*I know we've got a few threads on storage materials, I think this is pushing it quite a bit further.

I'll be moving abroad for 3-4 years this summer.  This has prompted me to start planning for the long term storage of my collection.  I really hate to do it, but I don't believe I have an option other than having the movers pack it up and hope it makes it across the ocean un-stolen, dry, all the while uninsured.  I'm going to put this here as sanity check and also hoping people can add their 2 cents either to give me more options or tell me where I could do more.

I've waxed back and forth on boxes.  I've got a bunch of SmoothMove Classic (Small) Bankers Boxes I was planning on putting all my boxed sets into.  I've also got a bunch of the standard BCW Magazine sized storage boxes where I keep all my module sized stuff.  I think what I've settled on however are STERILITE 32qt gasket boxes.  While pricey, they are solid plastic, will seal near-air tight, and be rodent and bug proof.  Both cardboard boxes are prone to silverfish and other pest/rodent issues, not waterproof, the Bankers Boxes are not archival quality, etc.  The gasket boxes are made from polypropylene and polyethylene which seems to be safe from issues like acid rot and off-gassing (they are food-safe).  For frame of reference, I'll probably need somewhere just north of around 48 of these.  The cost is a flinch-worthy, but I can absorb it based on what is being stored.

I'll be placing 11x14 cardboard inserts at the bottom of the STERILITE boxes as they have a ridge that runs all around the bottom and I want to ensure no long term damage to the contents due to resting on pressure points.  Books will get an layer of bubble wrap and be placed spine down and packed tight enough for them to hold themselves upright.  The cardboard insert sort of negates some of the benefit of the plastic storage material, but I figure its a single 1/8th slice at the bottom of the storage bin and everything will be bagged so no direct contact.  These boxes also have grooves for hanging file folders, so I figured I'd put 4 to 5 modules in a folder and then pack the box with those.

Every item in my collection is currently in some type or flavor of BCW bag, modules all with acid free backer boards.

I've got a sampling of 50g bag silica gel bags coming along with humidity cards to try out.  I think I read that for an 8 gallon enclosure, about 50g are needed.  Since this will be largely unattended storage, I'm hoping going 100g per container will get me through 3 years.  I'm not 100% on that though as my research hasn't led me anywhere conclusively on volume vs. duration, since humidity is such a large variable.

I'll be renting out a climate controlled storage unit.  All boxes will go on pallets.  Sheets tossed over the boxes.  For reference, this will be in the SE part of the United States.  High heat and high humidity summers, mostly mild the rest of the year.

I've contacted American Collector's Insurance to find out about insurance, but they will only cover up to $100,000 in a storage unit.  I'm well over that number.  My primary concern is theft.  Fire also I suppose, but pretty much anything else is not covered (bugs, humidity damage, etc.).  And they also have stipulations that no one else other than myself should have access to it (so no leaving a key with a friend to check up on stuff).  For our normal household stuff, we'll be relying on military contracted moving companies.  The insured limit there is $50,000 and there are weight limits.  Ideally, I'd be able to take all of this with me, but finding insurance to cover both the move and OCONUS collection coverage has turned out to be impossible.

I also briefly looked into cellular security camera solutions but eventually wrote that off since if anything goes wrong technically with the solution there is no fixing it remotely.

What am I missing or doing wrong?  EDIT - other than just immediately selling everything and calling it a day.

Storage locker with gun safes.

A reputable storage locker company is going to have cameras etc. Sure, they might not insure against smash and grabs, but it would look Horrible if folks were able to back up the equipment needed to get three 1200lbs gun safes into the back of a truck. Get three, or whatever, but at least one more than you actually need. Sell some things if you need to finance the safes.

A 60" x 24.5" x 30" will cost about $1500 each. You could fit 100 box sets or 100s of modules in one. Yes, you may need to come up with $4500 or so now, but you can sell them for 1/2 when you get back. This is cheaper than insurance. Yes, you will still have risk, but there is always risk. Most home owners insurance only covers 10k. Gun safes in a commercial/nationwide storage locker chain's establishment is safer than a lot of places.

Also, use plastic mailers, or those clear plastic matting bags. They are awesome. They will reduce/eliminate any air flow, and added moisture. You can fit several modules per.

