Wanna talk more moving stuff? Let’s do it!
A few of you have asked to hear a little more about how we’re approaching our move + road trip to Seattle.
We’re doing things a bit unconventionally. When we first started planning, we were thinking of bringing everything with us and approaching it like you would a normal move. We could either rent a truck and drive all of our stuff up there or ship all of our stuff via a freight company.
But as we headed down that road, the whole thing started to feel cumbersome … which was not at all how we want it to feel.
We want it to feel simple, stress-free, and playful.
So we decided to do things our own weird way. :)
We decided to strap a roof rack on our car and just take whatever we could fit. And … that’s it.
What fits in our car? Well, our dog first of all. :) Then our clothes — working on putting together a capsule wardrobe that’ll cover me May – November in Seattle. Some camping gear. Then a box of bathroom things, a box of kitchen things, and a few decorative pieces. Probably a few other things I’m forgetting … but overall, not much stuff. No furniture. No TV.
Are we doing it like this in the name of minimalism? Not. At. All. We’re doing it like this in the name of this-sounds-like-fun. :)
So what are we going to do for furniture?
We’re lucky enough to know a handful of people in Seattle, and they’re generously offered to let us borrow a few pieces of furniture. We may Craigslist a few pieces too, but we’ll see.
I have romantic visions of creating this little bohemian-feeling nest. It’ll be sparse, but it’s an experiment. A 6 month adventure. I’m excited to try it and see what I learn.
Sweater: Aritzia
Tee: Madewell
Jeans: Madewell
Shoes: old from Topshop (similar)
Hey! Cute tote! Any ideas where to find a similar one I can buy here in Europe?
Zara did something similar a while back, not sure if they still stock it
I’ve got my eye in this one at Urban outfitters http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/uk/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=5771463337658
I love my Petra tote from Everlane and it’s a simple similar design. Not cheap but good quality. They were supposed to have started shipping to Europe at some point. They do have different colors available from time to time.
It sounds awesome! !! :)
Aren’t you afraid your stuff will get stolen during your road trip? Because it’s only strapped to your car’s roof, which isn’t the safest place to store things, if you ask me…
We’ve done motorcycle camping, and while we try to make it fairly secure, it wouldn’t be too hard for someone to steal. We know it’s a possibility that someone will decide they want our stuff, but we’ve never had anything taken–even while camping at a music festival.
I love hearing about your travel plans. Your idea sounds perfect. I would love to do something similar but it’s not for us right now. Though I am dreaming of 6 months in Australia. But until that time comes I shall live vicariously through you, so don’t spare any details! :)
Thanks for sharing!
It does sound like quite the adventure, Caroline! Will you be doing one capsule for both summer and fall this year?
We are also planning to move soon, and I too have this feeling of wanting to shed most of our stuff before the move to achieve a sense of lightness. I too want to feel unencumbered by too much stuff. We won’t be able to reduce down to a mere car load plus roof stuff (very impressed and thrilled for you that you are doing this!) but I am determined to severely cut down our STUFF. Stuff weighs heavily on me and takes a lot of work keeping it neat and tidy. It is exhausting. We need to own less, that’s for sure.
Enjoy your move! You have such a good attitude I am sure you will.
I’m so excited to keep hearing about this move!
Did you ever look into renting a furnished place? Some places are incredibly tacky, but there are a few gems out there. Maybe for your next adventure!
One more thing: do you find that your Birks get dirty looking?
Hey we do something similar!! My husband and I have moved multiple times ever since we got married four years ago (even moving to Europe and back to USA) and we always do the same. We buy just a few pieces of furniture and then we sell it before moving again and that way we never carry anything but our clothes and toothbrush. It’s soo much easier! At the moment we only have a mattress on the floor cause we’ve been too lazy to buy a frame, and we have a sofa from walmart, a tv stand with its TV. No coffee table, no dining room table (the apartment came with a kitchen island so we just use it at breakfast and eat dinner on the leather sofa with tv trays!) and that way we can just pick up and go. We are very adventurous and plan on moving again in a few months..Don’t know where yet but having few things and no contracts or owning a house makes it so much easier!!!
