Yom Rishon

Today has been a typical Sunday. I got up early today and went for bagels with the girls like we usually do. We had to go early because the repairman was coming to do some work at 9am. We made it home in plenty of time and then we did some things around the house, stuff on the computer, posted to my blog, and watched some TV. Emily went to work and Kaitlin and I went to work on her parallel parking, but the lot was closed. We stopped at the grocery store and picked up some things for lunch. We came home and ate while watching a movie. After the movie, I packed my first box for Israel and cleaned up some in the garage. I then came back inside to document this momentous day... did you hear me? I said I PACKED MY FIRST BOX FOR ISRAEL!!! Obviously I didn't pack my socks and underwear yet but my first box is packed! Since I intend to only end up with six to ten boxes, I am pretty far along in my packing... No?

Well I guess I'll explain my plans and logic for the quite limited number of boxes I am taking. I look around my house, as for furniture there is nothing I have of any sentimental value. While I like most of my furniture most of it is too big for Israeli sized rooms. So I am not taking any furniture. Appliances and electronics are more of a pain than anything else as the power standards and the TV broadcast standards are different. So, I am not taking any appliances and most of my electronics. So you ask... What am I taking? I will max out what I am allowed to take with me on the airplane with mostly clothing and immediate items I will need upon arrival. I will take my computer as I only need to purchase an adapter to be able to plug it in as it does work with both US and 220v power sources.

As for the boxes, I will pack my winter coats (just a couple not all 15 that I have now) along my Judaica items and a couple pieces of artwork. I am taking some books (not many) as I have to take my Hebrew Harry Potter books and a few others. I am going through everything I own and there are a few "treasure" items (only means something to me) that will also make the trip. I am going to bring my DVDs and my multi-region player (that is wonderful thing). It converts PAL to NTSC (Israeli and US TV standards) so I can watch my Israeli movies on my TV here. It works on both 110 and 220v. It also converts NTSC to PAL so I can watch my US movies on my Israeli TV. Since I like my movies and they won't take up much space once I take them out of the cases they are making the cut as well. The box I packed today contains my backpacking and camping gear. I am planning to take advantage of outdoor activities, so I don't need to be repurchasing the same I items I already own and don't really take up that much space.

So, you ask... What will you do with everything else? Well, as I go through everything I own I am dividing it into 3 "piles". 1st is the smallest pile, the stuff going with me. 2nd is the trash pile and it is the stuff that has no value, no one would want and is not going with me. the 3rd pile is the "disposal" pile. The kids will get first dibs on this stuff and the rest will either be sold or donated. As for the furniture and appliances, those are mostly being taken by the kids so I don't have to live in an empty house before I leave.

Once I have all the boxes packed, how will they get to Israel? I am going to search out a family that is making Aliyah around the same time that is taking a household of items. They will be using a shipping container to load their items for shipment. Many people do not have enough stuff to fill the container and are willing to sell some space to those, like me, that just need a little space. I am a member of an online group where I can search for people to help me out. If I can find someone in Atlanta I will take them the boxes, otherwise I will ship them to whereve the people are to add to their stuff. Once their shipment arrives in Israel, I can meet up with them and retrieve my things. This isn't too complicated...