From Bed Bugs to Carpenter Ants and Coffee Shops

In the last few weeks, I've moved out of an apartment in Detroit, overrun with bedbugs, out of an apartment in Chicago overrun with tchotkes and books, slept on friends' couches, in motels, and finally moved into my apartment - a summer sublet.

Although my new apartment is quaint and just right for feeling like a geeky grad student (complete with shelves for books already installed), it came along with carpenter ants, a clogged sink and tub and toilet that moved precariously from side to side. Helps a girl feel fat, you know?

Now, I'm a bit more settled and have a lot I want to write, but for now, I'll leave this post with three pieces of moving wisdom (I have moved approximately 10 times in the past 3 1/2 years):

1. If someone else can/could make better use of it, let them do so.
2. If you've been lugging it around for a number of moves and keep thinking you'll post it on craigslist, put in the alley (esp. in Chicago and let the dumpster divers have at it)
3. When in doubt, live with less.