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Downsizing, To Move or Not to Move? That is the Question
Aging Well | Last Active: 16 hours ago | Replies (482)Comment receiving replies
What a great inspiration! It makes me even more determined to downsize as much as I can & try to stay here. My son-in-law feels like we can move our laundry & my (downsized) sewing space to the main floor bedroom if needed, and turn the lower level into a self-contained apartment (which it was when the house was built 50 years ago.) He even has an idea how to install an elevator from the garage to both upper & lower levels if needed.
I am determined to give away whatever I can. We are in the awesome & fortunate position of not needing the money that might be generated selling our "stuff" so I prefer to pass it on. We have accumulated way more that we need, and I have never been particularly attached to physical possessions, so I don't feel much loss in letting go. I fear that is not so for the other guy here, but he is trying. Interestingly, I just got a message from my daughter that now that she is working from home, and can see how much "stuff" is there, she is diligently clearing out as well. She invited us for supper tomorrow to see her progress.
Sue
Replies to "What a great inspiration! It makes me even more determined to downsize as much as I..."
Good morning @sueinmn, So you are the lady with "strong determination"? Yes ma'am. We have a member of our sangha who has the strongest determination we have seen. I'm not that good.
I also remember my realtor wanted to call in estate liquidators and I just told my friends Chris and GiGi to get going.....let's give it all away. I don't want to see something selling for $50 that I paid $500 for. I would rather give it to someone who pays more than $500 in attention and appreciation of the piece.
You got me though......when you mentioned elevator. I was given a gift by the benefactors for the community center. It was for all of my marketing efforts for six or seven years and "get ready"....................you saw it here.........it was an elevator. I had 16 steps and then I had none. Guess who joyfully went to the garage to get anything or reset the sprinklers when the water became less available as summer wore on? I did. And now guess what I miss the most.....yep....my elevator. However, the brother and sister who bought the house were delighted that their 92-year-old mother would be able to live in the mountains because of my elevator. I even left them an amazing built-in video wall and a flat-screen TV so that their Mom would have entertainment on demand. That made my heart sing too.
What do we leave behind when the time comes.....only our legacy. And I wanted mine to be about loving-kindness and compassion. Still working on it.
May you have the happiest of days.
Chris
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@sueinmn When we moved up here, things came up a truck/utility trailer at a time, about every 5-6 weeks. I was thrilled when there was not much here, although it did feel a bit like camping out. But I had my crafting things, a table that doubled as dining and crafting areas, a loveseat with side table, and enough basic pots/pans/diningware to get by. As time went by, I nixed somethings to be moved, so we have a fairly open feel to this small 1200' house. There is still a certain number of things to be considered for donation, and the plan is to give it another 6-9 months, since I was here almost entirely by myself from July 2019 to June 2020. Right now it seems I am on the purging kick, while my husband is more reluctant.
Ginger