I love this Caroline!! When my husband and I first got married we decided to do a similar thing. We lived in Nashville (from the south), but moved to San Diego for a year, found jobs, and traveled all over! We drove our cars out there with only what would fit in them. We rented a super small storage shed in Nashville and stuffed all of our furniture in it because we knew we were coming back (it wasn’t too expensive). We bought necessary furniture on Craigslist in San Diego. One year later we sold it all and moved to Portland, OR for a year. Found jobs, bought furniture on craigslist and sold it a year later when we were ready to move back south. In Portland I actually wrote down how much we paid for furniture and then how much we sold it for and we actually broke even! Now we have two kids and I’m so, so glad we chose to go on that adventure together when we did. Good luck to you and your husband, can’t wait to live vicariously through your adventures!
Have you read Miss Minimalist? She really espouses this philosophy–being able to get up and walk away from your ‘stuff’–which I have to admit unnerves me a bit. Congratulations on reaching that level of zen!
As far as a capsule for spring through fall in Seattle… well, the good news is that it’s not that hard! I’m really pleased you’re going to Seattle (my homeland), because I’d really looking forward to seeing wardrobe inspiration for someplace that isn’t always warm. Here’s how Seattle weather goes:
May: warmish and rainy, some warm sunny days
June: known as “June-uary” for sudden dip back into cold temps
July through mid-Sept: gorgeous, 70s-low 80s, sunny
Sept through Nov: mild-to-cool temperatures, rainy
Also keep in mind that Seattle rain almost never needs wellies or a raincoat; typically, it’s just a slight drizzle that you barely even feel. And regardless of season, layers will be your best friend–no need for a winter coat (in my opinion, anyway; coming from TX might skew your perception of 60 degrees, ha!).
And thus ends all of my unasked-for advice. Hope it was a little helpful, at least. I’m excited for your experiment! <3
I agree. While the gorgeous weather this year may fool most into thinking it doesn’t rain as much as we say it does… It does rain more days than not over all and packing and having LAYERS is vital in this area. I always have t shirt, sweater/sweatshirt/jacket and a beanie. Even in summer because we all know it rains every 4th of July and doesn’t get nice out until mid July. Nights are cool and crisp, tennis shoes/boots and sandals all in one day are not uncommon. ;)
You know, my family has lived there for 13 years and….I really don’t think I can recall a sunny Independence Day!
My mom taught me to always have a jacket with me, no matter what. I’ve found that very useful, even on hot days, because inevitably I’ll end up in a frigid movie theatre or something.
You continue to inspire me! I find the notion of picking up with so few things incredibly romantic. You’re taking with you what you only really need. Last night I was inspired by your blog and threw out a bag of unused/torn/worn items. I want to try and throw out/donate a bag a day for the next few weeks. I already live fairly simply by most North American standards, but I still think I could refine and pair down my collection of possessions. Thank you for the inspiration and I’ll pray that your move/roadtrip is filled with lots of joy and adventure :)
That’s a great idea! I love that you recognized that cumbersome feeling and are doing it your own way instead. We move states a lot so we keep our legal address as my in-laws house and they have been our “storage unit” for years now lol. Thank God for them! We usually just do a POD shipping crate when we move because we found the stress of driving Uhauls or towing is just not good for us. Last move we lived without furniture for almost two weeks and honestly it felt like the funnest sleepover of my life!
http://www.morningappleblog.com
I read your blog everyday and very excited you are coming to Seattle since I live here. If you need help settling in or need any thing, let me know!
okay…I LOVE hearing about stuff like this…feel free to share ALL ya want :D cant wait to see how all this works! What an adventure it will be!
My husband and I moved to Florida (from California) for 2 years and brought only what fit in our car. I must say, while it was very liberating, it cost a lot of money to re-buy all of the basics we needed (things you can’t thrift/Craiglist). You don’t realize how many little things you use, particularly house-cleaning supplies, that add up. I highly suggest taking note of the things you use every day (whether it’s for your daily living routine or for cleaning) and bringing those with you – your coffee maker, bedding, cleaning solutions, vacuum/broom, etc. Little things like that that aren’t necessarily glamorous to pack but definitely add up quickly in price. Just my two cents!
I am in the process of moving and a lot of the kitchen items I had were old and gross or not mine (roommates) so I just replaced a lot of them at once. I can’t believe how much money I’ve spent on cutting boards and kitchen utensils, hand towels, dish rack, can opener etc. It adds up, fast. And those are all things I wouldn’t buy used…. Assuming you’re taking a few pots and pans one box for “kitchen” will leave a lot you will probably need to buy again.
