[graciegirl]

Senior,

Single or double, all of us go through the same decision making about our furniture and possessions. All of them contain memories and good or bad these memories are part of the substance of our lives. Although our grandmother's Meissen Coach has always been in the family, is it beachy? Those are the kinds of things we go through, all of us.

I remember when my folks sold almost everything they owned and moved to Venice, Florida. I thought they were crazy or at least insensitive. Now I look at things differently.

I am astonished by the lovely and in good condition furniture available at consignment stores. Heretofore I was a thrift store snob, but now I know that buying things that are different and new (to you) is kind of signal of a new way of life which is probably healthy and good, and buying them at a reduced cost is just good common sense in this economy. Someone told me that it costs about fifty cents a pound to move stuff here. That would give you pause in itself.

I wish I knew the answer to help your friend but I don't know the answer for myself. I know that the smaller Camellia we own in Florida is so much easier to take care of. I used to love having all of this space, but although I hope I will always remember all the great parties, they are a LOT of work, just as keeping clean five bathrooms.

My formica countertop in Florida doesn't show water spots like the granite I so wanted here in Cincinnati. Easy, breezy, out the door to friends or the college or just for a little ride in the golf cart to see what new flowers are planted with maybe a stop at the grocery for some nice cookies.....

It is hard to sort out. But the joy of life in The Villages is unlike any I have ever experienced. It is so nice to be with grown ups in the same place on our journey of life.