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Being Apart from Your Doll(s)

Jun 4, 2014

    1. Or otherwise, owning dolls when you're constantly on the move.

      Basically, I am constantly moving between the US, Singapore, and Tokyo because of school and family stuff. I have one doll, and I had to leave him in Japan this last trip home because I didn't have the means to carry him on. While I put him up safely in his carrier, swaddled in white blankets and completely protected from sunlight, I've just noticed that being apart from him is really hard? I can't really indulge in the hobby without him around, after all (can't sew without being able to fit stuff on him, etc), and I just... miss him. I'm constantly worried that he'll have yellowed a lot or picked up a musty smell or something when I return. :sweat

      This has also made me realize something: I want to buy more dolls soon, but if I'm constantly on the move like this, where would I store them? What would I do with them when it was time to move again?

      I was wondering, have any of you been in a similar situation? Have you had to be separated from your doll(s) for extended periods time? If so, does it bother you? What do you do to indulge in the dolly hobby while you're apart? And if any of you have two homes, so to speak, where do you keep your dolls? Please let me hear your thoughts. :)


      (If this is in the wrong place, or if there is something similar already, mods, please feel free to move/remove it.)
       
      #1 TKCatsby, Jun 4, 2014
    2. I move between Maryland and California alot. I have a gf in MD and spend alot of time there. I want to move there but haven't gotten any definite answer yet. Most of my dolls are in California. Actually, nearly all of them are in boxes in room. I do miss them. So I know what you mean. My first doll is at home. :(
      As far as what I do to indulge in the hobby while I'm away, umm I just bought a new doll that is pretty much staying here at her house. I don't think that that would help you ><
      But other things I do include, hanging out on DA, looking at dolls, trying to learn new things for my dolls that don't require them here with me, and just talking to other doll owners :)
      Also, I'm sure your doll is safe since you left him swaddled, out of light, in his carrier.:)
      I'm sorry I can't be of any help other than that.
       
      #2 Tahlise, Jun 4, 2014
    3. I moved from Minnesota to Nebraska a couple of years ago, but due to unexpected roommate drama, I ended up with about a three-month "homeless" period where I was living in the spare room at some friends' house. Since I was dropped to a space smaller than most college dorm rooms, I didn't really have room for anything beyond the essentials (my computer desk and chair, a cat tree, and a nightstand/bookshelf combo was all I could really fit), which meant no room for the dolls I had at the time. I didn't want them in a storage unit in the summer heat, either, so I carefully boxed them up and left them with a friend in Nebraska.

      Since it was sort of a busy, stressful three months of being homeless, working on move preparation, working two jobs and actually making the move, and because so much of my life was missing at that point, I didn't really notice the dolls amongst the rest of them. (I was also on hiatus from the hobby at that time, making it a bit easier.) However, once I'd moved and unpacked enough to pick them up from my friend here, and got them out on a shelf, I realized how much I'd missed them, and how much it had bothered me without me realizing it. That specific separation, actually, is what started pushing me to end my hiatus!
       
      #3 vicemage, Jun 5, 2014
    4. I moved a total of 4 times since I started the hobby. The first move was in college and I went from having my own room to a shared room with much less space. I kept a few dolls out but left a lot in boxes. I wasn't able to really do any crafting or sewing for them either with so little space. After that I moved from college to the city where my first job was at. The rent was much higher than I liked so I had the "well I'll move again soon" mindset and never unpacked any of my dolls. I ended up staying there for a year, then I moved again to a rented bedroom for cheaper rent. Basically went from a whole apartment to a tiny bedroom. Barely any space for anything. Another few months, then I moved again to my current place. I've only recently unpacked a few of my dolls and am slowly getting back into the hobby. I guess I did sort of miss them at the beginning. But with graduating and starting a new job and finding places to live, they just fell out of my priority list.

      I'm sure your doll is fine. I left mine in boxes for over 2 years and none are any worse for wear. I don't notice any yellowing and they don't smell musty or anything like that. If you want a doll with you between moves then maybe get something tiny like a Lati or a Puki? Or maybe a YoSD if you're not into tinies. Those can be easily packed and taken with you :)
       
      #4 idlehen, Jun 5, 2014
    5. Thank you all for sharing your experiences! :)

      I suppose ya'll are right--that being busy doesn't leave a lot of time to think about dolls anyway. Luckily, I don't have to worry too much about working or the like when I'm not in school. *_* And in the meantime, I think there are some small crafts and whatnot that wouldn't require the actual doll--maybe I'll try making jewelry for him or something.

      idlehen, I am indeed definitely thinking about getting a tiny or a YoSD. :D They'd be cute company on plane rides and the like, as well. Thanks!
       
      #5 TKCatsby, Jun 5, 2014
    6. I move a lot between Germany and USA, so I understand many of you. It is true that when it comes to transporting dolls, even MSD sometimes might be hard to carry with you.
      Once I went to USA with my MSD, wrapped up safely in his pillow in my backpack and I had to open up my lugguage on the boarder control :) The woman who checked my stuff was very surprised to discover a doll :P Apparently, she never saw or heard anything about BJD.
      Anyway, as some people have said earlier, travelling leaves you no time for thinking about the dolls. Well, only sometimes. When I think about taking one Doll with me I usually cant decide which one to take and end up not taking any with me. Usually I dont have enought time to take care of them during my trips anyways. I would probably feel more comfortable knowing that my dolls are safe at home, than thinking and worrying about how they gonna make it in my lugguage to the destination :)
       
      #6 Azali, Jun 5, 2014
    7. When I had stayed with my father for a night and had an asthma attack during the night, I wished I had one of my dolls to grip instead of my book. Thank goodness for one of my best friends who was up late with me keeping me calm enough to help me devise a plan to get home. I was really relieved to see my dolls when I got home and cuddled with one while I was recovering.
       
      #7 Arashi Uchiha, Jun 5, 2014
    8. I live with my grandmother because of school, but I visit my parents frequently and don't take my dolls. And it is hard, because I miss them. Sometimes, I take them all with me, but with six dolls, that's a bit difficult to do. Sometimes, I take one or two, but then am bothered by the fact that I left some of them at home. When I don't have my dolls, I visit DoA, look up BJD pictures, or write the stories that my dolls embody.
       
      #8 chanarivka, Jun 6, 2014
    9. Until about two years ago I travelled between Belgium (lived there) and the Netherlands / Germany(family) very often. About every 2 weeks or so for 6 years.
      I only had one doll back then, but it was difficult transporting him safely. Public transport kinda prevents you from transporting anything safely in rush hours.
      As years passed the crew grew, but now I could take them with me in their own padded bag in my car.
      Thing is, when you travel around a lot like this it just becomes unpractical. I'm still going back and forth between places now and I'm still not to happy with leaving my crew behind. But I have no choice. I can't haul them all over everytime. I usually take one/two/three with me depending on what I'm doing or planning. example: If someone needs new clothes, then that doll will be coming along. The rest stays home in the bedroom where it's nice and dark.
       
      #9 Toxic_nightmist, Jun 6, 2014
    10. I don't know how you guys do it! I can't even go on a week vacation without taking one with me! I guess if I was in a situation where I couldn't take one of my bigger dolls, I'd have to invest in a tiny that could easily fit in my purse or pocket and not take up much room.
       
      #10 CloakedSchemer, Jun 6, 2014
    11. I missed my SD boy during the christmas holidays while I was back home in Manitoba and he was off traveling with my friend to see her family in the US. I wasn't able to get him back until January, and man did I miss him so much. It felt like I was missing something
       
      #11 DragonElfWarrior, Jul 3, 2014