Great tips! This was actually the first thing that came to mind when I read the post. I love the romantic side of getting up and moving and learning of a new city – but my right brain is all ‘wait, I use my French press daily, I live by Lysol Wipes, etc’. Then I get tired of overthinking and lose my excitement haha
I’ll third (or fourth, or fifth) that advice. I just moved from SLC to Portland and wanted to start out with a clean slate, so I tossed/donated/sold anything that wasn’t exactly what I wanted. My thought process was that I should only live with things that make me happy or are useful (a la William Morris), but I ended up spending so. much. money replacing things all at once. Definitely make note of the items you use daily and try to cram those things in–it will be way less stressful in the long run!
Have you read Better than Before by Gretchen Rubin? I’m super curious about what habits you stick to!
Thrift stores here (Seattle and north of Seattle) will have pretty much everything you need for basics that you can’t take with, from cashmere sweaters for layering if it gets too cold to chairs and decent kitchen basics.
I do find I need a winter coat though- or at least something heavier than a blazer that will accommodate a couple layers underneath.
um, bring some warm layers. Lots. Seattle is next to the ocean which can bring very cold air and wind. And a rain jacket is good as it will also break the wind. Have fun!!
I’m jealous! I love this decision to take only what you can pack in the car. I can’t wait to hear about how it goes!
do you think once you have your nest at a happy place sharing what it looks like?
“Are we doing it like this in the name of minimalism? Not. At. All. We’re doing it like this in the name of this-sounds-like-fun. :)” Love this. Sometimes I feel like the spirit of minimalism is lost and it becomes a “How low can you go” contest rather than a means to live with more freedom. Good for you!
My son moved from Portland, Oregon to Santiago, Chile to teach English a little over a month ago. He checked two not terribly large suitcases and a carryon. He’s lived in a hostel, a pensión and now has a studio apartment which came furnished. He’s having a blast.
What a dream to be able to just pick up and move! Best of luck with this light approach!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Love this! I made two moves where I only took what I could fit in my car! I thrifted everything else upon arrival (and donated/sold everything I didn’t need before I left). It was a lovely way to live.
What are you doing with all the stuff you’re leaving behind? Storing, donating, selling?
This is so inspiring!!!! My husband and I have been talking about moving with our two little ones to be close to his grandparents, but it seemed like such a commitment! Maybe a six-month, minimalist move would be just the thing to spend some time with them! Thank you for sharing your fun plans!!
Caroline,
This sounds like so much fun!!! I am so happy for you and can’t wait to hear about the adventure!! My husband and I are moving from SC to VA this summer and we’ve taken a similar approach. We aren’t going as extreme but we are taking very few items as our square footage is about to be cut in half. It’s so liberating to get rid of so much stuff!! It feels like a weight being lifted!
I’m curious to know if you’re selling/getting rid of the items you aren’t taking with you. Or will you be storing them for when you return?
How fun! How fascinating! :)
For our last two moves, though one being a three-hour drive away and the other a mere half hour, we have done something similar, and it is so FREEING! We sold our condo in city #1 fully furnished (advertised as such) and took only what we deemed “needed” (though, admittedly, much more than fit in one car load!). She even bought our bed, sheets, towels, decorations, plates, silverware, glassware – everything!! Then when we moved from that house (a rental) to our new/current house, we actually sold most of the big stuff to the next tenant (who was, coincidentally, a friend of a friend), so we just moved our clothes, a few choice pieces that we loved, some kitchen stuff, and our bed!
I can’t see doing it any other way, to be perfectly honest. There’s something so freeing about being able to pack everything you need into your car and go – it’s like University all over again :). Have fun and enjoy the process! It’s shocking how much you don’t really need, and what you can find very inexpensively (secondhand) when you arrive. Then you can shed it again, guilt free, when you leave on your next adventure!
Caroline, this idea is so cool! I could see my husband and I doing something similar, but we’re definitely not there yet. Y’all are brave! I was wondering, what do y’all plan on doing with the things you leave behind? Are you going to keep them in storage? Sell them? I’m so curious!
Since it’s a temporary 6-month stay, how are you handling accommodation? I’m imagining you signed a 6-month lease on an apartment/house…if so, are you feeling tentative about how much to invest in furnishing/settling in?
