Unpacking status: DONE

That is, as far as the literal, "unpacking" of boxes. Organization and putting away phase is still active. The job of getting the house set up has fallen completely to me, with the exception of Mike's office which I refuse to have any part of. Our household goods were delivered on a Monday, and Mike started work the very next day. In his first week in the ORs he has pulled 80 hours, which is the legal limit. Dang! I thought it wasn't supposed to be like this?

But anyway, this thing with the boxes is kind of momentous because for the last 5 years, we have always had at least 8 or so that were just stowed, never unpacked, full of things that we didn't know what to do with. It was easier to have them hidden in some dark corner of the garage or basement than to have to make room for their contents elsewhere, or even worse, have to make decisions about keeping or tossing their contents.

Today, I am proud to say that there is not a single box in this house which has not been opened, emptied, items sorted, and flattened. GARAGE INCLUDED! So, yes, for the time being there is a little extra clutter in some of the closets, and the loose things in the garage aren't looking so tidy as they would if they were still stacked to the ceiling in cardboard boxes. But it feels much more honest. Given the choice between outward perfection with secret ignored boxes always nagging at the corner of my mind, and having everything laid out bare in a less immaculate state with the knowledge that I am the master of it all; I have obviously chosen the latter!

It feels good, and I think I just earned myself a brownie.