After much thought, Fred, I have decided to stay where I am. The house is small, located close to everything I need, particularly health care. Also some of my family are here, and that makes things easier. Columbia is a lovely university town, and I think you will enjoy living there. Sorry I don't live closer and could relieve you of stuff you don't want to keep. I assume you are keeping your cameras and lenses?
My best advice is to take photos of all the things you get rid of (that bear a family connection or are dearly loved). Then, when you miss all those things, you can see them again and relive your memories.
Not that long ago, you would haver never been someone I thought would leave your adopted home here in the Blue Ridge or, if so, be part of a planned community but times changer as we age and a desire to be with famioy takes hold. After the ravages and limitation age and illnesses, we have thought about the future, but it, for the time being, remains as it is. Good luck, my friend, and our best wishes for both of you. You will live much closer now to my daughter and her husband than we do but we hope that, one day, they might be proud owners of our home here when we are gone. Hope to come by soon to find a memory..
I was very lucky with my downsizing to an independent living apartment, approximately the size of yours. Alan had two sons, who were burdened with getting rid of everything we didn’t want to take. They made short shrift of it. Just called Goodwill’s truck to haul it all away.
You have always been ahead of your peers, a beacon showing the way for others. This will be no different. I look forward to staying connected even as our paths diverge. Godspeed, and be well.
For the past year my family and I have been clearing out our childhood home since 1960. Mom and Dad were rural post-depression kids and kept EVERYTHING that came into the their lives; every scrap of metal and lumber, every canning jar and other storage vessel, every tool and chair inherited from a deceased relative. It has been overwhelmingly tedious and emotional. Thank you for your posts, your clear-eyed vision, and the inspiration to move into this last chapter of our own lives differently. Our children will especially appreciate it!
I am very impressed with the efficiency of your decision making. Being a military widow, I have no real ties to any one place. I learned that home was where they sent us. That being said, when we made our last move, we down sized ….I down sized. I’m left with so much ‘man stuff’ but am slowly disposing of the duplicates and triplicates of puzzling tools and geehaws. In my 70s, I care for a 90 year old mother and will remain in my home as long as I am able to maintain it. I frequently peruse ‘retirement’ housing options but have not ventured to visit any. Looking forward to the information you are willing to share. Sending you good wishes for patience and perseverance in ridding yourself of all of the crazy things we stash away!
We are tentatively planning to spend the July 4th weekend in the Floyd area, but now I'm worried you'll derail my downsizing efforts by loading up my SUV with stuff you think I should have :)
Wow! You have made a lot of progress in a short period of time. I'm in a slo-mo downsizing period, but need to step it up. Congratulations! Look forward to following the journey.
After much thought, Fred, I have decided to stay where I am. The house is small, located close to everything I need, particularly health care. Also some of my family are here, and that makes things easier. Columbia is a lovely university town, and I think you will enjoy living there. Sorry I don't live closer and could relieve you of stuff you don't want to keep. I assume you are keeping your cameras and lenses?
My best advice is to take photos of all the things you get rid of (that bear a family connection or are dearly loved). Then, when you miss all those things, you can see them again and relive your memories.
Not that long ago, you would haver never been someone I thought would leave your adopted home here in the Blue Ridge or, if so, be part of a planned community but times changer as we age and a desire to be with famioy takes hold. After the ravages and limitation age and illnesses, we have thought about the future, but it, for the time being, remains as it is. Good luck, my friend, and our best wishes for both of you. You will live much closer now to my daughter and her husband than we do but we hope that, one day, they might be proud owners of our home here when we are gone. Hope to come by soon to find a memory..
I was very lucky with my downsizing to an independent living apartment, approximately the size of yours. Alan had two sons, who were burdened with getting rid of everything we didn’t want to take. They made short shrift of it. Just called Goodwill’s truck to haul it all away.
You have always been ahead of your peers, a beacon showing the way for others. This will be no different. I look forward to staying connected even as our paths diverge. Godspeed, and be well.
downsizing is no fun. I have a large library of cherished books that are looking for homes, but thus far not getting much interest in them.
For the past year my family and I have been clearing out our childhood home since 1960. Mom and Dad were rural post-depression kids and kept EVERYTHING that came into the their lives; every scrap of metal and lumber, every canning jar and other storage vessel, every tool and chair inherited from a deceased relative. It has been overwhelmingly tedious and emotional. Thank you for your posts, your clear-eyed vision, and the inspiration to move into this last chapter of our own lives differently. Our children will especially appreciate it!
I am very impressed with the efficiency of your decision making. Being a military widow, I have no real ties to any one place. I learned that home was where they sent us. That being said, when we made our last move, we down sized ….I down sized. I’m left with so much ‘man stuff’ but am slowly disposing of the duplicates and triplicates of puzzling tools and geehaws. In my 70s, I care for a 90 year old mother and will remain in my home as long as I am able to maintain it. I frequently peruse ‘retirement’ housing options but have not ventured to visit any. Looking forward to the information you are willing to share. Sending you good wishes for patience and perseverance in ridding yourself of all of the crazy things we stash away!
We are tentatively planning to spend the July 4th weekend in the Floyd area, but now I'm worried you'll derail my downsizing efforts by loading up my SUV with stuff you think I should have :)
Wow! You have made a lot of progress in a short period of time. I'm in a slo-mo downsizing period, but need to step it up. Congratulations! Look forward to following the journey.
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