Quote:
Originally Posted by OldDave
We, of course, haven't done it yet, but the thought of it terrifies me.
Being disabled and just barely able to move myself around, let alone carry anything doesn't help.
Unlike some of you who have moved a lot, I reject moving on principle. My family seemed to move for a hobby when I was a kid. I attended 14 different schools before high school. I hated it. So, I told my wife we wouldn't do it.
That's why I had the same job for 30+ years.
We are at a minimum 1 1/2 years away from being able to move there, if we decide to. I'm retired, and while I don't get around well, I could certainly start sorting through drawers, closets and cabinets and putting stuff in boxes for the big garage sale (my wife actually has one every summer). BUT, she isn't one to throw stuff away. So, I have a very hard time getting her to let me start winnowing things out. Joe is exactly right, the best way to do it is a little at a time. And of course for me all the work of a garage sale to make $200 is insane. I'd just call the Salvation Army to come pick stuff up if it were my decision. As my wife starts having more arthritis pains, she has a harder and harder time dragging up stuff from the basement. And since the kids are gone mostly, she's got no help. MAYBE, she'll change her stripes, lol. No, probably not.
Secretly I'm glad she's saves stuff. I cannot count the times she's saved us by being able to root around downstairs and find something important.
So, good luck with your move. I think the key factor will be how healthy you are and how much help you have.
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I hear you and I can "feel" your arthritic pain.....and your wife's.
It does make it difficult to buggylug heavy items......fatique is part and parcel of various types of arthritis.......not to mention sore joints.
Joe is right........and that's how we always did it.....slowly organizing.
We "stayed put" the entire time the children were in school..........and all through their college years.........they had the stability of being in one family home for their youth.
We decided to move to a condo when our daughter married and our son graduated college and moved to Colorado..........
That was 1994. However, "life is what happens when you are making other plans" so we not only had to close down our home after selling it, but my mom's home as well when her husband died..........and bring her along with us. Long story, but we missed Vermont and moved back, buying a home in our same neighborhood where we had just sold the "family home".
Other times we moved was prior to having the children and when they were babies and toddlers........
Vermont always drew us back like a magnet.........however, this recent winter has been a GOOD TEST of how the sub zero cold feels on older bones and joints. Not so good. The Florida sunshine now does seem preferable, for sure. I've had the heat cranked up to 80 degrees all winter long.
My husband would love to have a huge tag sale, as it is called up here.
I'd as soon donate it to the Salvation Army, etc.
Thanks for sharing your story..............appreciate it.