Relay

Michelle Napoli

Moving. It's a sometimes back-breaking, often stress-inducing, always pat ent ly annoying experience. I have yet to meet someone who likes the task; I for one could live without it.

Yet I find myself moving every year, and this year was no exception. Somehow I've gotten myself into a cycle of year-long leases that start just before the holidays, which means the move is that much more stressful and my time is that much more precious.

I always start my move by trying to purge the things I don't really need or want. Just how many dozens of T-shirts do I need stuffed into that bottom dresser drawer, anyway? What in my closet hasn't come off the hanger in years? Are there shoes still in their boxes that I should never have bought? Can I give away the nonperishable foods keeping me from completely packing up the kitchen? There must be plenty of things that could go to needy causes, such as the Retreat and local food pantries.

Then it's time to start throwing away all those little pieces of paper, not to mention all the magazines I kept with the thought that one day I might want to refer back to this or that article.

There's taking apart certain pieces of furniture for the haul, cleaning everything, and packing boxes and boxes and boxes of books (that always seems to be where I start). And that's another big question: Where do you start, and how far ahead of time? The tasks go on and on and on.

It can be a bit depressing having to pack all of your possessions in cardboard boxes, paper bags, garbage bags even, and seeing everything that normally surrounds you suddenly crammed into the most compact space possible and then stacked in piles. Little by little, your old house becomes empty, and suddenly you see the dirt that has built up in forgotten crevices. Your walls and cupboards are bare.

To save the worst for last, though, there are experiences like the one I had this weekend with the phone. The shutting off and turning on and changing of names on utilities at the old and new houses seemed to have gone smoothly, at least until Saturday, when I answered the phone and heard someone else on an answering machine.

I called Bell Atlantic. My line must be crossed with someone else's, I said. They'd fix it as soon as possible, they said.

I picked up the phone that evening to find someone already having a conversation. It turned out to be the person who moved into my old house. Seems the phone company had set up my line in the new house but didn't disconnect the service in the old one.

The best part, though, was that he was having an important conversation (on my line) that he needed to continue. He was going out for the evening, though, he assured me, and the phone would be all mine. Well, I was going out too. Good thing I bought a cell as a Christmas present to myself.

For all the negatives of moving there are, of course, a few positives, particularly finding a rental that is reasonably priced (yes, there is one out here, and I've got it!), having incredibly nice new landlords, and a great housemate who's a talented chef to boot.

And there is some exhilaration that comes with moving into a new place and the feel of a fresh start. Also, this time around, particular excitement about living by Northwest Landing, in what I call the last frontier of East Hampton, Northwest Woods, where there are still trees and preserved nature.

I'll also say my last two moves have helped me appreciate the friends and their large vehicles that have made my moves possible. Though some around The Star office have been griping of late about the plethora of large four-wheel-drive vehicles that could crunch their little imports should they collide, I say try fitting my sofa bed into the trunk of my Toyota Celica!

I had thought this column might offer some advice to help others make moving a little easier, but the fact is, unless you can hire someone to do it all for you while you watch, there really is none. My one and only suggestion would be to look long and hard until you find a keeper house and, if you'll be sharing it with someone, a keeper housemate, and settle in for a long stay. I think that's just what I'm doing.

Michelle Napoli is the assistant managing editor of The Star.