Re: What to try next

Hi, Fred,

After 'garage-saling' as a hobby, I am amazed at how many people are 'down-sizing'...where being without 'clutter' (stuff they no longer want) is more important than getting a higher price for it. The real savings are in no longer providing it house-room.

Here we run smack into two problems...

...Sentimental, or hopefulness, value, and,

...The energy to organize and sort it all...box it up...lift and carry, etc.

One more consideration is the toting of things to experts, repairers, and so on, so that we don't lose dollars on unrecognized treasures.

What a lot of work!

We went through years of constant 'estate sale'. (There were at least four households worth of belongings in my husband's home when I arrived. I am #3 wife, as he was widowed twice.)

While we were going through all of this, I designed a 'business' of helping people down-size; 'idea-person' that I am.

I envisioned a team of bonded young/strong people who would sit the home-owner down and proceed to go through one cupboard or drawer at a time...sorting all belongings into all the possible categories, and then taking each pile and actually DOING what is needed with it.

The proceeds of sales (or the actual unwanted items, themselves) could go toward paying the team for their time.

Some system like this is sorely needed, throughout every community.

Not all people are good sorters, nor does everyone easily 'see' the possibilities of recycling, refurbishing, etc.

However, every one of us has areas of expertise, where we MUST have the materials and space, every day, to work to the degree our interests and energies allow.

Your Yelrahs are important to you. You should/must have them in your life every day! More than that, you don't know if tomorrow a stubbed toe or a broken machine will necessitate working on them indoors for a time; or if your new neighbors have such an interest in them that you'll want to start a club; or teach.

The possibilities you prefer should be available to you. A shared homespace could offer that...as long as your neighbors are well, interested and interesting human beings.

So, that's why I suggested to my brother and his wife that we all decide what WE want, and set about making that life possible, and economical.

I know governments will applaud everyone's efforts! And we end up enjoying our own choices much longer.

A friend took his VW van to a fishing camp on Vancouver Island. He and his wife took their designated spot in the dark, not noticing much what was parked beside them.

Early the next morning our pal was up and about, and met one of his neighbors...the proud owner of a huge motorhome with all the bells and whistles.

Since our friend was a salesman of new and used cars, he very much enjoyed talking to this neighbor about his magnificent machine.

After a while, the neighbor said that it was time to go into town for supplies...and he unzipped the canvas tent lean-to, and drove out his Mercedes (BMW?)! (It could just as easily have been a Harley!)

Dh has spent something like 57 years taking all factions of his immediate family, including in-laws, towing, trailering, motor-homing, salmon-fishing, oystering, and sight-seeing, over hundreds/thousands of road miles.

In the process he has created several monsters, including myself. Not content with trolling for salmon, and reading up on surf-casting, I love to bottom-fish.

Now that we no longer have Suburbans, motor-homes, and boats, we long to get back at it, and we will, by hook or by crook.

I still have my Peetz rod and knucklebuster reel.

And we metal-detect...and then there are the ultra-lights that sparkle in my husband's eyes.

These are the interests that keep us young. We all MUST have something of these interests in our lives every day, forever.

There is always a way.

Thanks for the opportunity to mention them.

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