If there’s a place where angels fear to tread when blogging about moving overseas, this is probably that place. Few subjects evoke such emotional responses as ‘What should you bring, and what should you leave behind?’ So if you are packing up and shipping out, what should you bring?
This is scratching the surface to reveal a deep topic. It leads to an entire world of psychoanalytical study. The science of ‘attachment’ theory. So grab your favorite comfort blanket, rabbit foot or other thing that you cannot possibly do without. And let us talk about you and your stuff.
First Things First
Do you know that you have an attachment style? The phenomenon of ‘hoarding’ has given rise to a stream of research to shed light on the relationship between individuals and their belongings. Interestingly, our connection to people profoundly affects our relationship to objects.
Emotional insecurity and obsession over objects have a strong relationship. Emotional insecurity correlates with a correspondingly strong attachment to certain inanimate objects. Some people even go as far as humanizing their possessions and attaching similar levels of affection to them (for example, my Toyota Surf is named Hansel, and I love him).
This tendency intensifies when people face challenging situations, such as moving overseas.
We even go as far as believing objects carry an essence of ourselves or others. Think about it. Do you have a possession that is special to you because of the person associated with it?
Back to the Question. What to Bring, What to Leave?
Our attachment style is ‘minimalist.’ We reduced our earthly belongings to what we could carry in our backpacks and carry-on luggage. But I am not suggesting this is the only way to go. It was just the best way for us.
The goal of this post is to ask the question; what is right for you?
Should I bring a shipping container, leave my stuff at home, or go minimalist?
People we have met tend to fall into one of these categories, so let me share my observations of each.
The ‘Bring the Kitchen Sink’ Crew
Those who could not bear to leave their stuff behind have packed and shipped it. We have seen this in Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Paraguay.
There are infinite variables of how the freight experience turns out. The two primary factors seem to be the point of departure and destination. For example, here in Paraguay, transporting freight between Germany and Paraguay is a well-trodden path and apparently things tend to go to plan. But we have heard of several situations that have not turned out well.
Here are a few situations that we are aware of.
1. A container shipped from Australia went missing. This was during Covid. We are talking about Australia here, so the chances of dramas are higher than in many other locations. A personal emergency resulted in the family having to change their plans for relocation.
To date, I am not aware if the container has been located.
2. Multiple boxes of items were shipped from Australia to a certain South American location. There were ongoing and unexpected delays and demands for money at the South American end. The freight was eventually released.
3. Many people pack up their containers and leave them until such date as they decide to ship. If you leave your shipping container for a length of time before shipping, your belongings may be damaged by the lack of ventilation. Condensation may cause mold and play havoc with electrical goods.
If you feel you need to wait before shipping your container, organize it to be kept where someone can ventilate it on a regular basis. To add to the challenges of freighting a lot of items overseas, by all accounts the process is becoming increasingly unreliable.
Transporting pets can also be challenging. Unexpected delays and the requirement to make further ‘payments’ can be a feature of moving pets.
Leave the Kitchen Sink at ‘Home’
Other intrepid re-locators opt to keep a shipping container or storage facility at ‘home.’ This dispenses with the hassle of freighting overseas, but it does lead to the issue of what to do with the items down the track.
Another issue that needs to be considered when leaving stuff at home is who will care for it. Leaving items in a storage facility sounds simple, but things like humidity can wreck your beloved piece of furniture or artwork. Containers and storage lockers need to be aired out and routinely inspected to ensure that they are okay. All things to keep in mind.
The Minimalist Movers
There are always a few extremists. This was our mindset. We were adamant that we were done with NZ and had no intentions of returning. That approach is not for everyone, but it worked for us. We fitted all our belongings in our packs and carry-ons, but we have found that even that much has been a challenge to manage.
We started our journey in Guatemala. There we acquired a few things. When we decided to move on to Nicaragua, we realized we didn’t have room in our luggage for all of the stuff we now owned. Consequently, we now have a few boxes in Guatemala and are researching the best way to bring those items to Paraguay. It is not straightforward.
Our experience illustrates that even a modest amount of goods can become a burden. It would be rare to move your items only once, so consider the logistics of moving them again, and perhaps again; possibly across multiple borders.
Is There Another Way? The ‘Absorption’ Method!
Depending on your social resources, if you do not want to officially part with your stuff perhaps you can leave it with family and friends. A couch here, a wardrobe there. Just a thought.
Practical Considerations
When we look back at all we left, we cannot think of a single thing that is unavailable here. In fact, in several categories, there are better versions of the things we left behind that we can acquire here.
When we arrived in Guatemala, we noticed many people seemed to be well dressed. That’s because Guatemala has the best-recycled clothing shops we have ever seen. Mountains of clothing are shipped from the USA. I purchased a $200 pair of sandals for a few bucks, and we purchased items that were unavailable in NZ or OZ.
In Paraguay, it is much the same situation. Of course, it depends on what you want to buy. The point is, that most things are accessible here.
Don’t Let Your Stuff Drag You Down
There is a scene in the movie ‘The Piano’ where the main character, Ada, is very attached to her piano. Ada and her family have made the long voyage from the UK to NZ with her piano, and now they are leaving NZ (sounds like a good plan).
The finale has Ada in a rowboat, and for reasons best understood when watching the movie, Ada asks that the piano be thrown overboard into the sea. Apparently, her decision is inspired by her desire to liberate herself from memories of the past that the piano represents. As the piano sinks, Ada is caught by a rope that is tied to the piano. She goes down with the piano into the sea. Do not worry, she eventually gets free, swims to the surface, and all is good.
The point is, are you traveling with items, or left some at ‘home’ that could become a rope around your leg?
Everyone’s situation is unique, and this is a question that only you can answer.
If you are super organized it might be worth writing a list of all the stuff you are considering bringing. Work your way through it and you might be surprised. After much soul-searching and a few animated conversations with your travelling partners, you might realize that you do not need as much as you might think.
Don’t get Caught When the Music Stops
We are one event away from our supply chains being disrupted again. It makes sense to give due consideration to the logistics of moving. Covid gave us a glimpse of how the cogs of this world can be disrupted. It’s worth thinking about how this could come into play in terms of moving personal freight.
They’re Only ‘Things’
Having made the move we appreciate that if you are thinking about moving this subject is a tough one. You and your stuff have a strong connection and it’s hard to decide what to let go of.
We can only speak from our experience. The things that we let go of are a distant memory. We are glad that we don’t have alot of things to drag along. They’re only things.
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