We Hosted a ‘Housecooling’ Party and it was the Perfect Moving Send-Off

Saying farewell to our home like this was the best decision ever

I think it’s pretty universally agreed upon that moving is THE absolute worst. Sure, the prospect of decorating a new space or exploring a brand new neighborhood is exciting, but the reality of packing, cleaning and selling furniture is nothing short of a nightmare. And let’s not forget the horror of discovering the depths of your junk drawer.

We’ve been navigating this strenuous process for the past month, leaving behind our two-year two-bedroom cottage in Los Angeles. I’m not sure if I’m more mortified or impressed by how much we’ve been able to accumulate in such a small space, let alone in a rather short amount of time. Despite the anticipation of a beautiful new home and a future housewarming, I needed a more immediate dopamine boost to avoid a cardboard-box-induced meltdown.

While a going-away party might be excessive for a move from a home that we didn’t spend a lot of time in given the frequency of our travels, I was sentimental about leaving the coziness of our little space. That’s how I conceived the idea for a “housecooling” party. For the first time in our relationship, Becca told me I was completely off my rocker for adding this on to our plates, but I just knew my emotional little Pisces wife would appreciate it when the time came. As I had hoped, it ended up becoming a much-needed respite during this stressful month.

This party was the perfect opportunity to consume the remaining wine and liquor bottles, pantry items, and food in the fridge. Unlike a housewarming, which requires a pristine home to showcase, a housecooling party embraces the chaos of moving. The stacks of boxes were a given, so there was no pressure to impress.

I went with a light Up Disney Pixar theme, embracing “adventure is out there” and tying all the details together, including a “Wilderness Trading Post” section for a mini tag sale. Quite a few people expressed interest in some of our furniture, clothes, plants and decor, and by the end of the night, we’d sold some pieces and gifted others. It was a great way to declutter and give our friends first dibs before turning to Facebook Marketplace.

Beyond the practical benefits, the housecooling was also a chance to reminisce with our friends. It was a lovely way to remember the cottage filled with laughter, good times, and wine, rather than the empty shell it would soon become.

It turned out to be one of the most fun gatherings we have ever hosted in that home. And that’s great, because we probably won’t be ready for a housewarming until 2025.