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

Old photos are so much fun. During the worst of Covid19 quarantining, I opened up Ancestry.com and uploaded photos and learned of my family, but this was an adventure for me, because of my adoption. I was adopted through a closed adoption. My birth name is Molly, I found my siblings at age 50, too late in life, I wish I'd known them sooner! They were looking for Molly. I'm thinking of changing my legal name to Molly, I love the name, I love knowing my 1/2 brothers and sisters. I'm blessed with 2 families.

Hi @fiesty76 I'm Scott and I spent a large part of my work career in nonprofits. I understand your frustration with so many direct mail solicitations.

Nonprofits that send trinkets, items, or sometimes a dime or nickel showing through the envelope work for those charities. Believe me, they watch those returns very closely to make sure they make them money. Some use outside, for profit companies to do those mailings where the for profit gets some portion of the contributions and the remainder goes to the nonprofit. And yes, far too many nonprofits make part of their money (sometimes significant amounts) by selling or 'renting' their donor and/or mailing lists to other nonprofits and sometimes to for profit companies, such as catalog retailers. Often times the disclaimer printed on the back of the materials will tell if they sell your name or not.

If you write a charity and request to be dropped from their list they should honor that, but those often 'get lost' in the internal systems they have. Also many will still keep you on a 'one ask a year' list! Always cheaper to keep a former donor than find a new one -- even if you were only a donor to the organization they bought your name from. I find if I send a letter to them asking for them to stop soliciting me they seem to honor those more than a phone call. Also, even though it is a waste of money, they will keep sending to you until a certain amount of time passes and you do not ever give. This timeframe varies by each charity.

I always tell family -- drop the guilt -- use the item they send like return address labels (I use them on bills), have note pads out the gazzoo I use for doodling, and the rest get recycled. It is their choice and they wouldn't do it if it didn't earn them money.

I hope the sun is shining in your neck of the woods today!

Old photos are so much fun. During the worst of Covid19 quarantining, I opened up Ancestry.com and uploaded photos and learned of my family, but this was an adventure for me, because of my adoption. I was adopted through a closed adoption. My birth name is Molly, I found my siblings at age 50, too late in life, I wish I'd known them sooner! They were looking for Molly. I'm thinking of changing my legal name to Molly, I love the name, I love knowing my 1/2 brothers and sisters. I'm blessed with 2 families.

Due to a recent life changing episode in our family, we are learning that the terms like wheelchair accessible, handicapped accessible, and ADA are all interpreted differently. Before you make any decision I urge you to look into the state and local requirements.
Beware of apartments or rentals that were built before the ADA was implemented because the doorways are too narrow for wheelchairs.

@sueinmn When we bought this house last year, a previous owner used a wheelchair. There is a permanent concrete ramp from driveway to front door. the back door has three steps down to back porch. The floors are all laminate wood, except for kitchen and bathrooms, which are tile. The original bathroom had a heavy duty grab bar for accessing the original tub and another grab bar in the toilet alcove. For me, it's perfect. This is our retirement home.
Ginger

Hi @fiesty76 I'm Scott and I spent a large part of my work career in nonprofits. I understand your frustration with so many direct mail solicitations.

Nonprofits that send trinkets, items, or sometimes a dime or nickel showing through the envelope work for those charities. Believe me, they watch those returns very closely to make sure they make them money. Some use outside, for profit companies to do those mailings where the for profit gets some portion of the contributions and the remainder goes to the nonprofit. And yes, far too many nonprofits make part of their money (sometimes significant amounts) by selling or 'renting' their donor and/or mailing lists to other nonprofits and sometimes to for profit companies, such as catalog retailers. Often times the disclaimer printed on the back of the materials will tell if they sell your name or not.

If you write a charity and request to be dropped from their list they should honor that, but those often 'get lost' in the internal systems they have. Also many will still keep you on a 'one ask a year' list! Always cheaper to keep a former donor than find a new one -- even if you were only a donor to the organization they bought your name from. I find if I send a letter to them asking for them to stop soliciting me they seem to honor those more than a phone call. Also, even though it is a waste of money, they will keep sending to you until a certain amount of time passes and you do not ever give. This timeframe varies by each charity.

I always tell family -- drop the guilt -- use the item they send like return address labels (I use them on bills), have note pads out the gazzoo I use for doodling, and the rest get recycled. It is their choice and they wouldn't do it if it didn't earn them money.

I hope the sun is shining in your neck of the woods today!

Was your new home built for a wheelchair, or was it a retrofit? My house has 17 stairs in it. If I became physically disabled, it would be tough to maneuver the 17 stairs in it. I often think I should cut my losses on this home, and trade it in on a 1 level, ranch style. Or perhaps, find an apartment, I'm frustrated with all of the old home repairs!

@Erinmfs The house was built in 1955. The doors and hallways are wide enough for a chair. The cemented ramp runs from the driveway straight to front door at a gentle incline. This made moving large furniture in easy! I am pretty sure this was a retrofit. The grab bars are old-time monsters. The third bedroom was made into an on-suite 2nd bathroom by previous owner to us, and the soaking tub/shower she installed can't be used by me. It is too high for me to step into with my knee issues, and the doorway is too narrow for crutches, cane or a chair. The tile floors are not smooth, and present no slipping issues.
Ginger

Thank you for responding and posting what you did regarding unsolicited donations, @IndianaScott. While I've returned unopened packets to charities and called some requesting I be dropped from their mailing lists, I've not written them with my request. I will do that and appreciate the tip because the other ways tried did not work for me.

I do feel guilty that I simply can't donate to all but do also use the addr. labels and donate those "way-too-many-enclosed notepads".
Thx again for sharing your experience of working in nonprofits and how some closely track donor responses. New mantra for the day:
"Stop feeling guilty...Stop...." Thank you. Best to you for a sunny day today as well!

@Erinmfs The house was built in 1955. The doors and hallways are wide enough for a chair. The cemented ramp runs from the driveway straight to front door at a gentle incline. This made moving large furniture in easy! I am pretty sure this was a retrofit. The grab bars are old-time monsters. The third bedroom was made into an on-suite 2nd bathroom by previous owner to us, and the soaking tub/shower she installed can't be used by me. It is too high for me to step into with my knee issues, and the doorway is too narrow for crutches, cane or a chair. The tile floors are not smooth, and present no slipping issues.
Ginger