Preliminary packing has begun. The dining room (except for the curtains and the pantry cart) is all packed up, and is now holding boxes. We stopped because we ran out of packing tape. So we did the easy stuff, like taking photos and art off the walls, that also screams WE ARE MOVING. Hopefully this will be our last move for the next couple of decades and the thought of not having to move again for a long, long time will add some motivation.

I decided to keep out one box with my reference books, the books I most wanted to read, and the library books that go back before we move. All the rest of the books can get packed. This, and having an actual written to-read list to work from in the first place, should keep me from feeling like I can't narrow them down and they all have to come. (The plan, if we borrow friends instead of getting movers, is to pack a huge truck and follow in the car with the cats, computers, and anything else we'd need right away. My reference/to-read box is going in the car.)

When I stopped to check my email, I had one from Demand Studios saying "thanks, but no" to my editorial application. Am trying not to go all "shit, I can't even do that."

At least I can cross "start packing" off my to-do list. Tomorrow or Monday -- maybe Monday, because we have to go to the DMV for Matt's parking placard and the car dealership because somebody smashed up the damn driver's side mirror -- we shall get packing tape and pack some more.

I feel like packing won't take us all that long, but I'm on my tenth move, and I know better. It doesn't look like all that many books until you run out of boxes, have lost a room to stacks of packed boxes already, and haven't even packed up the kitchen yet.

ETA:
Sorted through the Massive Pile of Papers I've been building for ages. Went into the file boxes and pulled out an equally massive stack of old papers I can safely shred, once we get another shredder. (And the packing tape.) The sorted papers went into their files in the appropriate boxes. This was such an undertaking I spent three hours doing it. Only one nasty surprise: a letter from Citibank confirming my current payment arrangement and reminding me that my account will be closed and remain closed after the arrangement is up. OMFG!WHAT. I only took that arrangement because the guy on the phone told me my account would NOT be closed. Without this account I lose 5 years of credit history! I checked online and Citibank is showing that my account is past due, which it damn well shouldn't be since they're auto-debiting payments under this arrangement. Oh, there will be a phone call Monday morning. I am fucking pissed.

But at least I have an idea where we stand financially. I should go to my planner and make notes about what things have been paid, so I can finish getting up to date. Then we face the shambling horror of the deep that is our taxes.

I can predict that I will not be in a particularly good mood on Monday.