Leland Jane - I had the same dilemma when I started this thread - I saved Mr. Macaroni - first grade Santa that moves, and all ornaments that included childrens pictures and donated the rest to AmVets. I thought about a garage sale, but we are on such a short time span, I did not want to mess with it and I am only moving from an hour away (orlando) We put up a tree last year and never saw much of it since it was in the living room - we spent Christmas with different sons - Christmas Eve at one house, Christmas day at another - the year before with another son out of state. If I decide to decorate, it will be on a small level except for whatever the street does - I have seen some Villages put the same decorations out.

I move her from ct in 2009 did not bring china that had since married 49 years did not bring alot of brickbrack and found out less is more don't bring to many dress clothes because life is casual here good luck
:smiley::smiley::smiley:

It depends on your lifestyle whether or not to bring the good china and sterling sliver. I still have dinner parties. I had 4 couples over for Thanksgiving dinner and used all my good stuff. It made it fun and it made it special. I also brought a set of Christmas dishes. I had a Christmas luncheon for my neighbor girl friends and used the dishes. Most of my entertaining is causal but once in a while it is fun to be fancy.

I'm in an apartment now and really don't have a way to sell things. So, i thought I would bring it all with us and mark the things I want to sale, "GARAGE"... and leave it in the garage for a few days. Then have a yard sale in TV within the 1st week and what is left, I will be more comfortable to give the leftovers to Goodwill. That's my thought right now....but there is always tomorrow to change my mind. These are the 'hard decisions' to make. Deciding to TV was a no-brainer!

What to bring and what to leave behind..
 

We have been settled in our home for 19 plus years since my husband retired from the Navy. Since we made our LSV in Dec and made the decision to move to TV's we have been in constant go of down sizing from every room in the house. Its funny but we toss, sell, donate and pack and then repeat the process a month later.. Getting down to the wire where we hope to be putting the house on the market early March...then we will be playing the waiting game. The more I read on not to bring much, has me wondering if the furnishings we have really need to go or find a new home here?? And since we have not purchased a home yet we really have no idea what our needs will be...Thanks to everyone who shares their decision making process...it is really good food for thought.
Ebsmom~

Missing some things I left behind
 

I did a major downsizing before moving here. Be careful. There are about 5 or 6 things I didn't bring because I thought they would be too large for a Courtyard Villa.
Wrong - I could have used them and no way to replace them (family pieces).
I suggest if you have a question, bring them. I didn't know there were so many consignment shops here that I could use if something didn't fit.

what to bring.....
 

We are in the process of "weeding out" for our move in May. Here's what we decided.....we aren't taking any furniture. We are from New York State and everything here is drab and dark, including our furniture. Like some of you said, we are making a lifestyle change. We want to start new with everything. We want our home to feel tropical and the furniture to be light. We will bring some Christmas decorations, all of our photos (we have too many), our tv's, clothes and I have a vanity that was a wedding gift from my husband that we'll bring. I also have a few boxes of by daughter's baby shoes, dresses, baby book and baby quilt that I would never part with. We have a few odds and ends as well, but nothing big. I think a lot of people take stuff that they want to fit into their new house and discover the new house has a different feel to it and the furniture doesn't go. I'd rather purchase a new something than have to throw something out that I brought down and didn't need. Everyone's circumstances will be different, you just have to do what works for you. Happy decorating!:smiley:

This is soooo funny! I think your wife and my husband are the same person. My husband is concerned over the 'obligation' he has to his mother to keep everything his family has ever owned from the past 11 generations. They have all been handed down to his mom and fankly, I don't like ANY of them and don't want them. I can't wait to simplify but I fear a long line of antiques leaving a trail from PA to TV. I'd like to call a museum and a psychiatrist to deal with the carnage.

You and I think alike, but many would find keeping your nice china and Christmas china not important. But I used mine a lot and still do.

What to bring and what to give away or sell is the hardest thing that was not THAT important that I had faced for awhile. It must be instinctive to protect our "stuff". We were told to take care of our belongings and each thing we own represents a lot of "man hours" in time and money. It isn't easy for sure and my heart goes out to anyone who is doing it.

I brought a couple of winter coats and I have worn them. I brought my Christmas stuff, and I put it out and enjoyed it. I brought our " fancy" stuff because sometimes dressing really UP happens here. I got rid of three rooms of bedroom furniture and got new. If you plan to have a completly different style here, than getting rid of your furniture is something to consider. Our grandkids are so close to being launched into their own place after college that I talked our daughter into keeping some furniture for them. (which they probably won't use)

I only am sorry that I gave away one coffee table and one bench as I could have used them. Everything else worked out fine. I did discover a lot of duplicates in my kitchen and those went into a box for the grandkids. (I hope that doesn't turn out to be silly)

Oh just thinking about it makes me glad it is behind me and makes me want to give all of you doing it a hug.

