粤语评书玄幻系列:轻松搬家

当我们决定搬进小点的房子时，就需要扔掉一些用不上的“宝贝”。

It was the best thing we did.

这是件好事。

Not only did it save time packing and unpacking unwanted goods but it also saved us money moving it. If you are moving in the near future I would recommend seriously considering purging before you move, not after.

这样不仅节省前后打包清理的时间，也省下了搬挪费用。如果你很快就要搬家了，我郑重建议你考虑在搬之前清除废物，而不是等到搬完以后。

Here are some things to keep in mind for your next move.

下面是你下次搬家时可以采纳的一些建议。

1. New beginnings. The fact that you are moving to a new house signals a new beginning. This is a great opportunity to take stock of what you absolutely love, things that work for you and will work in your new space. If that old beat up dresser isn’t quite doing it for you any more or if that chair is just far too big to fit in your new living room, it’s best to sell or donate them before you start loading the moving van.

1、新的开端。搬去新家意味着一个崭新的开始。你可以把握大好机会考量哪些东西是你最喜欢的，旧什物是否适合新居。如果旧梳妆台不太好使了，或者椅子放在你的新居里会显得太占空间，你最好在开始搬东西上车前就卖掉或是捐了它们。

2. Easy stuff first. Walk from room to room and gather up the obvious stuff. Stuff you don’t use or haven’t used in a very long time. This includes:

2、从简单处着手。在房子里来回巡视，把一些显眼的东西先收到一起。处理你平时不用或者很长时间不用的东西。这些包括：

    Clothes and shoes you no longer like, that no fits, are worn out or just out dated.

    你不再喜欢，不再合身，早穿旧的，或者过时的衣服和鞋。

    Gifts you’ve been given but don’t like or use. There is no rule that says you must keep every gift ever given to you indefinitely.

    你不太喜欢或者不怎么用得着的礼物。从来没有规定要求你必须无限期保留收到的每一份礼物。

    Paperwork and papers containing information that is easily accessible elsewhere (i.e. the Internet and the library).

    其上记载的信息可随时在其他地方（如互联网和图书馆）轻松找到的纸面件。

    Magazines and newspapers that you are hanging onto just in case.

    偶尔一读的杂志和报纸。

    Craft supplies that you intended to use years ago for Christmas presents but still haven’t got around to it.

    几年前打算用作圣诞节礼物，但一直没有合适机会送出的工艺装饰品。

    Boxed up goods from your previous move that you still haven’t unpacked. If you didn’t get around to unpacking them last time it’s highly unlikely that you’ll get around to it this time.

    上次搬家至今还未开箱清理的东西。如果你上次没有把它们拿出来，这次也不太可能会再拿出来使用。

3. Difficult stuff last. Before you start packing up what’s left it’s time to toughen up. This is easier said than done I realize but it’s important if you are looking to pare down what you have. Sentimental items are the most difficult to part with. Whether they are crafts your kids made for you, a stuffed animal given to you from your first true love, or ticket stubs for the concert you and your husband went to on your first date. Remember that it’s not the physical item that you are attached to, but the feelings and great memories that it evokes. Whether you have the thing or not doesn’t make those moments any less special, significant or memorable. Here are some ways to get to a spot where you can let go of the sentimental clutter:

3、难题押后。在你开始打包剩余物品时，你得更严格地把关。我明白，这点知易行难。不过在你着手缩减之时应该记着这点。带有感情因素的物品最难舍弃。它们可能是孩子们为你制做的手工艺品，你的初恋情人给你的毛绒动物，或者你和丈夫第一次约会时观看演唱会的票根。请记住你执著不舍的并非物理实体本身，而是其上凝聚的感情色彩和催生的美好回忆。无论你是否保留它们，这些经典时光不会因之残褪失色，记忆模糊。这里有些方法可以帮你舍弃带有感情因素的杂物：

    Take a digital photo of the item. Digital photos don’t take any physical space and you can easily go through the pics when you feel like you want to reminisce.

    照张数字相片。数字相片不占物理空间，在你希望沉浸在旧日时光中时你可以去看它们。

    Don’t get rid of everything that is sentimental to you. Choose 2 or 3 items that are of great importance to you. Now here’s the catch. These items must have a place of honor in your new home. If you are not willing to display the item then is it really that important to you?

    别把所有带感情因素的物品全部清除。留下两到三样极其重要的物品。要把握的是，你必须确保把它们摆放在新家的荣显之处。如果你不愿意这么做，问问自己它真的对你那么重要吗？

    We often buy souvenirs in an attempt to bring home a piece of where we’ve been. It’s impossible. I liken it to the phrase “This picture doesn’t do it justice”. This is because you aren’t surrounded by the sounds, the smells and the excitement of the foreign place.  You just don’t get that when you stand in your living room back home holding a souvenir.

    我们经常买些纪念品，希望藉此带回旅途中的一丝气息。这是不可能的。我觉得这好比“图像失真”。因为你周围不再是旅行时的所听所闻，也不复有旅行时的兴奋之情。这些不是你站在起居室捧着一块纪念品就可以失而复得的。

4. Think ahead. What do you want your new space to be like? Do you want it to be clean, clear of clutter and open? Do you want it to be inspiring, creative and fresh? Whatever it is you want your new space to be, do the things you’re taking with you enhance that or hinder it? Obviously if what you’re taking is going to be a hindrance, pare it down.

4、往前看。你希望拥有怎样的新居？你希望它干净、有条理、空间开阔吗？你期待它成为一个振奋人心，富于灵感，新颖别致的地方吗？无论你怎么打算，你要带走的物品有助于完成你的心愿吗？如果它们会成为阻滞，你显然不该带走它们。

In my ideal world we would only have things we needed or absolutely loved. Every week we’re getting closer to that ideal but we’re still a long way off. The hardest thing for most people is just starting. There are no rules on how or where to begin it’s just important that you begin. Pick a drawer, a closet, a room and go for it. Just start. Try to put the rest of the clutter out of your mind for now and just deal with the task at hand. You will get through it all eventually. Toughen up to resist the temptation to keep things and get going.

在理想的世界里，我们只有我们需要或是钟爱的物品。每周我们都盼望更接近理想，但总是遥遥相望。对大多数人来说最难的是起步。从哪里开始，如何开始，并无定规可循。重要的是，要迈出第一步。选个抽屉，壁柜，或房间，然后开始清理。马上开始。试着暂且忘掉其他的杂乱，只处理手头的工作就好。最终你会完成所有的清理。坚决抵制想保留下来的诱惑，坚持下去。

Have you got any advice for someone who is planning a move and has way too much stuff? What tips do you have for getting rid of stuff?

对那些准备搬家，东西又很多的人，你有什么建议？你还有些什么扔东西的妙招？