Saturday, February 12, 2011

Packing and Moving

Packing and moving has been a steady and constant part of our lives in the past 7-8 years of marriage. And even before that I have been changing cities, houses constantly as long as I remember.

Things have changed in this industry, it was very different when we moved from Barkhedi to Shahpura. That was when I was 9. I still remember the use of "bori" and new-papers as packing materials. Most of the packing was done by us and loading and moving part was taken care of by professionals with trucks. Unloading as well, but no unpacking (as the term evolved).

Second big movement was from Bhopal to Raipur. Again the same thing. I remember the evening we reached Raipur and our stuff was still in transit, we slept on a coir with bed sheets and quilts provided by landlords who used to live on ground floor of the house where we occupied the first floor. That was I guess the most stable time I remember till date as a grown up. We went to Raipur when I was 11-12 and were there for 7 years living in the same house.

The third movement I distinctly remember was in 1994 when we moved back from Raipur to Bhopal. It was very similar, you do packing, someone will do loading, moving and unloading. Unpacking will be done by you again. You are tired as you packed all stuff and came all the way and then you start unpacking again :). God, that would be physically and psychologically draining, but what was the option. I remember though that this time, as suggested by Devaria uncle, we let the movers get the TV also, still not sure if it will reach in one piece :), but it did and Baba called Devaria uncle to tell him that. To us, it was an achievement, getting a TV across 700 kms. Unheard of.

My move from Bhopal to Ujjain was relatively simpler as it was just my clothes etc. This was all pre-car era and so we travelled in train reaching Ujjain where my enginnering college was starting on 17th Aug 1995. What a day that was and what an amazing start of the fantastic 4 years of my life. While in Ujjain, I shifted once in those 4 years from Manda mawshi's house to Kaku's. From Free Ganj to city. From Sri Ganga to Bhagat ji and from Jain sev to Ratlami sev, from Dewas gate to Bhola Guru.. I can continue for even :). Yes, all these things are important. A huge difference in way of life in the same small town of Ujjain.

After college, moving back to Indore to think about work for some time. Soon, it was Mumbai calling.

Drove all te way sometime in 99. Started with Kandivali Lokhand and from one building to another in a matter of a month. All this was simple, living with friends, only belongings were clothes and suitcases.

Alica Nagar was an experience, four of us started there and not a day in first 6 months when there was no one else in that flat. Someone new to Mumbai who did not have place to live. It wa a party and everyone was invited.

Then a move from Kandivali E to Vashi with Harshu and Vahini. It was another fantastic six months before it became difficult and tiring to travel from Vashi to Andheri E everyday. So moved back with friends to Andheri E. We used to watch a lot of movies.

Mumbai to Delhi was another big change again. People I didnt know, nice flat and good money. Made good friends, but then came back in 9 months to get married. Back to Mumbai, started with living in Andheri E. Known place, office nearby. Good one bed house but one rainy season on returning from London, found the house flooded. Another move came as I wanted to re-live the Vashi experience a few years back.

Koper khairane is still a small town place in Mumbai. We packed our stuff and we moved. They unnloaded and unpacked. When Arjun was born, this is the house we got the first car. We were not very pleased with the place as it was far away from office, so moving back to Mumbai was inevitable.

Hyderabad came as a surprise and relief. This was the first time we used Agarwal Packers and movers. They move everything in cardboard boxes - along with the car, well almost everything. Trained packers who made packing and moving from an art to industry and efficiency. They knew how to pack everything you have, do not think looking at the items and thinking.. Now how do I pack this? I think it was creative.

It was boring and interesting to watch these people work. They packed, moved and unpacked as well. Efficient and nice. No work of art, but following set rules. Creativity lost.

6 months in Hyderabad was fantastic time spent. Back to Mulund W. And then in a year to Powai. This started a stable time, well, relatively. We lived in same house for around 2 years before moving to our own apartment in Powai. That was almost like end of movements. We completed a good one year in our house when Bangalore came knocking :).

Nice house, nice place. All good. Wanted to stay here and buy this house from landlord before he informed that he is moving back.

9 months and we are moving again and part of move started today, it will finish this weekend.

I dont think life is unstable causing us to move every now and then. I think instability is within. The desire to throw yourself in a whirlpool and then then making things stable again and then again destabilizing.

I think moves are important. Every move brings along with it opportunities, challenges, adjustments and new perspectives.

I will like to keep moving, travelling every few years. I think we grow and mature as we move. Its like reading a book. You dont stop at one.

A lot of stability brings rigidness and closed-mindedness. When you do not want to look at a new perspective but just missing what you had. Its not forward-looking but frustrating.

If I can, I will keep moving. Dragging people along :). Always!!!
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.4