By Amanda Huffman
Contributing Writer
Military life means moving every couple of years, or sometimes even more regularly. Inevitably, this can leave you living in an empty house with your household goods either on their way to the new destination or from your old home. It’s like being in constant limbo when you find yourself living in a home without your stuff. And while it is a great time to get projects and deep cleaning done, it isn’t easy to live in a house without your stuff.
Here are some tips I’ve gathered over the years that can help make it easier to bridge the gap if you ever find yourself stuck living in an empty house.
Plan Ahead
When your house gets packed up, you can select items to remain behind. Not everything you have has to go, especially if you are driving cross-country. Plan ahead before the movers arrive and think about what you might need if you will be staying in the house for a few days without your stuff.
You will definitely want air mattresses, pillows, sheets, and blankets. You will also want to consider kitchen/dining needs and any other special family items you want to keep with you.
Of course, you may want to have all your kitchen pots and pans at your disposal, but there are a lot of meals you can make f with just a few utensils. If you have room in your vehicle, try to pack a large pot and a cooking tray. If you have extra room, you can also store away a few plates, bowls, and silverware. If you don’t have room, paper and plastic utensils work great, too.
Ask for Help
When we were in a house without furniture, we quickly realized the value of having a table and chairs. Those items are hard to take with you when you move. While eating on the floor is feasible, sitting at a table is so much nicer than the floor. Luckily,many people have folding tables and chairs that are just sitting in their shed or garage not being used. Even when we have moved to a location where we don’t know anyone, we have found that people are more than willing to help out by loaning these folding tables and chairs. All you have to do is ask.
On our last move, neighbors and friends gave us extra dishes and furniture to help us get through the week or so until we had our furniture delivered. People were so willing to help us in the midst of a move that it made me realize how lucky I was to have lived in that neighborhood.
Use the Time to Get Things Done
When you arrive at a new location, you always look forward to getting everything put in its place. But if you have a few days or weeks to wait for your furniture, take the time to get things done, such as painting or other projects that can get complicated when you have furniture in the way.
The in-between time is also a great time to deep clean the house you are leaving behind or arriving at..
Remember It Is Only Temporary
Not having your stuff means there isn’t a lot to do. Try to soak up the adventure of living in a house without stuff. It is like camping but indoors. Without furniture, you probably have some extra time you can use to go exploring in your new or old city. Or check off some of the to-do items on your list to take your mind off your empty house.
Soon enough, your things will arrive and life will be busy with activities and friendships. While living in an empty house isn’t ideal, it is often part of the moving experience. Hopefully, these tips will help make living in an empty house easier. What tips would you add?
Amanda is a military Veteran who served in the Air Force for six years as a Civil Engineer who served on a combat deployment with the Army in Afghanistan. She traded in her combat boots for a diaper bag to stay home with her two boys and follow her husband’s military career in the Space Force. Amanda is the host of the Women of the Military podcast. There she shares the stories of women who have served or are serving in the military. The podcast has over 200 episodes and over 100K downloads. Amanda is also an author and has published two books. Her first book, Women of the Military tells the stories of 28 military women who served in the military. Her second book, A Girl’s Guide to Military Service, is the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Winner for Teen Non Fiction. It is a guide for high school girls considering military service to help them build a strong foundation for their future career. She also works as a freelance writer and has been featured in a number of military publications including The War Horse, Military.com, Military Families Magazine, Clearance Jobs, Military Spouse Magazine, and more.
