This is not my first rodeo.
In '93 it was my dad's small house and two-story, three-car garage. Three weeks in July in Quartzsite :-(
'01 my godparents' home, and four storage units. Six weeks around a six-day-a-week job.
When mom passed in '07 she had downsized a lot to a one bedroom apartment. She slept in the living room and the bedroom was storage. So.....still stuff.
This time, for the first time, there are two of us doing the work. Much better, still a lot of work.
Our parents lived through the Great Depression and learned to save what they had, everything they had. It is understandable. It is not a surprise. When a widow, or widower, lives alone it is very, very hard to let go of the things that have so many wonderful memories.
If we had stayed in our sticks and bricks we would undoubtedly be adding to our own years of accumulations. Even though growing up in a time of abundance, or maybe because of it, we also had a lot of stuff. Eventually our kids would have to do the work of purging all of it.
Except that they won't.
Because we already did!
So if your kids ever tell you they don't support your choice to live on the road, or think you're crazy for selling your house and all your stuff - tell them about all the work they're going to miss :-)
Not only no purging, but no presents. We don't have the space for stuff, so we've told them all not to get us anything. We like the idea of them spending their money for other things (hopefully not stuff they have to store later).
Our kids (six between us) are SO lucky!! As are the kids of other full-timers living the simple, stuff-free life.
There's so much we want to leave for our children. None of it is stuff :-)))))
I never thought of it this way! Hopefully, when we do move off the road, we won't start gathering unnecessary items:)
ReplyDeleteSo true! It is human nature to nest so we could do it as well. At least it won't be soooo many years of stuff :-))
DeleteReally great point. You are a serious trooper for doing so many cleanouts. It was much easier for me to do when my aunt died than moving my dad to assisted living. He had a hard time letting go of stuff and that added a lot to the time it took.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time the loved one has still been alive, which adds another layer of emotions to the process.
DeleteReally great point. You are a serious trooper for doing so many cleanouts. It was much easier for me to do when my aunt died than moving my dad to assisted living. He had a hard time letting go of stuff and that added a lot to the time it took.
ReplyDeletenot to mention all they have to do is hop on a plane to visit us and they can be in a cool destination
ReplyDeleteThat is the best part! My boys are joining us near Denver in a few weeks :-)))))
Deleteit is just stuff and you are so right about what we leave behind...before we embarked on this 'journey' that was how I dealt with most of the stuff..I would think to my self 'what would carlie do with this if we were 'gone'?..it sure made things easier!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm sure Carlie appreciates that mind set already :-)
DeleteAmen sister! I am about to begin the difficult task of purging my mom's possessions, and she was a pack rat. I will definitely remind my daughter how fortunate she is that we live in a tiny RV and live a minimal lifestyle!
ReplyDeleteThought of all you're going through as well. The temptation is to keep grandma's stuff for your daughter - although she likely doesn't really want much :-) When you find the box of empty/used envelopes and file folders, just smile and move to the dumpster. Much of what you find will bring a smile and a tear as well - take your time .
DeleteYep. We're doing the hard part for them. Maybe they'll appreciate us more and pay for a better senior home :-) LOL
ReplyDeleteSeriously, not an easy job no matter what. You've done more than your share of cleaning up the stuff. Good job!
I think that should be a written contract! LOL You're going to feel soooo free when you're all done :-)
DeleteI've done that a couple times too. However, we do have a storage shed but at least everything is boxed. Then, there's the cabin ....
ReplyDeleteHehe.....boxed and labeled I hope :-) At least the cabin is smaller ??
DeleteHahaha, this is great! We'll be facing the same chore one of these days with my folks. Paring down our possessions was one of the best things about going on the road. I don't want more stuff -- I just want more memories of grand adventures. Get 'er done and celebrate!!! :-)))
ReplyDeleteWe are definitely ready to be done.....home stretch this week :-) And thanks again for the note.
DeleteIt does make it easier when the downsizing is done sooner then later. I hear ya on the "Don't buy us anything." Part. It's hard here the hotel to not buy anything. What's worse it knowing that I can get Amazon packages here. OYE,! Lol...
ReplyDeleteI love not being able to buy anything that we don't absolutely need. We also have to get rid of something for everything we do bring home!
DeleteWell said Jodee. It's amazing the stuff we had collected. Now all the art work and things we wanted to keep are neatly packed away at our daughters. Being an only child, I am so glad my mom had downsized before she started her years in the nursing home.
ReplyDeleteBeing an only child is a really big deal when dealing with this "stuff" - in some ways it's easier being able to make quick decisions, but having help would sure be nice :-)
DeleteWe had some good laughs with our kids when we went through the photos we would give them with the memories while we are still here to share those memories. They didn't want our stuff. The local college kids did.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely better to share those photo memories together!
DeleteDownsizing was easy for me. Not so much for Steve. Our kids wanted almost nothing of ours also.
ReplyDeleteFunny how we're sure they'll want a bunch of stuff, and then when it's time to pass it on, they are much smarter than we were!!
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