Gathering my things- Part 1

Christmas is over and done with at my house, but I’m still in that weird post-holiday stage where I haven’t quite found a place for my new stuff. It’s even harder this year, because as I take inventory, I notice that a lot of things people gave me can’t be used immediately, they’ll do me a lot more good in seven or eight months when I’m moving into a dorm room.

So.. I had a thought. I thought that I’d start a list here documenting all the things I plan on taking with me next year. Luckily, my experience this summer, plus numerous dorm-tours, have helped me to figure out what I will and won’t need/want. Maybe it’ll help me stay organized.. though it’s not likely.

Things they give you:
Most colleges will provide:
-a bed and mattress
-room for clothes (dressers, wardrobes or closets)
-a desk and chair
-if you’re lucky, a bookshelf

Furniture wise, you don’t really need anything, but I think it’d be nice to have another chair. The desk chairs aren’t very comfortable for sitting around chatting, so a bean bag or something could come in handy. My cousin has a small couch (actually, the end of a sectional) in her room. But space is a scarce commodity in a dorm, so that’s something to keep in mind too.

Appliances
At some schools, you have the option to rent microfridges and other appliances, but you’re likely better off just buying them. We paid less than $100 for a minifridge and barely $30 for a good, small microwave. Most places don’t allow you to have hotplates or anything like that.

Also, depending on where you go, a fan might be a good investment. My dorm this summer didn’t have air conditioning, and it was the middle of July. Up north, it wasn’t so bad, but it did get hot at night, and at those times that fan was my best friend. At any of the colleges where I have applied, I know I run the risk of having no A/C. This is fine, since I won’t be in school during the summer, but I’ve been told that the first few weeks (and the last few) of each year are usually fairly warm (and the weather in NC is always unpredictable), so I think I would have ended up buying one anyway.

Linens
So far I’ve collected..
-Bedclothes:
Sheets/Pillowcases/Comforter
A cotton blanket to add during the winter
A foam mattress pad- This summer, when I couldn’t sleep due to the city noise (I’m used to sheep, not car horns), I’d come into the common room and see that my roommate was awake and sitting on her bed. She’d invite me to come sit with her.. and I’d fall asleep. I soon discovered that her bed (complete with mattress pad), was much more comfortable than mine (even with two people in it). So I asked for my own this Christmas. Again, not a necessity, but it will be nice to have.

-A soft blanket to use while sitting around/studying/watching movies/etc.

-Towels and washcloths- Distinctive colors are good: This summer, I was sharing a bathroom with three other girls. And the other three all had white towels and washcloths. Luckily, I had borrowed mine from our camper, so I had assorted neon colors. Being a horrible germaphobe, I felt a lot better grabbing my hot pink towel off the rack every time I took a shower. It was a horribly loud color, but at least I knew it was mine.

Electronics/Entertainment
-Laptop
-Aforementioned Bluetooth adaptor for laptop, and a small stereo which connects to laptop via Bluetooth, and also docks my mp3 (thanks, Santa )
-A desk lamp
-A lava lamp (which I will insist on taking, even though it’s rightful decade is long gone)
-Alarm clock
-Surge protectors- because two sets of outlets probably won’t cut it..
-..actually, that’s pretty much it. I think I’m covered.

Personals
Things like pictures, posters, little figurines you can’t bear to part with, favorite books, etc. Mom and I have already started discussing which movies I get to take when I leave. I feel like I’m in the middle of a divorce settlement… “You can have Johnny, but I get to keep Heath.” Any who.. Again, I try to remember that space is at a premium.

Organizational
This is the area where I need the most work. So far I have a bulletin board. Yep.. I’m waiting until I get into my room, so I can buy things to fit my specific needs. But here’s the general idea:
-Shelving- my cousin suggests short shelves to put on the desk, and a unit like this one (only with more squares and cloth drawers)
-Hooks- the kind that are designed for closet doors can be hung from a lot of other things, including the frame of your bed. Also, Command strip hooks keep marks off your walls and furniture and can be stuck nearly anywhere.

And that’s about it. I’ll be adding to this list between now and next August.