The best advice I can give to someone who is moving--be it across town or across the country--is to keep lots of blankets in your car and, if possible, an air mattress.
Why? Let me explain.
Recently my husband and I moved to Colorado.
We arrived at our apartment, eagerly looked it over, then sat down to wait for our things arrive.
They didn't.
Instead we got a phone call from the moving company telling us a semi had hit the truck on the freeway and tipped it over.
It happened to be the day before New Year's Eve, a Wednesday, and we were informed our belongings (in whatever condition they might be) would not be delivered until Monday.
Enter the dilemma.
We had anticipated sleeping on our own mattress that night, and after paying so much money to move, we were not eager to spend even more on another hotel room.
But since we didn't want to sleep on the bare floor either, we opted to buy a small eggshell pad from the local Target and use the one blanket we did have with us: a beautiful but thin quilt my mother-in-law had made for us for Christmas.
We put the quilt down on top of the pad and folded the rest of it over us, taco style.
Somehow my husband ended up getting the folded side, and he likes to tug on the covers in his sleep.
Heating in Denver apartments--at least ours--is less than ideal.
Needless to say, I had a cold and restless night.
Luckily, we were able to secure an air mattress and blankets from some relatives the next day and used those until we got our own bed back.
But I've learned my lesson.
The next time I move, I'm going to be prepared.