after 56 years of marriage,having to downsize
#32
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Carlisle, PA
Posts: 1,964
Betty, I moved from Long Island to PA 2 years ago. Our previous place was home for 23 years. I started purging two years before our move so I had lots of time to really decide what was going away and what I couldn't part with. As for my fabrics, I touched each and every piece (saying goodbye, perhaps?). If it brought me no joy, it went in the donate box which grew to three large donate boxes and nearly 200 pieces of fabric no smaller than a half yard and up to 3 yards. The recipient was a local quilt guild that made and donated lap and baby quilts to a local nursing home and nearby hospital. I also gave them my beloved Rocketeer but kept my new Janome, my serger and my three featherweights. I have a sewing room in our new PA retirement home.
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 696
I feel exactly opposite from most of you. I am 77 and I plan to live till 95. Why can't I enjoy my Mother's beautiful dishes and my fabric till I am gone. My kids feel I should get rid of everything so they don't have to do it. I want to move to a larger home so I can have a room to quilt or paint when I want to, then walk out and close the door so the items will be right where I left them. I love cherry furniture and I have antique family pieces, and I do not want to get rid of any of it. I love to work with wood and have my own wood shop out back. I plan to have another one if I move. I guess all of us have choices but I do not plan to get rid of mine. I cleaned and polished that furniture for over 56 married years and I am not ready yet. Maybe I will live to be 105, who knows.
#34
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,726
I feel exactly opposite from most of you. I am 77 and I plan to live till 95. Why can't I enjoy my Mother's beautiful dishes and my fabric till I am gone. My kids feel I should get rid of everything so they don't have to do it. I want to move to a larger home so I can have a room to quilt or paint when I want to, then walk out and close the door so the items will be right where I left them. I love cherry furniture and I have antique family pieces, and I do not want to get rid of any of it. I love to work with wood and have my own wood shop out back. I plan to have another one if I move. I guess all of us have choices but I do not plan to get rid of mine. I cleaned and polished that furniture for over 56 married years and I am not ready yet. Maybe I will live to be 105, who knows.
#36
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,412
Being the one who had to clean out two great aunts homes that neither one had moved in 60 years I can understand how children want parents to not leave a houseful of stuff. No way I'd want my kids to have the last memory of me as having to deal with mom's stuff.
#37
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,726
#38
I wish you a lot of luck with your downsizing and your move - it can be a tough job, but one with big rewards at the end!
Last edited by JoyjoyMarie; 03-05-2019 at 10:37 AM. Reason: additional thoughts
#39
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,327
I feel exactly opposite from most of you. I am 77 and I plan to live till 95. Why can't I enjoy my Mother's beautiful dishes and my fabric till I am gone. My kids feel I should get rid of everything so they don't have to do it. I want to move to a larger home so I can have a room to quilt or paint when I want to, then walk out and close the door so the items will be right where I left them. I love cherry furniture and I have antique family pieces, and I do not want to get rid of any of it. I love to work with wood and have my own wood shop out back. I plan to have another one if I move. I guess all of us have choices but I do not plan to get rid of mine. I cleaned and polished that furniture for over 56 married years and I am not ready yet. Maybe I will live to be 105, who knows.
#40
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Vancouver Island, Beautiful BC
Posts: 2,090
I just posted a new thread of hiring a declutterer, then I saw this thread.
My house is about 1800sq/f with 1200 up and 800 down. I plan in the next couple years to gut the lower level, update the wiring and plumbing, plumb it for a kitchen, update the bathroom and use it for a large sewing space. In time I will convert it into a rental suite. As I age, I may move downstairs and rent out the upstairs to give me an income source and allow me to stay in my home longer.
I have a Mid Arm on a frame, it has its own room at the moment. I plan to redo my sewing room which right now has a variety of furniture pieces that work, but I would like to have something more cohesive and attractive.
My brother and I are dealing with my Dad's property. He has been hoarding there for 40 years. My brother tends to put his head in the sand and ignore the problem, then all of a sudden decide we must do something, then back down on his word. It is frustrating as Dad's place is actually in a trust with my brother and I the beneficiaries. It is also a 1/2 day travel from my home. A month ago we walked through the house and talked about what if anything we wanted from it.
I recently got in touch with someone with big bins who can help, passed the info on to my brother and he appears to have dropped the ball again. Two years ago I got the information needed to upgrade the electrical passed it on to my brother and he dropped the ball. He recently asked for it again, I sent him the email from 2 years ago, I was not going to call to update the costs involved. Brother has POA, so he has to be the one authorizing expenses.
My house is about 1800sq/f with 1200 up and 800 down. I plan in the next couple years to gut the lower level, update the wiring and plumbing, plumb it for a kitchen, update the bathroom and use it for a large sewing space. In time I will convert it into a rental suite. As I age, I may move downstairs and rent out the upstairs to give me an income source and allow me to stay in my home longer.
I have a Mid Arm on a frame, it has its own room at the moment. I plan to redo my sewing room which right now has a variety of furniture pieces that work, but I would like to have something more cohesive and attractive.
My brother and I are dealing with my Dad's property. He has been hoarding there for 40 years. My brother tends to put his head in the sand and ignore the problem, then all of a sudden decide we must do something, then back down on his word. It is frustrating as Dad's place is actually in a trust with my brother and I the beneficiaries. It is also a 1/2 day travel from my home. A month ago we walked through the house and talked about what if anything we wanted from it.
I recently got in touch with someone with big bins who can help, passed the info on to my brother and he appears to have dropped the ball again. Two years ago I got the information needed to upgrade the electrical passed it on to my brother and he dropped the ball. He recently asked for it again, I sent him the email from 2 years ago, I was not going to call to update the costs involved. Brother has POA, so he has to be the one authorizing expenses.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
seasaw2mch
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
11
04-05-2012 09:49 PM
Vicki W
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
16
09-28-2011 08:22 AM
LovinMySoldier
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
190
08-29-2011 09:23 AM
Ditter43
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
6
12-25-2010 08:41 PM