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.

@sueinmn

Isn't it lovely to be retired and get to choose (mostly) when to travel? I remember making some early trips to Texas in truly dreadful January weather - now we go (in non-Covid times) in October, and come home in April.

We are fortunate that our Minnesota season, so far, has had only 2 major snowfalls and two days with below-zero minimum temperatures. And the past 3 mornings we have had lovely "fairy fog" on all our trees.

I am not attached to very many of my possessions, and willingly pass them on, often for free, when no longer needed/wanted - I think my upbringing with 5 siblings in a 3 bedroom home, and 5 cousins who were like siblings, sharing virtually everything except underwear and socks, made me that way. My Dad would literally feed people off the street - but that's another story...

My husband, on the other hand was essentially an only - only son, sisters 10 & 11 years older. Nobody ever touched his stuff, he had places to accumulate whatever he wanted. He has a very hard time discarding possessions, even things not used for 20 years and not likely to be ever used again.

We all have such different experiences in life, and such different personalities. I have one daughter who treats belongings like I do and recycles them quickly, another who would literally keep the envelops her bills arrived in if she had the space.
Sue

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Sue, what is 'fairy fog'....spoken like a true 'sand between her toes' gal.?

We've had a week of chilly to cold for us. Last nite my thermometer said it went down to 33. In the 50's today. We'll have several days like this, in 50-60's w/40's at nite, then rain and warming and colder. Up and down.

I think Jan/Feb tend to be in 30's at nite, occasionally high 20's and occasionally for long freeze, but only a few nights a year. So far, I'm keeping my plants in pots and in ground watered and talking to them a lot...they're ok. I'll send pic of blooming vanda orchid hanging in my crepe myrtle and protected....the bloom is almost ready to open.....hope it makes it and I can take picture. And, get some help to learn to send....One step at a time. I'm surprised it enjoys the cooler weather so much.

Stay warm, love your precious hoarding husband.....Blessings. Elizabeth

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Liz, Enjoy your Heat Wave! Our high today, Sunday, on the High Desert of New Mexico, was 37. Low last night was 24 because of a light snow. Tonight is supposed to be about 16!
But as they say in Arizona about it being a Dry heat, we have a dry cold! As long as the wind isn't blowing it is nice. I just had my Hoodie and sweats on today when I went to Wally World!
Hoarders are Special People! I are one!
Sundance(RB)

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@ess77

Sue, what is 'fairy fog'....spoken like a true 'sand between her toes' gal.?

We've had a week of chilly to cold for us. Last nite my thermometer said it went down to 33. In the 50's today. We'll have several days like this, in 50-60's w/40's at nite, then rain and warming and colder. Up and down.

I think Jan/Feb tend to be in 30's at nite, occasionally high 20's and occasionally for long freeze, but only a few nights a year. So far, I'm keeping my plants in pots and in ground watered and talking to them a lot...they're ok. I'll send pic of blooming vanda orchid hanging in my crepe myrtle and protected....the bloom is almost ready to open.....hope it makes it and I can take picture. And, get some help to learn to send....One step at a time. I'm surprised it enjoys the cooler weather so much.

Stay warm, love your precious hoarding husband.....Blessings. Elizabeth

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Elizabeth - It's more properly called hoar frost - fairy fog is our family name for it. Large crystalline ice structures form on the branches of trees and on pine needles, making them all lovely and white. Unfortunately it is difficult to photograph the effect because the air is generally foggy and the sky quite gray when this happens, so everything just looks rather flat. We had the weather here for 4 days - until the sun burnt through yesterday afternoon. Today dawned with a lovely pink sunrise.
Sue

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@gingerw

@sueinmn We sound so similar! I am downsizing a lot of my crafts right now. Not that I am not fond of all my beads and findings, and macrame things, but honestly, am I going to use them or gawk at them? My neighbor is "into" rockhounding, and has discovered tumbling semi-precious stones and beads, so all those beads are great for her. Likewise gifting out quilting fabric/ patterns to those who can make use of them. My dad also brought people home for dinner, like your dad.

Over the years there are small things that have found their way into my "sentimental value" pile, memories stirred up that only I would recall. Nothing big, and sure to cause consternation to others, later! A stone, small brass vase...
Ginger

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Ginger - Thanks for the reminder about the beads. Beading was a portable hobby that I could carry with me when traveling for work years ago. Now, with my tremor, I think my beading days are well past. I will go through my supplies, keeping the larger beads for my craft-crazy grandsons, and pass the rest along to someone who is housebound this winter. I will gather up the best quality findings to take to my friend who is a talented jewelry maker in northern Mexico when we travel there next time.

