Americans Abroad

GoneOffShore

(17,643 posts)

22. Here's a thing - today we helped friends who have just moved to France with their unpacking

Wed Feb 19, 2020, 03:10 PM

Feb 2020

They bought a house just north of Aix.

They have lived all over the world and because he's French and she's English (though they have US citizenship and their kids are here) decided to move back.

We helped unpack their container today, along with the moving guys.

Some things we learned. Document, photograph, document, photograph, document, photograph! Get a professional moving company to do the packing. And get recommendations. Of the boxes we opened today, the broken items were: 4 plates, 1 wine glass(out of 8), an ornament previously broken, a mug, a frying pan, and a small hole in an oil painting(easily repairable). Not bad for a half container.
Look out when packing, because you might just put in a box of toothpicks or something equally weird.

Don't bring the Xmas lights - they are incredibly cheap here in France. Bring the decorations, but triage and keep the ones that you really love and have meaning to you. You'll know as you sort through them.
China and dishes - bring the ones that have special memories connected to them.

You've got a small container? Definitely bring the books('Books do furnish a room' - Anthony Powell) and records - vinyl is big here. And do bring your art pieces. You'll regret leaving them.

Where are you moving to in France?

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What did you take with you when you moved? [View all] 58Sunliner Feb 2020 OP

K&R and bookmarking. Control-Z Feb 2020 #1

I'm thinking of France. I know it, lived there. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #2

I think this would depend entirely on the exact circumstances... ret5hd Feb 2020 #3

I'm retired. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #4

Speaking ONLY for me...What do I really need where I live? ret5hd Feb 2020 #7

Yeah-DT doesn't help. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #11

Don't know if this is still available ... NanceGreggs Feb 2020 #5

Thanks. No need to move appliances. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #12

Well, I haven't moved abroad GP6971 Feb 2020 #6

Thanks. That's really funny about the Hummer. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #13

When I was living in Italy, I brought back a tortilla press from the US only to find out fierywoman Feb 2020 #8

Thanks. Actually I have a vinyl collection I'm worried about. I like Kondo. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #14

Do you follow David Lebovitz's blog? He'd know where to find fierywoman Feb 2020 #18

I have seen it from time to time. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #19

I have not moved abroad, although this might be slightly helpful. PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2020 #9

I moved across the country-and brought everything but the kitchen sink-dumb!! 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #15

I'm sorry you did that. PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2020 #17

Leave almost everything behind and/ or sell it off. masmdu Feb 2020 #10

Thanks, waiting might be an option. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #16

We started moving to France in 2017 and were done a year later. GoneOffShore Feb 2020 #20

Thanks. I do intend to ship a small container. 58Sunliner Feb 2020 #21

Here's a thing - today we helped friends who have just moved to France with their unpacking GoneOffShore Feb 2020 #22

Excellent. So helpful Houdinime Dec 2021 #25

If you have other questions, feel free to PM me. GoneOffShore Dec 2021 #27

I thought it was any state. From the US Embassy- 58Sunliner Feb 2022 #35

It's all on line now through ANTS - Agence nationale des titres scuriss GoneOffShore Mar 2022 #38

Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 2020 #23

Most of my guitars, my rock collection, and the clothes in my suitcase DFW Mar 2020 #24

I've BEEN in that meeting! Houdinime Dec 2021 #26

That was the one! DFW Dec 2021 #28

I see cheeseheads. Or blocks of some yellow cheese. Since most meetings are full of thick people... JanMichael Feb 2022 #30

No idea DFW Feb 2022 #31

Feb of 2020 Laurelin Jan 2022 #29

Well I am thinking about shipping my car that has 69k miles. 58Sunliner Feb 2022 #33

Just so you know Laurelin Mar 2022 #36

Will it be worth the seven or eight thousand dollars it's going to cost? GoneOffShore Mar 2022 #37

So, was your move successful? GoneOffShore Feb 2022 #32

With Covid, it got sidelined.End of August I fly over to buy. 58Sunliner Feb 2022 #34

Which part of France are you looking at? GoneOffShore Mar 2022 #39

We moved in 2015 to Munich Old Crank May 2022 #40