Golden State Art, Pack of 100 11 1/4 x 14 1/8 Clear Bags for 11x14 Mat Matting

iMBAPrice Poly Mailers Shipping Envelopes Bags, 10 x 13 - inches , 100 Bags (Blue)

Keep in mind, I base this on nothing but what I think I would do if I were put in this situation and had 30 mins to think about it.

There is always the option of intermingling it with my collection here in New England.....

I'll watch it for you. No problem.


Seriously, though.
My collection is in magazine files (modules and magazines) in the 66 qt. Sterilite containers as well, but not the rubber seal ones. They do fine there for me.
The books stand up in these well too, But Damn they get heavy quick.

You seem to be spending a huge amount of money to keep it when it doesnt seem you've investigated insurance well enough?

I think you should try and get your collection value under the minimum (or find new insurance).

This storage locker thing seems like legitimate lunacy - though I'm not american so maybe its more normalised there.

I'd think there was less risk with an insured moving group than with the storage locker. I've had over a 100k GBP in art insured in moves before no problem, i imagine they'd cover you as well. Unless you feel some of your collection is truly irreplacable - which at that value perhaps it is?!

It seems you are a person of some means. Why not rent a small apartment close to where you live now and get renters insurance that covers everything? Short-term storage boxes become a non-issue (heck, you can even use your own bookcases or cabinets), you can have somebody check up on it (it is your apartment while you rent it after all), and climate control shouldn't be an issue (most places have property managers in case something happens). Even a small apartment would be three times bigger than a storage unit.

I also like the idea of talking some of (or all) your most valuable stuff with you, Reduces risk and safeguards your treasures.

Not sure if this works at all but I also do not think taking it with you is the best option.

Good luck with your overseas assignment.

Héctor.

sauromatian wrote in looking for input - an experiment in long term storage:
These play a part in the biography of American philosopher/activist Madeline Murray O'Hair. After her kidnapping, extortion, & murder, the killers put the loot (gold coins) into a storage locker. A short time later, thieves opened it at random & spent most of it in Las Vegas. The killers suspected each other, leading to another murder. So no, not normal here either.

Perhaps, but the military community is fairly transient.  The government will store whatever I want free of charge but it’s not climate controlled, capped at $50k insurance, and notoriously prone to things disappearing.  This coupled with other limiting factors makes it pretty normal/common to use some kind of longer term temporary storage.

I thought I did a fairly decent job researching insurance.  Art is one thing, but "Dungeons and Dragons" is not considered art by most and as someone else pointed out, $100k seems to be industry standard for storage that is not at you primary residence.  I did not do any research into insurance in my rental overseas though.  Once I ruled out taking it with me, that seemed to be a moot point.

The rent an apartment idea was interesting, but a storage unit is about $100 a month.  Not touching anything remotely livable for that amount in this area.  I did ask a close friend to store it, but he declined - too much space and similar concerns with his property insurance.  I do have family across country who I've asked, so we'll see how that goes.

I don't know about "well off".  Its interesting, there's an inflection point somewhere when this conversation was stupid in my head and now the cost is deemed an "acceptable loss".  I have no idea where that point is but I seem to be well past it.  So yes, "a touch absurd" is probably correct.

Lots of good ideas here, thanks everyone, keep them coming.

Not sure how long they would store it but would PODS be viable?

ShaneG.

FWIW, i thought about this more and I think bring it with you and insure it. Honestly, unless you've got a thousand modules and no woodys/other huge value pieces, im guessing that 80% of the value is in 20% of the collection (or perhaps 90/10 split?)

Leave the rest in the locker.

Bring the expensive stuff with you when you go and dont let the movers touch it if you're worried about insurance - but I do think a big moving company (which im sure you're using) will be able to cover up to a couple hundred K pretty easy based on my experience.

sauromatian wrote in looking for input - an experiment in long term storage:
These play a part in the biography of American philosopher/activist Madeline Murray O'Hair. After her kidnapping, extortion, & murder, the killers put the loot (gold coins) into a storage locker. A short time later, thieves opened it at random & spent most of it in Las Vegas. The killers suspected each other, leading to another murder. So no, not normal here either.

Those idiots put the sack full of gold coins right in the middle of the floor of an otherwise empty storage locker. If they had the tiniest modicum of intelligence they would have bought up a bunch of worthless crap from a garage sale, put it all in beat up boxes with the gold, and no one would have ever touched it....and they might never have been caught.

Mike B.