thatsalad shooter that I've never used but for which I'll probablydevise an ingenious use the moment I pull away from the localGoodwill.No, instead it's the unpacking that I can't stand. It's thetearing open of boxes, the unloading, the mess all over my homethat sits there for days. The frustration of not knowing justwhere I put my silverware or bath towels. The inevitable damagethat always occurs to something ... and Murphy's Law guaranteesthat "something" will be the last thing you wanted damaged.Of course, if you're the Martha Stewart of movers, you won'twaste a minute letting those boxes sit idle. No, instead, you'llplunge into them, unpacking and arranging. You won't get amoment's rest until every last possession has found a home.Those of us in the real world, however, have to determine whatmust be unpacked first and what can be unpacked later. We resignourselve...

...s to the fact that our new homes will look like adisaster area for an indefinite period to be determined by ourrespective energy and sanity levels. After all, when you moveinto a new residence, you've got a million loose ends to tie up,not the least of which is starting a new job or helping get thekids acclimated to their new neighborhood and school.So forget about committing yourself to some imaginary timetable.Instead, unpack in stages. But what stage should come first?What are the items you need first?Let's step back a second. First of all, unpacking will be fareasier if you've labeled all of your boxes by theircorresponding room, and either you or the movers have placedthem in the correct place. You'll score extra efficiency pointsby listing the contents of each box on the side. If you haven'tdone either one of these, then you'll be spending quite a bit oftime breaking open boxes and dumping out their contents in yourpursuit of one specific item ... which, by the way, you won'tfind until you reach the very bottom of the very last box.In which you room should you begin your unpacking? It's a tie:your kitchen and your bathrooms are both vitally important andrather pressing in the scheme of everyday life. Even if youdon't plan to start cooking immediately upon your arrival (andby the way, you shouldn't - give yourself a break), the kitchencharacteristically is a gathering place for families. Tacklethis room early, and at least you'll have a spot to eat yourtake-out Chinese food or microwave popcorn. You don't need tounpack those items you don't use often or don't plan to use inthe immediate future - for example, your bread machine, carvingknife or spice rack. Just unpack the vital items for now (papertowels, coffee maker, silverware and everyday dishes), and movethe other boxes to the corner of the room to clear a pathway.Your bathrooms don't have to look gorgeous, either. If you're arelatively savvy mover, you've undoubtedly packed a bag oftoiletries you'll immediately need upon your arrival, includingsoap, toilet paper, tissues, towels, shampoo and personalgrooming items. Depending upon the size of your family, you cancertainly unpack in one bathroom initially, then hit the otherswhen you find time (or when World War III breaks out amongfamily members).Now, you've unloaded the basics - the must haves. What comesnext? That's really your call. You may want to considerunpacking in the room people see first when they enter yourhome: your living room. You're probably going to haveunannounced guests, and while nobody expects your home to looklike a showplace right after the movers pull away, you don'twant your guests to walk into a disaster area, either. Again, ifyou're a veteran mover, you've already considered where yourliving room furniture should be placed. You've sketched thelayout so that you're not straining your back hauling thoseheavy pieces from wall to wall. Plug in as many lamps aspossible to create at least the aura of a home. Cut yourselfsome slack -- the art on the walls and the accessories on theshelves can wait. For the first few days, you're just strivingfor furniture placement and perhaps even hanging the curtains,if you can remember where you packed them.Last but not least, the bedrooms. The kids' bedrooms should comefirst because establishing a sense of comfort is key to helpingyour children adjust to their new surroundings. Encourage yourkids to unpack their own belongings and arrange them in theirnew rooms as they see fit. This gives them a sense of controlover the move. If you find yourself running out of time to setup the bedrooms on your first day in your new house, drag out afew sleeping bags, and gather the family on the living roomfloor. It's wise to consider before your move whether or notyou'll sleep on the floor on your first night. Planning aheadwill enable you to pack the family's sleeping bags in a spotwhere they're accessible. Once you hit the bedrooms, again,arrange your furniture according to pre-drawn sketches.As the old saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day. And neithershould your palace. Take your time, save your sanity, and loosenyour standards of neatness and punctuality a bit....