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Downsizing, To Move or Not to Move? That is the Question

Aging Well | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (473)

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@davej

Sorry about that hit the send button read this after reading other text. Here is the sad part. Both families were very large, when both mom and dad died it took weeks for the kids to clean out the houses were mom and dad lived. Pete's wife told us, you sure learn alot about family when you have to clean out the houses. Pete and his wife were so happy to move every 2 years so as to not put their kids in that position. Now for me my 80 year old parents downsized and my dad stated if mom dies before me dad will just back a dumpster and throw everything out. My moms reply was no problem dont worry about all the money ive stashed in my things as she pulled out a book, opened it up and pulled out a 20 dollar bill. Needless to say our family was shocked. We've moved mom and dad into smaller house and moved rest of their thing into 6 yes 6 rented storage lockers. My parents were paying more for storage than their rent because both of them couldn't get rid of their stuff. 10 years have now passed both my parents are still with us, but they realize that they didnt need all that stuff. So little by little they have been going thru their things and getting rid of it. As of today 10/8/20 their Down to a small locker. Life for them seems to be happier with less stuff. My parents now fill their lives with people and not stuff. I didnt know I had the same problem until my wife said something to me. I couldn't believe that, even though I had their Gene's. So for me and people around me my advice is start with something small. Have 3 piles or so 1 pile to keep 2nd pile to sell or donate and 3 pile for trash. Try on clothes 1 at a time. Trust me it will take time. After you get on a roll it will get easier. I have other good options but I will respond back specifically to each person have a great rest of the day enjoy the weather, here in MN weather has been awesome last couple of days dave

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Replies to "Sorry about that hit the send button read this after reading other text. Here is the..."

"My parents now fill their lives with people, not stuff." Well said. That's the secret. Fill your life with people, activities, travel, volunteer work, learning, experiences, not stuff. I still go to yard sales. Still enjoy trolling through thrift stores and interesting little shops. I just very rarely buy anything and I can do a basic dust and vacuum cleaning of my whole home in half an hour. Life is good. At the end of my street, someone is building a huge storage facility. If I stood on the roof of my building, I could throw a stone and hit two of these huge facilities, full of mostly stuff that nobody ever uses.