Muddy musings: in which our organizer discovers yet another benefit of organization

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Last week, my basement rental apartment suffered flooding and water damage during a rainstorm. The muddy area in the photo is where my bed used to be, and the blue rug was completely saturated.

Additional rain was imminent, and the basement could not be waterproofed in time to prevent further damage. I decamped to the guest room of an exceptionally kind friend. Damage to the basement turned out to be more extensive than initially apparent, and I had to look for a new place to live.

I was heartened by others' generosity: my helpful landlords; kind people who re-posted my ad looking for new housing, reached out to me with leads, offered their own guest rooms... Their kindness was the sole bright spot amidst the intense stress of suddenly losing my housing due to weather.

I already knew that organizing was essential for a planned move, but I had never moved on essentially zero notice. I found, when moving urgently, that my having been organized was invaluable. Organized living has much to recommend it; here's another reason to add to the list!

I was exhausted, physically and emotionally, by the situation; it would have been infinitely worse if I had been unable to locate my most important items. If you needed to exit your space on short notice, would you know which items are both most necessary and most challenging to replace? Would you be able to find them quickly?

Think about your wallet, checkbook, prescription medications, medical supplies and devices, passports and photo IDs, mobile phones, chargers, other proofs of residence/identity--and, if you have children, pets, or other dependents, all of their necessities... Plus sturdy bags on hand, to transport all of the above!

I hope that your space is never rendered uninhabitable by flooding--or for any other reason! Planning ahead, however--thinking critically about your needs, and organizing accordingly; having an inventory of essentials and their locations--goes a long way towards peace of mind.