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

Sometimes, they will have a volunteer available who can pull things out for you to go through, and give them the extras. Or if you have a local senior chore service. My friend does it often for older or disabled members of her church, then arranges for the excess to be taken away for resale, and for someone to haul to the landfill (you do have to pay for that bit.)
Just one more way to get things done.
Sue

Sadly, I too have seen it. When my Mom was in Hospice, another family there was arranging to dump with their Mom's 3 car garage of sewing and craft items as the home was sold. I had connections, and we were able, over 2 weeks, to move about 80-90% to new homes. They were grateful and the charities were thrilled. The Estate Agents here won't handle those things.
I have arrangements in place for my own items like that, beyond what my girls want.
Sue

The decision to move and down size is huge…we postponed it too long..but somewhere I got the clarity one morning awakening about a year ago. I realized that it should of been done before I was 77 years old..My husband would of stayed and complained for the rest of his life.. Our house was too big and had two many steps and we never did like the City where we had been living 22 years. And I had been flying back and forth to Mayo Clinic in Phoenix for my health care. So I bought a house in Sun City AZ first and then we started packing before we put our house on the Market for sale. Why? Because we had so much stuff to get rid of and to just go through it all, it was overwhelming… It took both of us working almost daily for two months! And we were so physically tired.. But today we are both so much happier and function better in our one level, smaller house.. I have more Friends here in Arizona then where I lived previously for 22 years..
My only regret is that we didn’t do it about 5 years earlier…

Please let us how Sun City AZ works out. We are still evacuated and want to move to Tucson. Will witte our stuff down quite a bit. Will let go of all furniture but want to hang on to the chairs. We should get an update on how much longer we have to stay in a motel tomottow afternoon. Motel living is the pits.

also an idea; to sell the house furnished. My daughter soon to be 60 had a nice smaller home, then bought a cottage and moved there and built an addition. The furniture from the house didnt suit but she had hand picked it all and it was good quality. One thing she didnt have was time as works from home... so deciced, as everything matched, to sell the home with all contents down to the towels, sheets, kitchen supplies, etc. etc. and the couple did buy the house with contents, i think $10 or $5 thousand for contents, including latest newer appliances so they actually did well and they had sold all their furniture when sold their previous house; win win situation. So once all personal belongings are out, why not offer the house for sale with contents,, at least give the new owner/s the chance to buy .. just another suggestion and saved having to sell the furniture bit by bit as no longer needed any of it.

Last year, I had heart surgery, and while recuperating, I realized that it was time. I’m 74, and only have the next few years to do it, until someone has to do it for me, removing my ability to decide. We had five acres, and five half floors of furniture, including a baby grand piano. We bought a house with a room for the piano, and lots of windows, in a city I love. Then, we started packing. My husband is disabled, so it was really me, and paid help. A local cleaning lady started packing and dumping for me. A local service started moving things to the basement of the new home. I hired a “staging” company to place my old furniture in the new home, and what doesn’t fit, goes. Our son promised to help, but he has a life, as well, and hiring help takes out the sentiment. In less than a year, we will have done it. We signed in February, and should be done this December.

One of my close friends is moving there too!

Wow, Rose... what a fab post!

So happy for you two... and with more friends in your life now... fantastic!

/LarryG

I became a widow last year and our oldest daughter has been pushing me to move the nearly 1200 miles near her. Our youngest daughter lives near me, but I seldom see her due to our work hours conflicting. I am hoping to get a fully remote position with my current employer so I can make this move and keep my future pension benefit. Positions are hard to come by so I know there will be a lot of competition for remote positions. With a move I will downsize. I love the suggestion to sell the house furnished. I may just do that! Hopefully our youngest daughter moves with me; then the whole family will only be three hours away from each other.

My husband passed six years ago and since then I have moved 4 times - each time lightening my load. The first move I was upset when items were damaged during the move - but now I’m down to 10% of what I owned six years ago and realize … you can’t take it with you , so why haul it all around?!?! It’s been a challenge, I will give you that - but it gets easier AND I know I’m NOT leaving my kids the task. Not sure where I will live full time…. yet ! (Near kids, near friends? For the weather? … so many decisions and yet - how amazing to have options). The focus now ? trying to enjoy each day along the way. I wish you all the same.