Like you, I have a few crazy "treasures" - one that makes people shake their heads is the little glass jug that used to hold one serving of cream (about 1 oz.) A huge treat for us girls was a once a year trip on the bus with out Grandma to the Kresges Dime Store in downtown Minneapolis, complete with $1 to spend and lunch in the cafeteria, where those cream pitchers fascinated me - I thought they were epitome of fanciness! One day my Grandma slipped one in her purse and brought it home - probably the only thing she ever stole in her life! After that, whenever I was at her house alone, I got to have milk tea and use it. When we moved her to the nursing home in 1979, it was still in her kitchen and I brought it home.
Sue

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Hi ginger my name is dave and I want to ask you for a favor. The favor is to make arrangements to get to new mexico and drop off those beads while you can. I have known people who say they want to do something then life gets in the way and it never happens. I will never forget ex mother in law shaking her fist at me for not forcing her to do a trip when she was healthy and when I visited her in nursing home and she showed me her travel book that had europe all ready to be filled with pictures and it was empty I could see disappointment in her eyes and then she would shake her fist at me. RIP FRAN

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@davej

Hi ginger my name is dave and I want to ask you for a favor. The favor is to make arrangements to get to new mexico and drop off those beads while you can. I have known people who say they want to do something then life gets in the way and it never happens. I will never forget ex mother in law shaking her fist at me for not forcing her to do a trip when she was healthy and when I visited her in nursing home and she showed me her travel book that had europe all ready to be filled with pictures and it was empty I could see disappointment in her eyes and then she would shake her fist at me. RIP FRAN

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Hello
Just read your post. You have a lot of nerve asking Ginger to make arrangements to travel to NM to drop off beads. She’s in Oregon, and not in good health. I’m sure she has friends in her neighborhood who will put the beads to good use.
I sincerely hope you were kidding???
Use better common sense.

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@funcountess

Hello
Just read your post. You have a lot of nerve asking Ginger to make arrangements to travel to NM to drop off beads. She’s in Oregon, and not in good health. I’m sure she has friends in her neighborhood who will put the beads to good use.
I sincerely hope you were kidding???
Use better common sense.

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@funcountess I am taking it that @davej was kidding! Gosh, I have my own protection team and didn't know it ;)) Dave, maybe you need a trip to Oregon to see our beautiful green trees!

I loved going through New Mexico when I was hauling horses. I think that is the state that had a wonderful little coffee shop we stopped at, at 4AM, to get breakfast. We opened the doors and windows on the van for the horses to get some fresh air while we ate, and fielded questions from the ranchers.

As to the beads, @davej, my neighbor is taking all I offer her. I did keep my Russian trade beads of cobalt blue handcut glass. She has been making suncatchers with beads and findings. I have kept my Native-made necklaces.
Ginger

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@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

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@joybringer, So enjoyed your post! I don't dare have a bread maker because it would be in constant use and I must keep more veggies than homemade bread on the plates! vbg

Golly, hadn't thought of those "old-time hand beaters" in yrs but Do remember them and they did get the job done. And Yes! just like us seniors, it is pretty amazing at how well some "old things really do still work" ! Maybe with a bit more effort or a bit slower but we're still here and functioning. And..what restraint in only eating two slices smothered in butter..my goodness! Are you trying to put the rest of us to shame? Smiles

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@sundance6

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)

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@sundance6, I have fond memories of my travel and times spent in New Mexico and have enjoyed reading the conversations here.

Just want to add that I really like your idea of the attempt of a "Reset" in your life. Something, I think many of us may be considering after the events of 2020 whether or not we are contemplating "downsizing" our living areas.

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@fiesty76

@joybringer, So enjoyed your post! I don't dare have a bread maker because it would be in constant use and I must keep more veggies than homemade bread on the plates! vbg

Golly, hadn't thought of those "old-time hand beaters" in yrs but Do remember them and they did get the job done. And Yes! just like us seniors, it is pretty amazing at how well some "old things really do still work" ! Maybe with a bit more effort or a bit slower but we're still here and functioning. And..what restraint in only eating two slices smothered in butter..my goodness! Are you trying to put the rest of us to shame? Smiles

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Have several of those older gadgets from my mother and grandmothers. I still use them for the little cooking I do now. However, like you, I dare not use my bread machine, or I would be eating only bread and butter! My gosh I love bread, but like you am trying to focus on more fruits and veggies. joy bringer really has wonderful restraint to eat only two slices of buttered bread! What is her secret?

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