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

@sueinmn My less than 3-year-old battery died from lack of use. It was still under warranty so we did get a replacement one. I guess now with a brand new battery that won't happen but I do try to take it out every few days.
JK

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

Oh how we all are so different in some ways and so similiar in others! I was an only child, so my things were important and valuable to me not in a monetary sense, but just because it's mine! Because of what went on in my family in my younger years because of money my house is very Special to me!
I have started to go through my wardrobe and eliminating clothes I haven't worn for years! They had two guys helping me unload my car at Goodwill!
Yet in saying that I kept two t shirts from 30 to 40 years ago! Not to insult anyone because of religion or sexual implecations but here is what both of them say.
First one says, "I SURVIVED CATHOLIC SCHOOL"! A dear lady friend and I would wear them to parties, always got Great laughs and a lot of "You to also, and then stories about their childhood! The other a very old friend of 40 years, we were both executives of a major car rental company and belonged to at that time called American Ski Association also Ski New Mexico and several other associations found Tshirts in some shop or bar that we would always wear the first night of a conferance. They Said, "GIVE ME ROSSINGNAL OR GIVE ME H@#$"! Always got a lot of laughs! Anyway they are still in my closet after all these years. I keep the last one my friend and I were notrious wearing going through airports it is Special to me because he has Late Stage Dementia and dosen't remember me now or remember or times together!
But a $90 Ralph Luren polo is on a homeless person in ABQ!
Had a Bad day health wise today, but going to work on the house in the morning if I feel better!
We didn't get the Big Snow we were supposed to today so we wait for another week! It's blowing through to WEST TEXAS so that should be fun driving tomorrow! May even head north to Minnesota! Very dry here this year! But it is a High Desert so what do you expect!
Sundance(RB)

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

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?

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

@sueinmn and @contentandwell, I too put verrrry few miles on my car during 2020 and started putting a reminder on my calendar to start the car every 2-3 weeks just to keep the battery up. Learned an important lesson a few weeks ago when car wouldn't restart while waiting in line for carryout. I'd been switching ignition on and off as the long line ahead progressed and ended up having 2 very nice young men behind push the car out of line into the pkg lot. Called Triple A when battery charger didn't work but before they could get to me, the car restarted. Next day, I took it to battery place and found the battery, still under warranty, very weak. When I told the fella' what I'd been doing and what happened in the line, he suggested I drive the car each time I was starting it to build it up and that starting/stopping in lines was not a good idea...that I'd already figured out on my own!

Oh, Me too, Me too, @alamogal635 on all you wrote! Yes!! to the older gadgets, love of bread, bread machines and especially the restraint @joybringer1 modeled on banana bread !!!

@davej, What a touching post and good reminder that it is so important to do that which we can while we can and how sad that your ex relative continued to resent you "for not forcing a trip long ago". Speaking for myself here, but can't recall a single time when I ever was able to "force" another adult to do something or change something only they could do.

How many regrets we might all have in thinking: "if only, I'd....told them when I could, done whatever, etc" Only takes a moment to tell another how much they mean to us or perform some small kindness that might brighten another's day while we can but I am so sorry this woman attempted to place guilt on you during her last days. Who knows the trouble avoided by not taking that trip.

@davej In reading @fiesty76's reply to you, it brought a memory up. I was setting up a roadtrip to Yosemite National Park, with my now-ex and his aging mother. On a whim I called my dad [he was 90 at that point] and asked if he wanted to go. It was a resounding "yes!" One sister tried to talk him out of it, and remonstrated me for bringing it up. Rented a Dodge Caravan [everyone had a door] and packed in a wheelchair "just in case". Lots of miles, frustration, pampering. But best of all, unforgettable memories and stories my dad shared that I had never heard. I never regretted any part of that adventure!
Ginger