i've started moving my files to the new host. i setup everything that i would need like email accounts and a mysql database for skullblog. i decided i want to check my email via imap instead of pop3. this way, i can see all of my emails no matter where i am. i made sure everything was working and then i decided to start deleting the settings for the old pop3 accounts because i didn't want to see all the error messages about not being able to retrieve mail from those accounts. well i am a big idiot and here's a lesson for me and possibly others considering the pop to imap switch.

first, make sure that the imap accounts are working. second, if you haven't already done so, create folders to organize your email. third, move over your old pop3 emails to the new imap account, within the folders, including the emails in your inbox. i was going to do this of course but i first chose to delete the pop3 account setting and that's when all of the emails in my inbox were wiped magically away. there was no undo. everything that was filed away in the folders were still there, but everything in the inbox was gone. those emails were associated with the accounts that i just deleted, hence the mail program must think i don't want those pesky old emails. wrong! i did but... it must not have been that important if i never bothered to file it, right? i have filters set up to sort almost every email i would want to keep except the ones i send to myself. a lot of the things i send to myself are notes i take, ideas to try out and stuff. i'll read about something online and want to try it so i'll shoot an email to myself. those just stay in the inbox. not anymore. from now on i am going to file those babies.

it was painful but it was a very efficient way of purging! as i was uploading my files to the new server, i also cleaned out the other email folders. i deleted a lot of old mail. it seems like i kept every lengthy reply from friends. even emails that pissed me off. why? i have no idea. perhaps to try to see their viewpoint... perhaps to think of ways to change their viewpoint... perhaps because out of some nostalgia of a crush i used to have on someone... anyway, the point is the crush is gone, the nostalgia is gone, and those emails are gone! as i browsed the emails to see if they contained anything important, it was like letting go another part of my life. it's a good thing. i have so many other things to get rid of and they are all in storage. i'll have to sort through my things once i move. i have to do this for my computer files too but at least no one else can see the clutter of my digital life! anyone who walks into where i live will see all my crap so i gotta get rid of that first. ^_^ plus, i might even make a couple bucks selling my tangible crap.