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

Posted by Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor @rosemarya, Apr 12, 2020

At some point as we age, we will have to make a decision about leaving our homes and downsizing. Maybe in our own town or to another town. Maybe to smaller home, condo, apartment, or assisted living/senior community.

When the time comes to downsize, seniors can struggle with a multitude of emotional, physical, and financial challenges.

How do you make an informed decision about when to downsize?
What tips do you have to share?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

@funcountess

Sundance,
Wherever you move to, make sure there are major medical hospitals, universities close by. Very important as we age. Also, as time goes by we are less inclined to want to travel any distance for care.
That’s why I suggested california, since you are a San Fernando valley baby. UCLA is just over the hill.
Try and get rid of as much as you can before the move.
I’ve been downsizing for over a month now. The charity thrift stores would love your stuff, I’m sure.
Wondering, have you been tested for arthritis?
Just don’t over do it, aches and pains are not worth it.
Funcountess

Jump to this post

@funcountess I agree wholeheartedly. I will not move to any place further than we already are from top medical care. As it is, Boston is about 55 miles away, it can take 2 hours, very occasionally even more, so if/when we manage to move I would like to be a little closer. I know a number of people who had retired to places a distance from top medical care who as they got older and needed more care ended up returning to the Boston area. I live outside of Manchester (NH) and even though it's a good sized city the medical care does not compare to Boston.
JK

REPLY
@joybringer1

Two bread makers! Wow, I don't have one. A quick story about me in the kitchen yesterday (always a near-disaster). I was making banana nut bread and needed a mixer to get the lumps of lard to meld with other ingredients. I thought I had two hand mixers, but could not find either. I resorted to an old-time hand beater and it worked although it took more muscles than I thought I had. My husband came home and I showed the hand beater to him. It was from Nana, his grandmother. He looked at it and noted the top handle and the grip that moves the beaters were vintage green. He thought it might be from the 1930's. Isn't it amazing how some old things really do still work? My husband said this was the best banana nut bread I have ever made. It must have been. I ate two slices and he ate three, all covered with butter! @joybringer1

Jump to this post

@joybringer1 I had an old hand beater like that and never used it. I believe it had belonged to my dear mother-in-law. When my daughter was visiting a while ago she came across it and loved it! So I gave it to her. She loves these older things.

Like @sueinmn, I could not lose my beater either, it's a Hamilton Beach, about the same size as a Kitchenaid.
JK

REPLY
@joybringer1

Yes, book darts are wonderful. I use them when reading books or magazines for pages I want to revisit. They are easier than paper clips. I keep them on my bedside table and find them helpful when reading late at night and not wanting to take the time that evening to note somer passages of importance or interest to me. My beloved father-in-law gave them to me as a Christmas gift one year. (Of course there were other gifts.) Ah, those were the years. Using them reminds me of my father-in-law. @joybringer1

Jump to this post

Joy, Yes they are! I happen to pick them up one day at a B&N standing in line a few years ago. Never thought much about them, had them on the bookmarker and that's what I used it for! Then when I started doing research on my illness I discoverd them! Am on my second 100pc. tin now.
I've also got fountain pens from the company! Goes back to OLD School when I grew up. Ball point pens were jus coming out, but we were not allowed to use them so I grew up with them. Nothing like the feel of a Fountain Pen. I do Journaling with them!
Thanks,
From, The Land of Enchantment!
Sundance(RB)

REPLY
@funcountess

What is a book dart?
Never heard of them.
I read a lot, and use book marks, but book darts???

Jump to this post

Just enter Book Darts on Google. The company that sells them is called Jet Pens. When you start using them you will wonder how you ever got aloong without them. I'm siting at my desk that faces my bookshelve. The number of books that are fatter than they were because of "Dog Eared Pages" I had done to use it as a reference!
Sundance(RB)

REPLY
@funcountess

Sundance,
Wherever you move to, make sure there are major medical hospitals, universities close by. Very important as we age. Also, as time goes by we are less inclined to want to travel any distance for care.
That’s why I suggested california, since you are a San Fernando valley baby. UCLA is just over the hill.
Try and get rid of as much as you can before the move.
I’ve been downsizing for over a month now. The charity thrift stores would love your stuff, I’m sure.
Wondering, have you been tested for arthritis?
Just don’t over do it, aches and pains are not worth it.
Funcountess

Jump to this post

Thank You Ma'am!
Sundance

REPLY
@sundance6

Joy, Yes they are! I happen to pick them up one day at a B&N standing in line a few years ago. Never thought much about them, had them on the bookmarker and that's what I used it for! Then when I started doing research on my illness I discoverd them! Am on my second 100pc. tin now.
I've also got fountain pens from the company! Goes back to OLD School when I grew up. Ball point pens were jus coming out, but we were not allowed to use them so I grew up with them. Nothing like the feel of a Fountain Pen. I do Journaling with them!
Thanks,
From, The Land of Enchantment!
Sundance(RB)

