Getting Rid of Stuff...

[Tahitijack]

When we helped my mother in law down size, she had to stop and tell us a story behind almost every item. This is a Christmas gift from my boss. That is anniversary gift from my neighbors. Be careful how you handle this because your parents are saying goodbye to their life's memories. Be sensitive to how they feel about all their possessions they have meaning.

[RP]

Originally Posted by Tahitijack

When we helped my mother in law down size, she had to stop and tell us a story behind almost every item. This is a Christmas gift from my boss. That is anniversary gift from my neighbors. Be careful how you handle this because your parents are saying goodbye to their life's memories. Be sensitive to how they feel about all their possessions they have meaning.

And that, my friends, is the beauty in getting rid of your own stuff by yourself....

[Murphy Slaw]

Originally Posted by RP

And that, my friends, is the beauty in getting rid of your own stuff by yourself....

True dat.

I'm gonna start soon.

Really.

[Daniel Grenier]

Same here. We moved here 16 years ago. Being a lakefront property, “stuff” was purchased by the truckload to meet the demands of the place. We also moved here with a 16-wheeler fully loaded with stuff from our then city house. Now, my place is for sale, fully furnished and equipped. We have already sold all kinds of things. In the end, we will move to our new place with barely enough stuff to fill my mid size SUV. Strangely liberating considering we worked so many years to buy this stuff in the first place!

[Sage97]

Several years ago my then gf and I decided to get married after years of dating and living separately. When we finally bought a house together, the first thing to go was my extremely tacky Jimi Hendrix wall clock. Good news is Jimi relocated to a very nice guitar room where he belonged with Clapton, SRV, Croce, JT and the rest of his buddies.

[RP]

Originally Posted by Daniel Grenier

...Strangely liberating considering we worked a so many years to buy this stuff in the first place!

One of life's many paradoxes...

[MrDB]

Originally Posted by RP

One of life's many paradoxes...

Less is more is kind of our empty nester philosophy. We have the smallest house we've had in 35 yrs, no basement as basements are junk collectors. Less to clean, smaller yard to take care of, etc.

A less complicated life does a body good in old age.

[RP]

Originally Posted by MrDB

...A less complicated life does a body good in old age.

Amen to that....

[rllink]

Originally Posted by Tahitijack

When we helped my mother in law down size, she had to stop and tell us a story behind almost every item. This is a Christmas gift from my boss. That is anniversary gift from my neighbors. Be careful how you handle this because your parents are saying goodbye to their life's memories. Be sensitive to how they feel about all their possessions they have meaning.

I had a some stuff my mom wanted me to have. It was all in boxes stored in a shed. I guess it was important to her. I finally cleared all that out. I told my kids that if there is anything of mine they want, tell me now, because I'm getting rid of it if they don't.

I still have lots of stuff I want to get rid of

I did have some items of my own that were of some historical significance and I was approached by our historical society to donate them for the museum. Yes, I'm that old. Last Wednesday they had a little ceremony and I officially handed it all over. The lady there asked me if it was hard to part with them. Surprisingly, I was glad they were gone and happy for where they went.

[s2y]

You never know how much stuff you have until you move. I got divorced and only had to move "half" of the stuff and to a smaller home.

I'm doing my best to get rid of old clothes and anything I don't need. Basically, I just need bike stuff, guitar stuff, and a limited wardrobe. I'd like to move to a nicer location at some point and hope to make the move much easier.

My parents are getting a little older, so I've been trying to nudge them to start to get rid of the unnecessary clutter.

[Mr. Jelly]

We made ourselves a rule when we moved into our condo 22 years ago. If you buy a shirt, then a shirt leaves. That's the idea of it anyway. Besides the odd thing here or there from my mother's house and our past I have a box of stuff from my mother and grandfather. That's it. Their life was not mine and mine is not my children's.

[FLRon]

When I retired and relocated to another state we were faced with the dilemma of getting rid of a ton of things we weren’t going to need in our new home.

We knew several families that could use many of these things, so we turned our garage into a display where they could come and pick anything they wanted, all for free. Some of these folks had never owned nice things and we were blessed to be able to put a smile on their faces by giving them things they could not provide for themselves. Their gratitude was payment enough.

[rokdog49]

Getting rid of stuff can be liberating for sure.
On the other hand, it ain’t hurting’ nothin just sitting there.

[RP]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

Getting rid of stuff can be liberating for sure.
On the other hand, it ain’t hurting’ nothin just sitting there.

I suppose that's quandary: Do we take a certain action because positive results are liberating or do we resist taking that same action because to do so merely results in the absence of those same feelings of liberation? I think the answer we arrive at has greater ramifications than merely getting rid of stuff...

[Bob Womack]

Originally Posted by RP

I suppose that's quandary: Do we take a certain action because positive results are liberating or do we resist taking that same action because to do so merely results in the absence of those same feelings of liberation? I think the answer we arrive at has greater ramifications than merely getting rid of stuff...

I hope the apartment you and your sweetie are moving to is surrounded by as nice wildlife as your current home. I was thinking of that when you posted your picture of the pileated woodpecker. My inlaws lived in the outskirts of Charlottesville in the Lake Monticello development and it was beautiful.

Bob