It’s funny the things you take for granted. Like socks, for instance.

Normally that wouldn’t be a topic for a column but that’s the situation I currently find myself in. We – my daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter and I – have moved. Or, more accurately, we are in the process of moving. Most of their stuff has been relocated to the new place; my old room still has my desk, too much unnecessary stuff in the closet and my dresser.

Well, part of my dresser. I have the drawers in the new location, just not the actual dresser to put them in because once the washer and dryer got loaded in to the trailer there wasn’t room for the dresser frame or the desk. We will just get those later.

However, stuff that was in the drawers got packed here and there and while I had a few pairs of socks available, I couldn’t for the life of me find the rest. Socks I knew I had. Socks I missed. Socks I needed.

So, the other night I set up a couple of the dresser drawers side by side, balanced on a large indestructible hard plastic tote that holds some blankets I’m not currently using in the summer heat. Then I proceeded to look through each carefully packed bag; ok, more like thrown together bag, that contained an assortment of clothes. There were also two laundry baskets full of clean clothes and it was at the bottom of the second one I emptied that I found my socks. It felt like I hit the jackpot. My work socks, my San Jose Sharks game socks, my wear around the house at night before bed socks. Who knew there were so many kinds?

Moving is not an easy process. So much to do and my son-in-law took on the bulk of it, handling all the big items. He started with the garage and could not believe the amount of stuff that was in there. Too much stuff, he said. We all have too much stuff. I apologized to him because, honestly, I have always held on to things that truly aren’t needed and he admitted he is the same way. My daughter Ally isn’t quite as bad but between Judd and I, there’s more stuff than three families will ever need.

Luckily, he had a couple of longtime friends that were gracious enough to help out during some very long days with moving us from Point A to Point B. The washer and dryer finally got hooked up and my daughter spent a whole day catching up on laundry.

The dogs have seemed to adapt pretty well, excited to explore their new surroundings.

I have to be careful leaving work, though, because my car automatically wants to go left when it should go right.

My granddaughter Lorelei also loves her new room because it is: 1) Bigger than her old room; 2) Has a built-in desk; and 3) Has a huge closet with mirrored double doors. Just what every four-and-a-half-year-old wants.

This is a new adventure and we are learning about the nuances of this house we are now calling home. Whether it’s the doors that still squeak when you open and close them because we haven’t unpacked the WD-40 yet or learning what light switch goes to which light, we will eventually get settled in. We have our dishes in the cupboards, some food in the refrigerator … all the essentials.

My room is a little further down the hall from Lorelei’s than it was at the old house, but I’m still within easy reach.

And I have plenty of socks.

Marg Jackson is editor of The Oakdale Leader, The Escalon Times and The Riverbank News. She may be reached at mjackson@oakdaleleader.com or by calling 209-847-3021.