Down Sizing (Required Work Area) aka Floor Space

[dusty]

Thank you, Gene. I will keep that in mind.

[dusty]

When we finally make this move, part of our stuff is going into storage; the "stuff" that the kids might want but we will not use in our remaining years. We have a lot of "stuff". A career in the military followed by a career that moved us all around the country leads to a lot of "stuff". We have not touched the kitchen yet but otherwise the "stuff" for storage is just about all packed. I'd be planning to make that initial move but would you believe I can not locate an available 10'x10'x10' climate controlled storage facility that is available.

It seems as though the family room is going to be converted to temporary climate controlled storage.

The shop is ready to be moved with a few exceptions; items that I can not make up my mind about keeping. This stuff will likely be thrown into a couple boxes and moved - ready or not.

[wa2crk]

Hey Dusty
Harbor Freight has a variety of tool boxes with maple tops and drawers. They are 44" and 72"" long and larger. Could serve as work benches and tool storage as well. Just a thought.
Bill V

[dusty]

Hey Dusty
Harbor Freight has a variety of tool boxes with maple tops and drawers. They are 44" and 72"" long and larger. Could serve as work benches and tool storage as well. Just a thought.
Bill V

I would prefer not to use tool boxes but I may have to revise my preferences. I'll not do that until I have actually occupied the shop and find that I have no where for tools. I think I have this all scoped out but - time will tell.

Thanks for the suggestion and I will check harbor freight. I've looked at others and the cost figures make me ill. If I had done this when I was younger there would have been a pay back but no longer.

[dusty]

When we finally make this move, part of our stuff is going into storage; the "stuff" that the kids might want but we will not use in our remaining years. We have a lot of "stuff". A career in the military followed by a career that moved us all around the country leads to a lot of "stuff". We have not touched the kitchen yet but otherwise the "stuff" for storage is just about all packed. I'd be planning to make that initial move but would you believe I can not locate an available 10'x10'x10' climate controlled storage facility that is available.

It seems as though the family room is going to be converted to temporary climate controlled storage.

The shop is ready to be moved with a few exceptions; items that I can not make up my mind about keeping. This stuff will likely be thrown into a couple boxes and moved - ready or not.

The shop is no longer ready to be moved. The task of renovating the RV has risen on the priority list (long, long story). I had to break out the Mark V to do some woodworking. I am so thankful for "wheels".

Aristocrat in work 008.jpg (2.25 MiB) Viewed 10241 times

The office area had to be reestablished as well. I don't remember when my desk top was that orderly.

Aristocrat in work 004.jpg (1.95 MiB) Viewed 10241 times

[robinson46176]

Thanks for the suggestion and I will check harbor freight. I've looked at others and the cost figures make me ill. If I had done this when I was younger there would have been a pay back but no longer.

You know Dusty, there doesn't always have to be a "pay back"... Just think of it as having already been "paid ahead". Accept that you deserve it / owe it to yourself.


.

[everettdavis]

Your statement: "the "stuff" that the kids might want but we will not use in our remaining years." is a truly huge statement.

From personal experience having gone through all that sort of "stuff" following a family member's passing, I can tell you first hand my wife and I each took two weeks vacation just going through it. Do that with family members who are suffering from the loss of a parent at the time, and feelings can go from mourning to jealous raw emotion in a heartbeat, whether you hear about it at the time, or years later.

I don't mean to be injecting myself into your private life, but I can testify from experience where another family member calmly and carefully asked the kids what they were interested in keeping long before their eventual passing, and that 'stuff' was spoken for, stored in a room til the next Christmas and picked up by those who wanted those things. The emptied room became a craft room that grand-parents had treasured memories building with their grand kids, or each other.

This gave the grand-kids connection to some of their grand-parents and parents things growing up, and those treasured possessions and new memories were indeed treasured by the entire family.

The rest went in a garage sale, estate sale, VFW, Goodwill, Church pantry etc.

The upside: They didn't rent a 10 x 10 x 10 Climate Controlled room that they paid rental for 10-15 years only to find decay and an un-spotted roof leak destroyed at some point though the years. Been there, had the black mold to seal the memories of our losses.