Glad ya’lls hard work has paid off and you’re able to do this! Neither my partner nor I have been able to figure out how to transition to working remotely, or we’d do this in a heartbeat :(
This sounds delightful! Congratulations! Can’t wait to read all about your 6 month adventure!
Your moving plans sounds SO cool & whimsical! (How often do you hear that about moving?) I think I’d be scared to do that myself, but I love the gypsy-wanderer spirit! Best of luck; can’t wait to read more about it! Will you be taking a break from Unfancy while road-tripping?
I am so excited about your trip to my homeland, we are happy to have you! Just make sure that capsule has boots, a raincoat and layers! layers, layers, layers.
Do you know which neighborhood you’ll be living in yet? Just wondering because I just moved away from Seattle (and I absolutely love it & intend to return) and it’s so exciting thinking of you experiencing it for the first time!
This is fantastic! I love this idea! My husband and I have been interested in doing something like this since we spent a month in Australia 2 years ago. We’ve since sold our house, and we’re thinking this could be much more doable for us. We’re currently planning a month long trip to New Zealand. I know it’s not 6 months, but baby steps ;)
Can I ask, are you putting anything in storage while you’re away in Seattle (my home turf by the way), or will you be selling anything you don’t take with you? What was your reasoning behind whatever decision you made in this area? I feel like my husband and I have FINALLY found a home furnishing/decor style that we both love, and it would be so sad to let go of some of it (We did recently already do a DRASTIC downsize after selling our house).
Congratulations on the move. Doing things in your own weird way is the perfect way to do it. Your look is great as well. I keep seeing the cognac tote! I think I’m going to have to get one.
-Kachet
http://www.thelipstickgiraffe.com
When I moved to Seattle we fit everything in the back of a truck. Getting rid of so much stuff was the second best decision I ever made (the first was moving to Seattle). I hope everything works out!
This sounds great! And it’s pretty much what I did when I moved from WI to TX. I wish you luck! :D
The Peculiar Trouth
Hah! You and I are twinning today Caroline! I got ready this morning and I always check out your blog as part of my morning ritual (always with coffee in hand) and noticed we had similar things on! I have Birkenstocks, with Madewell’s light denim crop jeans, a striped shirt (almost identical to the one you’re wearing!), and the new Madewell spring cardigan in cream! Here’s to twining! :) and so excited for you and your husband’s move. Cheers to Seattle!
Seattle is a wonderful place to live! Been here for 3 years now and love everything about it :)
– there’s a FB group called ‘buy nothing’ in Seattle for various neighborhoods, where good free stuff are offered and you can ask for stuff too. Happy move and Welcome!
Your blog is the best! I love your insight and style. Sounds like you are off to a great adventure! I hope you are planning on sharing your “road trip” capsule. I would love to learn about pieces that work for long drives & sight seeing. Happy packing and happy move!
Good luck! I have a Beetle, so I could never move this way! ;)
Lovely way to move :) Go with you instincts!
Sounds like a great way to do it! I had to toss my couch because of mold and I ended up not getting a new one because it is just one more big item to think about if I decide to move in a few years. Making do with a chair and a papasan (so you know I will appreciate pictures of your new boho space later!).
How fun! I am so excited for you guys. What an exciting time in your lives.
I love it. I think starting fresh is such a delight and being able to completely review all of your stuff while a bit of a luxury, will mean a more deliberate approach to what you ‘own’
I’m so happy for you and your move!!! Seattle is so amazing, I think you’ll love it! I’ve lived here for 13 years now, so I thought I’d give you some unsolicited advice, May-September in Seattle is gorgeous! In fact if I could only live here for one part of the year that would be it. Very little rain, and (at least the last two years) mostly sunshine. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about your future home :)
Cheers,
Nicole
This sounds supersupersuper awesome! It’s exciting to see that y’all are making your dreams & change happen. My dude & I are planning our own first move out of state down to Florida in about a year and a half and what you’re bringing with you sounds like what he wants to bring with us! We also have a little pup who will be riding along and we’re looking to bring as little as possible. :)
Wishing you luck!!
How funny that this is the first blog post of yours that I stumbled upon (obsessed with your blog now, btw), and I am from Seattle! A belated welcome to Seattle, first of all. And secondly so excited to try my own version of a capsule wardrobe. I have a feeling that I will end up going a littttttttleeeee bit over 37 items though. But at least it’ll be a start!