I am having a difficult time of the weeding. Not for myself but we have two children in their first year of college. We are essentially their closet and hold all things dear to them.. All that "stuff" in addition to our stuff has to be hauled as well. If they already had their places, I would gladly give most of our antiques.
As for furnishings, I notice that there seems to be a very interesting decorating trend which includes melding the dark and the light. I can only assume that it is in an attempt to help the Northerners adjust :)

If theres ANY chance of selling anything you don't need in Florida, Sell it!!!!!! Remember, there are NO basements in houses down here, so less room for storage. Just keep a few Christmas decorations, for here in Florida. Storage in atics, only let them rot from heat. Everything drys out, and is ruined. Even luggage. (keep in house). Some garden tools are always needed. But just about all homes in The Villages do not have adequete storage, and don't bring 10-15 winter coats etc. You will never use them all. Just bring your bodies and enjoy the good life while you can!!

When my mom passed away, I inherited a whole houseful of furniture and other "stuff". My brother and sister from out of town took a few things, but I was left with a basement stuffed from floor to ceiling with mom's "stuff". I finally called Goodwill and had them take it all away. My siblings were horrified, but of course they did not offer to take it off my hands.

I am determined not to do this to my kids. I hope to leave this world with about the same amount of "stuff" that I entered with.

Leave everything. Bring only naproxen, lots of it.

SPOTD Award
 

Only a fellow-Wheatfield person would come with THAT one!

You win the Swimdawg Post of the Day Award....hands down!

Stuff
 

George Carlin said its just stuff. If you are moving from 10lbs home to 6lbs home bring stuff you want to grow old with otherwise let it go.

Stuff
 

George Carlin said it all its just stuff. Are you moving from 10lb home to 6lb home. Bring stuff you want to grow old with get ridd of the rest.

Love this thread! We are still here in IN, but may be down in TV sooner than we thought as the company BoilerDave has worked for the last 32 years is closing the IN factory in September. ANYWAY...ever since I have known that TV was where we would retire, I have only purchased "stuff" I know we would use in FL. Clothes, (now have a flip-flop collection that rivals Tommy Bahama) Christmas decorations, (snowman with sunglasses and Santa with Hawaiian shirt)....but no furniture. Will get that to suit our new home. I love to shop for all things "fun", but only buy something if it is TV worthy!

I thought the room over the garage can be cooled with a solar fan? and that would keep things from rotting?

We moved here to be "full-timers"...so purged and down-sized BOTH in size of house and "stuff"!!! One thing we tend to do is become emotionally attached to our "stuff" (things). When going through your items think---"need or want"! Make 3 piles...items for kids, items to donate and items to keep. You might find what you used up north won't be appropriate for living down here.

I liked the poster right after your entry about the wife bring items that ended up in the attic or garage and hasn't been used and he just brought his sport-coat that hasn't been worn.

Living here is pretty casual...so think of it that way! I gave our good china away before we came...along with the cabinet.

I am trying to get my wife to leave alot of stuff behind. I also told her if there is setimental value about the it, TAKE A PICTURE OF IT and I will frame it. Guess who will win this conversation. Ha Ha

Have explained to my wife that we can not take everything with us. If it has sentinmental value, TAKE A PICTURE OF IT and I will frame it. You will see it more than you do now. Who do you think will win this conversation? Ha Ha:doh:

I have explained to my wife that we can not take everything with us. If it has sentinmental value TAKE A PICTURE OF IT and I will frame it. You will see it more than you do now. Who do think will win this conversation?Ha Ha.

Not when the temprature reaches 115 in attic. Only small hole to suck out hot air!!!! Beleive me, in summer it gets hot up there. I have an exhaust fan up there just to circulate the air at least, but it still stays 100 degrees day in and day out> Of course you could close in, and put air conditioning in????? (That would sure draw condensation and other problems)

Even if you double insulate it still gets that hot? So what is the point of the attic? What can you actually keep up there that doesn't get ruined?

The answer is NOT MUCH!

The same things that you were keeping in your attic up north that you are now wondering if you should bring. I am not meaning YOU shcisamax, I mean everyone...;)

We keep things like some decorations and costumes that we use infrequently. Halloween stuff and Christmas stuff...(some of it) You can put out of season clothes there in plastic boxes that are fairly well sealed. BUT...there isn't really much that you can put away that you can't use in any week here in this climate.

And Jojo told us about a neighbor of hers that fell to his death from that ladder to the attic. It is really scary to think about...and many attics do not have any headroom at all to walk around.

Sweetie put up a lot of shelves in the garage.

Yes, I thought that ladder was really mickymouse and thought I wouldn't want to use that thing. Well we don't keep much in the attic but sure do in the basement...haha

Guess what you see tons of here at the resale shops and garage sales? China!!!

I agree with some of the previous posters, get rid of as much stuff as possible. You will be too busy to be dusting and do you want to waste time moving the boxes around that are stacked up in the garage?

On the other hand, if you are the type that loves to throw formal dinner parties, then by all means, bring you stuff. Since I've been here, however, I have yet to attend a formal dinner party! :smiley:

Having just moved here 4 1/2 months ago I would say do not bring anything that you don't absolutely love and regularly use. I too brought lots of "family" china and it is all still packed in the boxes in the garage and I have not once missed it. I never used it up north so am not sure why I thought I would suddenly start using it down here.

Suzanne