Pack an “Open Me First” Box 
Even with the most thorough planning – you did properly plan for your move, right? –
moving a household can be incredibly chaotic. People and boxes and vehicles and this and that and the other are constantly coming and going and going and coming and – whew! It’s hard to keep your wits about you! … Which is why, when you finally get yourself (and your family?) into your new home and all the delivered boxes are sitting around with all your stuff still in ’em, you’ll need something ready at hand to help you through your first night.
The most useful “something” to have is an “Open Me First” box. But that perfectly illustrates the importance of intelligent planning. If you’ve given it some consideration, you’ll have stuffed your first-night “Open Me First” box with …
- Toiletries
- Toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, hair conditioner, shavers, skin lotion, and [[whatever else keeps you fresh, hygienic, and looking good
- towels (also maybe washcloths or loofahs or some such items, depending on your preference)
- Kitchen/Meal Essentials
- A few non-perishable foods, in the event that your fridge or freezer isn’t hooked up yet – snacks, canned goods, and so forth
- Plastic or paper plates, cups, utensils, paper towels or napkins (Even if you prefer having food delivered to preparing it in your new home that night, you’ll undoubtedly want something with which to eat and drink besides your hands!)
- Personal Items
- A day or two’s worth of clothes (Keep it simple … unless you you’ll be attending a Grand Ball your first night in!)
- Cell phone and other chargers
- Entertainment
- Cards
- Board Games
- Books and magazines
- (Your TV and entertainment system probably won’t be connected yet, so you can forget bringing along DVDs or Blu-rays. You know you’ve been wanting a few minutes to finish reading that new novel, anyway. And if you’ve got kids, the cards or board games should keep them well enough engaged. It is, after all, for just one night … or so!)
- First Aid and Medications
- There are scores of practical, inexpensive but well-provisioned first aid kits you can get. Get one!
- You’ll also want to carry with you any prescription medications you or your family members take. Aspirin (or some other over-the-counter painkiller) would be invaluable too.
Remember: the better you plan and the sooner you do it, the smoother your move will go. And the better your first night will be in your new home.