I plan to celebrate my memories and my treasures with my kiddos by passing them on now, and encourage them not to rent their own space to house our collections of life.

They may not realize how much they appreciate us until they encounter a cache of things that takes two weeks or more to go through that belongs to someone else who passes.

Pictures (both people and possessions) can be scanned (do the back if there is writing), documents can be scanned to PDF, and only the most important originals stored in safety deposit boxes.

You can put a lot of memories on a USB Drive and share those with everyone, and God forbid, you have a disaster such as a flood, fire, tornado etc. you can readily document your loss.

Those thoughts are personal ones and certainly not intended to get into your personal business. Forgive me if I have.

I just wanted to share some of what I have experienced.

Kindest Regards,

Everett

[dusty]

Everett, I do very much appreciate your thoughts and comments. My brother and I have already had this experience (twice) so I do understand the unexpected emotions. We are fortunate in that all of the family (my baby brother excepted) all live right here in Tucson. There is a gathering planned for this week end with the expectations that they will all depart with much of that "stuff" in their SUVs.

The difficult moments are going to come when it is time to dispense with my wife's' art works. My wife has said that she has no intention of rehanging anything that she has painted. It is gone.

Thank you for sharing both your thoughts and your experience.

[dusty]

The "down sizing effort" is about complete. I have heaved, donated and gave away about all that there is that I am willing to get rid of from "my part" of this small world.

The house hold side of the effort is under way but that is moving very slowly. Emotions (hers and mine) and physical limitations prevent that from being an all ahead full operation. But it is happening. I am still not willing to declare a move date but it is getting close. Just don't hold your breathe.

[Ed in Tampa]

Your statement: "the "stuff" that the kids might want but we will not use in our remaining years." is a truly huge statement.

From personal experience having gone through all that sort of "stuff" following a family member's passing, I can tell you first hand my wife and I each took two weeks vacation just going through it. Do that with family members who are suffering from the loss of a parent at the time, and feelings can go from mourning to jealous raw emotion in a heartbeat, whether you hear about it at the time, or years later.

I don't mean to be injecting myself into your private life, but I can testify from experience where another family member calmly and carefully asked the kids what they were interested in keeping long before their eventual passing, and that 'stuff' was spoken for, stored in a room til the next Christmas and picked up by those who wanted those things. The emptied room became a craft room that grand-parents had treasured memories building with their grand kids, or each other.

This gave the grand-kids connection to some of their grand-parents and parents things growing up, and those treasured possessions and new memories were indeed treasured by the entire family.

The rest went in a garage sale, estate sale, VFW, Goodwill, Church pantry etc.

The upside: They didn't rent a 10 x 10 x 10 Climate Controlled room that they paid rental for 10-15 years only to find decay and an un-spotted roof leak destroyed at some point though the years. Been there, had the black mold to seal the memories of our losses.

I plan to celebrate my memories and my treasures with my kiddos by passing them on now, and encourage them not to rent their own space to house our collections of life.

They may not realize how much they appreciate us until they encounter a cache of things that takes two weeks or more to go through that belongs to someone else who passes.

Pictures (both people and possessions) can be scanned (do the back if there is writing), documents can be scanned to PDF, and only the most important originals stored in safety deposit boxes.

You can put a lot of memories on a USB Drive and share those with everyone, and God forbid, you have a disaster such as a flood, fire, tornado etc. you can readily document your loss.

Those thoughts are personal ones and certainly not intended to get into your personal business. Forgive me if I have.

I just wanted to share some of what I have experienced.

Kindest Regards,

Everett

I totally agree! I spent two weeks last year doing the same thing. We actually had to get a 30 yard dumpster to get rid of a lot of it. It was a heart breaking task.

Do not for any reason other than finite short time storage ever rent storage space. The idea of storing stuff until you die is messed up. Either give it now or get rid of it. Things like pictures that your wife painted should be gifted or otherwise gotten rid of. Think of the emotional toll on loved ones that have to do it after your passing.

Lost of loved ones is hard enough without having to deal with all their "treasures" that aren't wanted or can't be used!