Moving house as a system

So our landlord may be "reevaluating their portfolio" and I thought I would make a little "how to cope with a house move" post.

1. House moves are disorientatng the more time you can give the system the better. don't hide it from littles because thy are young.
2. Let the littles help pack. This can look different depending on age of little but can vary from decorating the outside of a packing box that their items are going into to actually packing stuff into boxes.
3. Communication I the system may drop switching may increase so write a statement of intent now and get everyone to sign so you have proof that everyone agreed to this.
4. Chalkbord/whitebord/magnetic fridge letters to help during the sticky communications patch
5. Print out pictures of where you are moving to, visit the area so each alter has a chance to make an emotional connection to the area. Is there a skatepark/mall/cinema your teen might like?
6. If you can afford it moving out may be an opportunity to diversify your wardrobe. What can the host afford to recycle to make room for others. Even something as small as having their own under ware can make a big difference to systems in stealth mode.
6. Be kind to yourself remember to make time for you.
7. Figure out everyone's strengths and delegate. Even if you don't have conscious control of switching yet simply making that list can help alters feel seen and part of the move. Got an alter that's got a eye for details, they can be asked to do the final check of the mouse before you drive the van, got an alter that loves to drive let them drive....


I'll try to think of other stuff we do to keep the system engaged anyone else got tips that have worked for them?

I'm not a system, but just someone who dissociates a lot, and was dissociating a lot more than normal while moving out of a house where I was not feeling safe and really not present. Some practical things I found- I made one list of things I needed to do (including things like having the power turned off), or to get while I was out (like more tape). I kept it to one central list and left it in the same place on the kitchen bench so I could find it again. I'd cross things off as I went, but tried to keep it in the same place all the time. When packing my boxes, I knew that most of it was going into storage, so when writing on top and side of the box what was in it, I tried to be specific. What type of books rather than just "books". Were they a series, or were they art or recipe books? Which bookcase did they come from- I know roughly what was in either one of my bookcases. If it was a box of random items I wrote what the items were- like colander and tv cables and remote. Good coffee cups or everyday coffee cups? Contents of the second kitchen drawer- I know what I did keep in that drawer. It's made it much easier to find things again. Especially since I have had to leave most of it all packed.

I do like the idea of littles decorating boxes. Mine would sooner just sit on the floor reading the books that were meant to be being packed.

I hope you don't have to move house, but if you do, that it goes as smoothly as possible.