Jump to this post

As a leftie (Much to the dismay of the nuns, my Mom refused to allow them to try to make me change) I detested those fountain pens - the ink always smeared as I wrote - it's why you used to see so many left handed people write with their hand twisted way around - to keep it out of the wet ink. Modern day gel pens and soft pencils are almost as bad. Good ball point pens are my favorite - my Dad always bought me lovely Parker pens and mechanical pencils.
Sue

REPLY
@sueinmn

As a leftie (Much to the dismay of the nuns, my Mom refused to allow them to try to make me change) I detested those fountain pens - the ink always smeared as I wrote - it's why you used to see so many left handed people write with their hand twisted way around - to keep it out of the wet ink. Modern day gel pens and soft pencils are almost as bad. Good ball point pens are my favorite - my Dad always bought me lovely Parker pens and mechanical pencils.
Sue

Jump to this post

Sue, My wife had the same problem with her grade school teacher, she went to public school in the Bay area. She said that's why she writes so Bad!
I guess for me it is kind of a nostalgic thing, like useing a double edge razor!
It is different! I have writting issues because of my illness. I don't hold the pen stright up so I'm trying to relearn. They're a lot different than they were 65 years ago.
Funny was I had to ask how to put the cartridges in properly!
Sundance(RB)

REPLY
@sundance6

Sue, My wife had the same problem with her grade school teacher, she went to public school in the Bay area. She said that's why she writes so Bad!
I guess for me it is kind of a nostalgic thing, like useing a double edge razor!
It is different! I have writting issues because of my illness. I don't hold the pen stright up so I'm trying to relearn. They're a lot different than they were 65 years ago.
Funny was I had to ask how to put the cartridges in properly!
Sundance(RB)

Jump to this post

Oh yes, I remember being squirted (intentionally) by a permanent ink cartridge in school. On my favorite blouse. The pastor made the responsible boy pay for a new one by doing chores - what memories.
Not too long ago I found a bottle of ink and a true fountain pen, with the lever on the side for filling. Unfortunately I had to discard it because the bladder inside was rotted. I still do have all my drafting tools - a gift from my Grandad of his own set - when I was the first girl admitted to drafting class in my high school. Again a parent had to stand up for me - my Dad had to go to the teacher, whom he knew, and tell him he had to let me in. It led to 3 years of engineering school, a slight turn, and a lifetime in technology.
I used a double-edged razor for years to shave my legs, but now with my tremors, I would end up in the emergency room! I barely trust myself with scissors some days.
So, how is the packing going? My daughter and I got her condo finished last night - will complete her move on Friday & Saturday.
Sue

REPLY
@sueinmn

Oh yes, I remember being squirted (intentionally) by a permanent ink cartridge in school. On my favorite blouse. The pastor made the responsible boy pay for a new one by doing chores - what memories.
Not too long ago I found a bottle of ink and a true fountain pen, with the lever on the side for filling. Unfortunately I had to discard it because the bladder inside was rotted. I still do have all my drafting tools - a gift from my Grandad of his own set - when I was the first girl admitted to drafting class in my high school. Again a parent had to stand up for me - my Dad had to go to the teacher, whom he knew, and tell him he had to let me in. It led to 3 years of engineering school, a slight turn, and a lifetime in technology.
I used a double-edged razor for years to shave my legs, but now with my tremors, I would end up in the emergency room! I barely trust myself with scissors some days.
So, how is the packing going? My daughter and I got her condo finished last night - will complete her move on Friday & Saturday.
Sue

Jump to this post

Sue, What Memeories! Forgot about the lever to fill!
Are you still doing technology? I enjoyed drafting in HS. Problem no one ever showed me what it would lead to!
But Life goes as it is supposed to! If we look back we see how everything that happens leads to something else!
With the adventure of attempting to move I'm doing what I call a "Reset" in my Life! Eliminating things and habits and routines!
Do a Big one today! Going to drive to Santa Fe, an hour drive, and have lunch with a friend of mine from second grade!
Will stop and see a couple of my customers along the way.
Have not driven that far in months!
Going to see how I do!
Suncance(RB)

REPLY

Sundance - I'm happily retired and spend my time volunteering, playing with grands & pursuing hobbies. When not in pandemic mode, we also travel. My husband took his "new" car in for service last week, and was told he doesn't drive it enough to maintain the battery - only 800 miles in 6 months - our normal would be more like 8000 miles.
Sue

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.