I actually sometimes buy appliances. My fridge is still in the Netherlands. (for over a year now) Haven't yet moved it to Bratislava. (although I have been here almost a year) I bought the fridge in Belgium, stored it and then moved it to the Netherlands when I moved there... Yeah but packing is a bitch. In the appartment my parents are renting in Bratislava we still have boxes that haven't been opened from like 10 years ago, when we moved out of the US. And stuff just keeps piling up. The worst is when you have to move on an airplane and you have to throw out tons of good stuff, cauz it just doesn't fit into the 1 or 2 bag limit that you're allowed.

This reminds me of that post Brice made called "10 Lifestyle Habits for TCK's"

http://www.tckid.com/group/10-lifestyle-habits-...

My entire family is like that with unpacking actually. For example we do not own a single piece of furniture because we think if we are leaving in a few years, we don't want to carry it around with us. It is always provided and payed for by my dads organization. So no need to purchase our own. We have so much in storage. Picture albums stacked in a box, old toys, 5th grade portfolios... basically just memories stashed away.

You know I think you just need to do what connie said, and make the place your own. Make memories. Make it worth remembering. I think often us TCK's look too much into the future, worrying about how our actions now are going to affect us "moving" or "traveling" a few years from now. It's sad really... stops us from living and enjoying the present. So try to do that, because life is too short not to...

oh my goodness i am SO like this. in fact when i came here i decided that no matter what i was going to buy some real furniture because i really wanted i have that homey feeling. all my places have been like college dorm rooms. i mean i have been known to throw a cloth over a box, put my tv on top of it and that'll be the tv stand for the next 4 years. wait...that's not true, i have never even owned my own tv, ever. even the one i have now is borrowed from a friend. so yeah,obviously i am still having a hard time with this whole "homey"thing.

even though i like my apartment, it could use SO much work. i have finally buckled down (after being here a year) and written a list of things i really have to get like a bathroom mat and a kitchen table. i am so temporary when it comes to furniture!i so wish i was one of those tcks who collected all sorts of stuff from the places i have been, but alas and alack i am not.

and in all fairness, i do not have an affinity or an interest in inetrior design either...

so i have set myself a project. i am going to decorate my home (i am sure if one was to search they could find a post dated about a year ago when i made this same declaration! but i'm really doing it this time! the other day i bought hooks for my towels, hooray!) the project is actually quie fun because i am discovering what my own style is as far as decorating my apartment is concerned. and i like to shop so i don't mind actually roaming around down town in all the second hand stores and weird little shops with the more unique stuff.

anyway, the point is you are so not alone on this one i am EXACTLY like this!

i am actually considering writing to some make over show like "queer eye" or something so i don't have to think about or pay for any of it! hahahhahahahahaha! that'd be perfect!

Thanks, I like the part where he says 'no matter how short the stay is'. I think I should put that to mind.

Your post reminded me of Dido's song "Life for Rent".

A friend once said that he tried to make wherever he stays home no matter how short the stay is. I think it's a great idea and you just need to... simply do it! Unpack and personalize your place the first day you arrive... try it and see the difference it makes!