Today I finished packing up my office, throwing away files and giving away crap. Today I turned in all 8 keys that I’d accrued in the last 7 years, and my electronic key card. I no longer have access outside of “normal” business hours. How distinctly odd, and scary, and (MOSTLY) liberating.
I have found that, like most people, I have been in the service of my stuff and my job. Getting rid of the stuff and separating from the job, although only temporarily, is an amazing feeling. I am no longer active faculty at one institution, and am not yet active faculty at the next. I am in limbo. I approve!
The house packing and getting ready for air-freighting our stuff continues to be a constant, but having the weight of my office/previous position off my shoulders makes the house seem less overwhelming.
Conversely, you won’t believe how much you’ll long to get into your new office, because it helps you to feel like you belong. Or so they say, because they are still not done with my office!!!
Hope the packing is going well — miss you guys so much!