I'm planning to move in early to mid-June. I need to hire movers for the first time and it's kinda stressing me out because it's such unfamiliar territory for me. Anybody with experience have any tips for me on selecting movers? I'm moving from a two-bedroom to a one-bedroom apartment two miles away, and I've been doing a pretty good job of purging my unnecessary stuff, so the move shouldn't take too long or be deeply stressful. But even though the move should be a fairly low-key one, hiring movers is still a completely foreign thing.

But, seriously, yay for movers!!! I've moved nearly every damn year for the past 12 or so years, and it's time to stop imposing on everybody I know. Well, imposing mostly on my dad, but still.

Plus, my new apartment is on the top floor of a three story building with no elevator, so everybody will be thrilled that I'm paying people to haul all my furniture up the stairs. I expect to have more enthusiastic helpers than I have in a long time, since they will just get to come over and help me put dishes in the cupboards and books on the shelves.

Although I've been thinking a lot lately that I should make the effort to get out there and start dating again, it's only times like now that I really miss being married.  Okay, right, so there's the whole companionship/life-partnership thing that's fun too. But it's truly exhausting sometimes not to have anybody to equally share the burden with.

On the up side of the move, I am thrilled with my new apartment, which is a fabulous vintage one-bedroom with hardwood floors and sliding French doors to the bedroom. It's a corner apartment on the top floor, so there'll be great light in a welcoming space. And the location is perfect, in a vibrant neighborhood with great restaurants and shops, but residential enough to be reasonably quiet. And on a busline that runs several times an hour and is a 20 minute direct shot to work.

Now if I can just get through the moving prep, I'll be all set for a terrific summer in a great new location.