The time has come. After years of dreaming, planning, and wondering if I’d ever actually go through with it, I’m finally packing up my life in the Netherlands and preparing to make the big leap to Portugal. But before I can bask in the Portuguese sunshine, there’s one small task standing in my way: moving. And not just any move. I’m talking about packing up an entire lifetime of memories, oddities, and far too many things I didn’t even know I owned.
If you’ve ever tried to pack your life into boxes, you’ll know the mental journey that goes with it. First, there’s the excitement—you’re finally doing it! But that excitement is quickly followed by confusion as you discover that you’ve somehow accumulated an impressive amount of stuff over the years. I don’t know how many pairs of socks a person needs, but I can confidently say that I’ve surpassed that limit by a solid mile. (And yet, none of them seem to match. Go figure.)
The “Do I really need this?” dance…
As I sift through drawers, closets, and cupboards, I’ve found myself asking a lot of questions: Do I really need this ancient phone charger? What exactly is this thing, and why do I own it? And most importantly, how many mugs is too many mugs?
The answer to that last one, by the way, is apparently more than 15. But parting ways with beloved items is no easy feat. Every time I pick something up, a flood of memories hits. Those old boarding passes from my travels? I probably won’t need them in Portugal, but they remind me of the time I missed a flight in a strange city and ended up on an unexpected adventure. Nostalgia is a powerful thing, and I’ll admit—I’ve had more than a few moments of hesitation while packing.
The Art of letting go
Moving to a new country has forced me to adopt a whole new mindset: minimalism. Well, a version of minimalism where I still keep my favorite coffee maker (because let’s face it, I’m going to need it). Letting go of things is liberating, but it’s also a bit like a therapy session I didn’t sign up for. Sorting through your belongings forces you to reflect on who you were, what mattered to you, and what you’re ready to leave behind as you embark on something new.
Do I need to hold onto every souvenir from every trip I’ve ever taken? Probably not. But it turns out that cleaning house—literally and figuratively—feels like making space for the new experiences and memories waiting for me in Portugal. Plus, it’s given me a chance to realize that I was probably holding onto some of these things for far too long (I’m looking at you, ancient pair of jeans that haven’t fit in five years).
The Endless To-Do list
In addition to packing up my life, there’s also the fun task of preparing to sell my apartment. It turns out that getting your place ready to go on the market involves more cleaning and organizing than I thought possible. From decluttering shelves to staging rooms, I’ve basically become a part-time interior designer. Who knew I had it in me?
And let’s not forget the seemingly endless list of things to do: sorting through paperwork, dealing with real estate agents, and trying to make my apartment look like it’s been this neat and tidy all along.
Ready for the next chapter
Despite the chaos of packing and the occasional emotional moment of saying goodbye to an item (or ten), there’s an underlying excitement that keeps me going. I’m getting ready for the next chapter—the real adventure. Portugal is waiting, and with every box I pack, I’m one step closer to turning this dream into reality.
So, as I tackle the mountain of socks, mugs, and memories, I’m reminded that the process of letting go is also about making room for new possibilities. Who knows what’s waiting for me in Portugal? One thing’s for sure: it’ll be an adventure worth every bit of the packing chaos.
Here’s to decluttering, embracing change, and getting one step closer to sunshine and a fresh start. Now, where did I put that roll of tape?
com carinho (and yes I found the tape),
Paulo