Decluttering was half the battle—moving day was the real nightmare. Our huge mistake? We accidentally threw away my husband’s passport with the trash!

After feedback requesting more decluttering details, here are extra lessons learned from our move from Chicago to Japan.

1. Label Everything: Sort items into “Need,” “Might Need,” and “What’s the Point?” Setting aside essentials helps movers estimate costs accurately. Stick to 3-4 label types—too many just creates another mess.

When we moved from a 3-story house in Chicago (2,950 sq. ft.—3 bedrooms, living room, dining room, huge kitchen, basement, and garage) to a 3LDK apartment in Japan (835 sq. ft.—3 bedrooms, living room, and kitchen, no garage), it was a nightmare. Just picture the garage—overflowing with stuff we hadn’t touched in years!

📖 In September 1967 (Vol. 132 No. 3), a 10-year-old American boy was enchanted by a @NatGeo picture of Itsukushima Shrine. 57 years later, he retired—and now he lives in Japan. 🇯🇵

For international married couples, "where to live" is a major question—one that always lingers. Kids, housing, jobs, finances, aging... and so much more need to be considered!