5 things I did not, in fact, do when moving into my second apartment

Last June, I wrote a list of seven things I’d do when moving into my second apartment. Ah, I truly did intend to do all of those things! But only two of the seven items actually got done. Move-out day went the complete opposite of how it was supposed to go, and I’m sure it contributed to the autism burnout I was trying so hard to ignore. 🥲

This post is sponsored by Texans Movers.

I did move closer to my maternal grandmother, aunt, and cousin — a bit odd that, despite everything, this is my chosen family. Last year, I had an allergic reaction that landed me in the hospital, and no one on my dad’s side of the family could make it to me. I don’t know that they would have, either. I realized I didn’t have the type of familial connection with them that I do the people I live closer to now. They would have made sure I was not alone at that hospital, if they had been close enough and known. I wouldn’t have had to even start downloading ride share apps because I’d have someone to take me home.

I’d never realized until then just how alone I was and how little concerned several family members were for me. Oh? Allergic reaction to cross-contamination re: nuts? Bummer.

So, yeah. That’s why I moved to Kaufman — and besides, who wants to live in Dallas, anyway??

1. I created no plan, so there was nothing to throw out the window.

I tried to find my moving labels — couldn’t. I’d put them somewhere in the months prior, when decluttering, but I still couldn’t tell you what happened to them.

Again, I waited until the very. last. minute. to start packing the majority of my things, even though I took the day before off.

2. My grandmother hired movers, but oh ho ho they ghosted.

My grandmother called up the apartment complex maintenance dude, who drove by me the day prior as I unloaded some storage totes in a way that made me feel uncomfortable — slow, staring.

She’d looked into hiring movers, but moving such a far distance — Greenville, TX to Kaufman, TX — is costly, quick.

The guy, who was supposedly bringing a friend, did not show up — so we wound up waiting a little over half an hour for my cousin and his wife, and aunt to show up to help us load my stuff into my grandmother’s horse trailer.

Luckily, I had signed the lease the day prior so we didn’t have to worry about timing — but that was its own misery.

P.S. If you need residential moving in Houston, check out Texans Movers.

3. I did not hire a professional to clean my apartment for move-out, but I did leave that place in a better shape than I got it.

My apartment was baaaad when I first moved in. Like, awful.

My grandmother came with me to look at my second one with me because of how awful the first one was.

I took pics of every inch of that apartment, although I failed to get pics of the stove — the burner drip pans were covered in black gunk, probably burnt debris, and I made them look like new thanks to Bar Keeper’s Friend.

Red flag 🚩

Red flag 🚩🚩

RED flag 🚩🚩🚩

BUT IZZY, you say. THAT’S BAD, BUT IT’S NOT BAD-BAD.

No?

🚩🚩🚩🚩

DON’T BE NAIVE LIKE ME.

4. I definitely did not meal prep anything.

I actually just did not care.

In theory, meal planning was a great idea. In execution, it simply was not a possibility considering everything that was happening.

I did spend about $300 to stock my new apartment! But most of the food in my first apartment was trashed when I went back on the 28th to finish clearing everything out and hand over the keys.

I had actually intended to stay the night there some nights, but had not considered my two kittens into that.

5. I did sign a lease wayyy before my lease ended!

I needed out. I was desperate to be out. I hated Greenville, my apartment, and the constraints of my job so bad. I had a good job at the time, but I couldn’t stand the town I lived in or its people, and that played a large part.

Originally, I was going to move in and sign the lease on the 11th of December, but I instead signed it on the 10th because Nectar sent my mattress an entire week earlier than their website said they could. The email exclaimed Good news! and all I could do was panic over it. My landlords put my mattress into my apartment — the bedroom, even! — and I signed the lease one day early. I had to change my renter’s insurance to start one day earlier, and I’d already had the electric company start that day as well.

This way, I wouldn’t have to worry about moving right before or after the Christmas holidays.

6. I did not officially take time off on purpose.

Autism burnout hit me hard, but I had every intention to move without needing to take much time off. I also intended to stay at that store, but alas…Greenville people. -.-

7. I moved WITH clutter.

However, I think it actually works a little better to move with your clutter, because then you get to spend time in your new space determining what exactly you need for the things you have.

I’m finding it’s much easier to unpack and declutter than it is to declutter and pack — mostly because I never truly unpacked in the first place. 🥲

---

The place I’m at now only offered 12- and 18-month leases, and I signed on for 18 months for the $25 discount. Depending on how high the rent increases at the end of my lease, I may just stay here until I can move into a house. My apartment building is smoke-free and just two years old — it looked and smelled like new when I moved in, though I’m sure the same won’t be said of it when I move out. 🥲