone, Sarah! I have a smart friend who starts buying everything in its non-liquid form...cleaning wipes instead of spray, solid soap instead of liquid, etc. so that it is easier to move.

I've been nursing along a car, a dryer and a vacuum cleaner on the premise that we're moving soon. Um, yeah, sometime in 2010.

[Christina]

First timer here. My sailor and I just got married in March but have been living apart for the last 7 months due to training and will have to continue to do so until September. Now that we signed the closing papers on our new home in Norfolk I've learned that not only will he be deploying in January but when he returns a year later we're moving across the country. Before marrying the military I moved twice in my entire life, where do I start? Do I even bother moving in or do I just put the place right back on the market? Terribly confused.

[Andi]

Since we all have PCS on the brain, here's a good guide with a lot of information:

http://www.military.com/finance/pcs-moving-guide/

[Sarah P..]

I've stocked up on my man's favorites for his leave...he just got home on Tuesday evening...lots of things that have to be eaten soon after you open them...and we've eaten some of them but now I'm mad at myself because we're leaving for a road trip on Saturday. The creamer, the eggs, the bread, the half gallon of milk...darn. I didn't want to be a waster either...and that's just leave.

[SwordsmansWife]

Dutchgirl -- I will have to steal that phrase, too, since my husband's a Navy pilot flying with the AF for this tour! I think DH will love it!

I find that anything I package in tupperware-type containers makes it in the overseas moves (detergents, candles, batteries). I can't stand to throw them away!

And if you own a home business, they'll tell you they don't move that, but just box it up before they get there (label it OFFICE)!

Our house in Va Beach sold in 1-2 weeks, Christina, so don't fret. Of course, that was 8 years ago! How time flies...

I started blogging our overseas moves. If you've no idea where to start with your long term storage, stop by.

Thanks for the link to the PCS Moving Guide, Andi - such good GOUGE!

[Erin]

I'm getting ready to PCS (alone) this month and I'm purposefully not buying more liquid skincare items that I have a comparable replacement for already. As for the rest of the liquids, like shower gels I've been given as gifts, I'm planning to chuck the cheap stuff versus having it take up space in my POV despite the fact that I haven't used it in YEARS.

[Sara]

Before I even moved here I looked at everything with PCS eyes, and now my mind has all but left Louisiana. 3 more weeks.

I was worried about the pantry contents for months.

[tads tibbit]

My first PCS won't be for another two years, and I have already begun to look at things in that whole different light. I am so glad that I am not alone in the PSCing freakout mode!
My main problem is finding a home for the horse and extra dogs.....

[Bobbi]

Sara, moving with a horse wont be so bad we have been pcsing with my horse for the past 15 years and our last move was with 2. I never thought much about PCSing but I guess instead I have choosen to deocrate lightly:>) While many people have knick knacks and stuff we hardly have any:>) My downfall is all the horse stuff and my photo albums!

[Daina]

I cannot believe how you all are speaking my language. We will be PCSing to Italy in December and not that I am complaining but we sold our home in Buffalo in 10 days. Great, right? We have to move into a rental before we move to Italy, So I am looking at everything like when am I going to need it, do I store it, and where? .. Am I going to need it overseas.. We are having a garage sale this weekend and I literally am putting a price on every item in our home.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who goes PCS crazy...

[Maria]

We are PCSing next summer and I am already going CRAZY!! I have been counting down the days till we find out about our next assignment and what makes it worse? Right now we are on a 2 year overseas tour so as soon as everything was unpacked I started freaking out about moving again...but I am glad I am not the only one.

As for home business there is a new addition to the JFTR which allows for pro gear for spouses! How AWESOME!

Good luck everyone!

[Rachel]

I was looking forward to my PCS this Fall but my husbands extension got approved for 6 months... so the move will be Spring 2010. Don't know if I will survive another winter here.

[Selina]

I feel much better about myself right about now. First the worry was whether or not we would get the extension, now it's transferred to the "where will we go next?!" 12 months left...I'm a self-proclaimed control freak.