New Address book or not?

[Snickerdoodle]

We are finally going to move. It has been a turbulent month trying to find a place on the other side and now we are in countdown for shipping our stuff.

So the question is should I get a new fancy schmancy address book and fill it in with all the current names and addresses of the people in my life

-OR-

should I keep the old address book with names I can't even remember and the crossed out address trails of everyone I know as they have moved over the last 15 years, with bits of scrap paper with telephone numbers and no names falling out, postcards with address changes of friends that I never got around to writing in, etc. ?

What would you do? Tell me about your address book.

[mommylawyer]

I gave up writing down addresses once my address book starting becoming a close version of what yours is.

This past week, I sent out an email to everyone I know asking for addresses, phone number updates, etc. I've decided to go hi-tech with my address book. I downloaded a free program online (the one for Palm products - I used to have one of those, but never used it, but always liked the desktop program), so I'm in the process of updating. Then...I'll just have it on my computer.

BTW, I've also started using Google Calendar for my appointments and dates I need to remember - since the old hand-written calendar doesn't seem to be working for me any longer.

[JenParrish]

I keep my addresses in an open office calc spreadsheet. It is a program similar to excel. I print it up during the holidays to do my cards.

[Kathleen in VA]

I buy new ones, but I keep the old ones. Just more clutter, but I love streamlining my addresses to the ones I am currently using the most and because I am a paper nut, it is always fun to have a fresh new place to write. However, every once in a while I'll need one of the old addresses and am glad I have stored my old address book away.

Address books are a kind of history book. I have one that I was using when my mom had cancer. It has the names and numbers of her doctors, the funeral home, the florist, etc. It is sad to thumb though but it I would never get rid of it.

I also have her address book as well as my maternal grandmother's. I like to look through them and see all the names of the friends they mentioned over the years. I like seeing their familiar handwriting. I see the places they have written my name and where they changed it to my married name and where they changed our address as we moved from apartment to townhouse to house. I see the names of my babies and their birthdates listed next to mine. I'm glad they kept those so that I can show my children - especially the two that never got to meet them.

[Snickerdoodle]

Address books are a kind of history book.

Yes, that's how I feel too. That's why it's been so hard to start a new one.

My book has also seen the cancer and death of my mother. :grouphug:

[Ellie]

Keep the old one and put current addresses in a new one--preferably one with refills, and use pencil to write addresses so you can easily change them.

It's dangerous to have everything in one format. I have many names and info in my Outlook contacts, but I also have a cute Longaberger address basket, and a little pocket-size Mary Englebreit address book that fits in my purse. Back in the day I had a Franklin planner with all my addresses and whatnot, but I lost it :-( and my life is such that I don't need all of the Franklin's features any more, so I haven't replaced it. But see...what a good thing it was that I had info in more than one spot, and also that I had kept old addresse pages when I put new ones in (different design on the paper, ya know).

[Philothea]

I file the old ones with our bills and reciepts. That way if I ever need one of those old old addresses, I have it.