Onward we go. Next? Words of wisdom, and when have they ever not been? This “getting ready to retire” component of my blog, is dedicated to and for my younger classmates the age bracket of my nephew mentioned in the last blog post, and is about what to do with all the personal property, you will amass or have, or your parents will be getting rid of or disposing of. I can hear you groaning already.

My family found out, much to my mothers dismay that no one wanted her mass produced porcelain, furniture or fur coats. The contents of her home were from the era of when Japan was the factory for the world. I just sold a four-story home. Yes it was used as a business as well, the point being is I had large indefinite quantity of storage.

Preparing to go into the third act of life is a function of time and energy. It also brings up the dreaded word, downsizing. Which if you can prevent, do so. Before getting to the mounds of cardboard boxes, plastic bins and bags the contents of which was cherished, treasured and loved becomes in at the end, just the opposite. It will have to be gone thru and then go into land fill. I have to tell you think long and hard about acquisition of things before you purchase, because before long it will be time to “downsize.” This implies and is work-hard dusty dirty pitch and toss.

Start from the get-go, before you purchase items. Purchase top-quality, the optimum to the best of your financial ability and use it. It is only a luxury, if it sits unused in your basement, closet, storage unit or trunk. Think about it. Do you need it? Purchase second hand. Rent it. Buy on sale or after season. Saves money too. (This should put as much fear into your hearts as my last rant did about saving money that you do not have. I did not have any either. Yes, in my day there were school loans, no jobs and fear, make a financial plan anyway, as little as a loonie in a jar a day. But I digress.)

We have more than enough in North America. Marketing makes us think we have to for every occasion give gifts. What about the gift of time? Babysitting to a young mother. Why not purchase items that is locally grown or crafted, promotes small business, think about supporting charity something that builds a school in another third world country. Send a card saying you have done so, then no one has to get rid of it when you are gone or trying to go.

This is what I know for sure. As you can, cycle, sell, give. Why? Styles, fashions, features, tastes and trends have a much shorter life span. People will not want it in few years. There will be faster, more powerful, and prettier all to claim their attention, I promise you.

Both my parents were children of the depression, raised with nothing, they saved everything. My father saved all the carbons from every purchase he ever made, neatly packaged in the bottom of the filing cabinet. Their house of 60 years was just chockablock. They were “money starved.” Their belongings were designed to last at least a generation and were made of sturdy stuff, like glass or metal. Fast forward to my 125 year old house, full of goods. My goods, made from recycled plastic, meaning that the fridge broke down faster or the plastic bins inside did. The basement had generational junk, some leftover from previous owners. I was “time starved.” But in each case, every year more stuff was left to accumulate in the basement.

Many years ago I collected audio books, boxes of cassette tapes. Loved long road trips listening to mysteries. They were stored in cardboard boxes the basement. Did not give them much thought, lugged them with every move. I forgot about them to be truthful. Technology changed. Yet here I am. I aged into downsizing. I knew the boxes of tapes, 25 year old skis, along with boxes of whatsits and whatnot were not going where I was headed.

I placed ads on sites on the internet, for the cassettes, not one bite. Discouraged, as even the local librarian admitted that she would just throw them out. Taking advantage of having time, I took to social media, just once more, there was one lone response from a friend. She inquired for me at residence for seniors, where she worked, if they wanted them. The seniors had 4 cassette tape decks. A match made in heaven. They would be utilized! Moral of the story is sell, give what you have away before it becomes obsolete.

If you do have too many, too much, and before you are forced into it, discard, recycle or simply do not purchase. A simple trick like having a bag in the bottom of your closet, a box at the foot of the stairs, that you discard the unwanted items until full, move it out. (Once in the bag or box, the rule is, it does not come back out. I moved it to the front seat of my car and left it there until I passed the second hand store.) Suggestions to keep you from the burden of having to have a huge event at the end of your parents life, or yours is to have clothing, utensil, lawn-care swaps with your friends, post them on second hand clothing sites.

Care and maintenance of items, even those made in China, will prolong the life of many items that could be used again. Thus saving time, and money, and using up some of your energy, when you have it. As I can assure you it will vanish, just like your memory.

Very seldom, if ever are you going to use it again if you are putting it in storage container- Wedding dresses included. If it is precious take a picture of it.) If you have not touched it in over a year, find another spot out of your home. Do not store it. Believe me, you will not regret it. It took time and effort to re house my plants, many of the over eight feet tall to an indoor garden in a hospital. The plants were happy, so was I and you will be too.