OP - Pare down to the bare minimum of what you feel you just cannot live without...then get rid of 3/4 of that.
If the memories of some of the items are so strong as to elicit gut-wrenching emotions...take a photo before getting rid of them.
It's amazing on how quickly you will adjust to having less 'stuff,' because in the final analysis...'stuff' is all it is.
And yes, it is tough at first watching the things you sell going for pennies on the dollar of what you paid, but when you're through selling/donating/throwing away all of a previous life's accumulation...you will actually feel a sense of relief.
Been there, done that...resisted buying a T-shirt to add to the 'stuff.'
And since a lifetime behavior is hard to change, you will soon find that you're buying more 'stuff'...for your new home.
The only positive of that, is the fact that your heirs...will then have to deal with it.
