While the title is an allusion to a popular management book, there is no denying the fact that there are few things in life that could be more stressful, dreadful, annoying, and time-consuming than the process of relocating a residence (or shifting, as it is popularly known in our country. To native English speakers, the mention of the word in this context would leave them pondering incredulously as to how someone could literally shift their house). Indeed, it is a journey – in a true sense of the word, even though one might be moving just a few kilometers away – through an entire gamut of emotions, experienced by both seasoned veterans and newcomers alike. At its simplest, the process is essentially the same irrespective of the location of the new destination: Identify the items to be moved, choose a suitable company to handle the entire operation, oversee the packing and moving, unpack and rearrange things in the new house. Of course, the sequence of events may not always follow the desired order, with chaos playing spoilsport and causing the aforementioned emotions to come into play.
As with most activities, the first step is often the hardest. Generally, the major items such as those of the wardrobes, living and dining rooms and kitchen select themselves, unless one is bound by space constraints or is going in for an overhaul. Deciding among the rest as to what to carry forward is the tricky part. This can be nerve-wracking for the sorts who tend to accumulate things. “Would this be useful someday?” is the perennially-nagging question that leaves them torn between tossing something into the junk pile and adding it to the loft (or ‘put away for later’) collection. It’s debatable whether this line of reasoning has any benefit, but there do arise occasions where these items can be very handy and save the trouble of having to head to the store at an unearthly hour (I suppose this is how those gifts no one seem to want get passed around).
Choosing the right packers and movers is more about that moment of serendipity rather than careful selection, because for all the planning one can do, the quality of the operation all boils down to the personnel who show up on the D-day to seal your boxes (and your fate). There are various grades of operators in this space, ranging from very high-end ‘professionals’ who claim to handle everything without the customer breaking a sweat (but the bill could break the bank), to the companies who charge less but will handle things roughly and quickly.
The degree to which one leaves the packing to the packers depends on the skill and discipline of the latter, and on how much control one desires (and of course, how much time one has). Depending on the availability of packaging material, such as carton boxes and bubble wrapping, one can pack the required items in advance, thus reducing the overall time required. Control freaks can, as a result, ensure things are documented, accounted for and in order, also helping in smoother unpacking. Additionally, it could provide some breathing space when the packers arrive, who otherwise run rampant through the house at such lightning speed dispatching of anything in their sight that one could quickly lose track of what is going on and actually feel disoriented!
The final step is to make sure everything reaches the destination safe and sound. Despite their best efforts, the people who pack and move are ultimately human, which means loading and unloading will claim the odd casualty. Walls and corners are especially prone to damage from large and heavy items being carried to and fro. Unpacking can be quite a stretched-out affair, the difficulty being perhaps more psychological than physical in terms of strain. The intensive nature of the process leaves one drained, with upheaval being a major contributor to slowing down attempts to restore normalcy. It is not uncommon to have been attached to the former home for a number of reasons, and sudden change takes some getting used to. Nostalgia often bubbles up, and there needs to be a catalyst for a sense of urgency to kick in and break the inertia that sets in once the basic necessities have been unpacked.
Collectively as a family, we have been through this several times, between cities in India and abroad, and between countries, so it was not entirely new when I finally moved out of Adarsh Gardens. I had been bracing and preparing myself for the latest relocation for quite some time, as my new house neared completion and I knew change was inevitable; although when the time came and it actually happened, things unravelled so rapidly that it all dawned on me only once the initial movement had occurred, and while I made repeated visits to my former home to tie up the loose ends (as some astute people may have noticed despite our best attempts to keep the nocturnal sojourns discreet). After all, we have been residents for 18 years, and the complex has been like an extended family. The various changes that have occurred through the years for reasons of extending the longevity of the building, have not taken away the core essences that remain unaltered to this day – the greenery, the community gatherings, and the spirit of the residents (which comes out beautifully and evocatively through every release of Adarshan). Therefore, it is with mixed feelings that I bade adieu to Adarsh Gardens; the sadness of having to leave balanced with the excitement of moving to an independent house. It is a new chapter in the long journey that is life. Even though we may have moved out physically, we remain connected to the complex by our network of friends and acquaintances, and since we are also members of the owner’s association. I have had the privilege of having been able to contribute to Adarshan over the years, and thanks to technology can continue to do so remotely. In that sense, I do not feel I have really left. I will be back soon to collect the latest edition of the newsletter!