Relocating is a challenging and time-consuming task, even for the most veteran among us. Veterans have unique challenges during transfers since they must frequently travel through regions where neither they nor the locals are accustomed to the military way of life. Fortunately, there are many helpful tips and pointers to choose from that might make the transition easier. It can be challenging to relocate as a veteran, so in this blog, we will review several tips and tricks that may make relocation easier as a veteran.
Familiarize yourself with the area
The most important thing to do to make relocation easier as a veteran is to learn as much as possible about the area you’re moving to. Get to know the area, from its climate and local attractions to its employment and educational opportunities and landmarks. If veterans take the time to learn about their new neighborhood before they move there, they will have a much simpler time settling in.
Caption: The first step when moving as a veteran is to familiarize yourself with the area.
Develop a moving plan
Before making a move, it is essential to have a plan in place. Timelines for packing and moving, costs, and a list of items to carry, should all be included in your strategy. Planned action for the first two to three weeks following a move is also essential. Finding a place to live, finding a job, getting the kids enrolled in school, and getting to know the community are all necessary first steps.
Keep a positive outlook!
Positive reinforcement is crucial during a time of transition, like moving. The good news is that the contagious nature of joy means that your spouse and other loved ones can also keep their spirits up. Remember that few people get the opportunity to travel extensively over their lifetimes. If you’re a military family, you can see the world (or at least the rest of the country)! Just keep your chin up and think about how lucky you are.
Start letting go right now
Eliminating unnecessary items in advance is smart moving advice for veterans. If you make it a habit of giving away or selling your old belongings as you receive new ones, you will save yourself a lot of time and energy when fresh orders finally arrive, which will also prepare your house for sale, if that’s what you want. Immediately discard any remaining items from your last move still packed in boxes. There’s no purpose in relocating a box that has already been unloaded.
Caption: Get rid of the old clothes you don’t wear to make relocation easier as a veteran.
Declutter your home
Decluttering your home is a must, even if your move is still a few months away; you’ll be pleased you did it. It’s only natural for your house to accumulate while you live in it, what with visitors bringing gifts, kids getting homework, and you stocking up on groceries and clothing. As a culture, we amass vast quantities of material possessions in months, yet most of us don’t regularly get rid of the old to make room for the new.
Even if your home requires little upkeep, you may still have a lot of unnecessary possessions. Start easy by having the kids look through their belongings. Do the same method in every area in your house. Always try to stop by your neighborhood Goodwill or another donation center when you’re out and about. Eliminate any items you won’t need or want to bring.
Engage the kids in the relocation process
Remember that the veteran relocation process may be new and challenging for your children. They are moving far away from family and friends to start over at a new school. You might face some obstacles when dealing with these main challenges of long-distance relocation. Talk to them early on about why and how moving may benefit them. Find out what there is to do and see in the area surrounding your new base of operations. When your kids are old enough, help them get to know their new neighborhood by connecting them with reliable web resources like the city’s official tourism site. Children of all ages may participate in the relocation process by packing and decorating their boxes.
Get some ziplock bags
To make relocation easier as a veteran, get some ziplock bags. Ziplock bags of enormous sizes will become your trusted companion. A common practice among packers is to grab small items in a drawer and hurriedly place them in boxes. You must unpack and rearrange your entire life when you move to your new home. Time may be saved by storing large ziplock bags and then dumping out the small items. Think of cutlery, spices, cooking equipment, art supplies, pens, and toys.
Make sure to organize first-day boxes
It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to move and unpack everything in one day. If you don’t plan to unpack all your possessions immediately, how do you plan to use your new home? There are a few ways to address this issue, but one is to use a “first-day” box.
A first-day box is a big box into which you and your family load all of your most essential belongings so that you may get a head start on life before you finish unpacking. You should pack your car with the essentials like dishes, silverware, and bedding and drive them to your new place instead of using the moving truck.
Alt text: Cardboard boxes stacked on each other in a room.
Caption: Pack all the essentials in the first-day boxes.
Using liquids should be avoided
Avoid using liquids if you want to make relocation easier as a veteran. The packers will leave a mountain of liquid in your kitchen. They both sit still, chemicals and liquids. You already know this, of course. Nonetheless, it’s disheartening to watch bottles of liquid worth hundreds of dollars go to waste. Do not buy a new bottle of vanilla, an expensive shampoo, or a gallon of fabric softener in the months leading up to your departure. Make improvising with limited resources a game instead. Also, switch to powder detergents instead of liquid detergents during this time.
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