Downsizing Challenges -- What do we do with all this stuff!
Mt. Rainier watercolor.
Downsizing Challenges
It finally happened. After years of discussing if and when we might move to a retirement community, the deed is almost done. As we try to complete the process of downsizing, the reality hits us that we have furniture and other possessions we have valued over the years, but have no place to display, sell or donate. We have already made numerous trips to the Goodwill and a local thrift store and donated items to friends and relatives, but many items remain. In some cases Goodwill doesn’t want the items, in some cases Goodwill might take them but they need to be transported, and in other cases we care too much about the items to let them be hauled off for donation to a place that will not appreciate them. We never realized that disposing of items could be such a challenge, particularly because of the transportation involved. We’ve been told that our mover will take leftover items to the transfer station for disposal as garbage with the expense passed on to us. Several charities have been mentioned to us as possible donations sites, but always with the caveat that we will likely need to transport the items and there is no certainty the charity will accept them. When we met with the representative of our moving company, he told us of many items of almost new, expensive furniture he has been told to take to the dump. What has life in this country come to when so many useful items are simply taken to the landfill!
It’s been suggested that we attempt to sell items online. Facebook has been recommended but we no longer have accounts there due to a past hacking incident. (You can read about that on this blog.) We tried a listing on NextDoor and very quickly were contacted by a scammer who attempted to extract $500 from us. We looked into an online auction but was told our items were not numerous or valuable enough to make it worthwhile.
Our latest strategy is to share pictures of surplus items with friends and neighbors in the hope new homes are found. In case you are interested in seeing the items or suggesting new homes, pictures are below. Pictures include furniture, collectibles, artwork, photographs, and jewelry that may or may not have a place in our new home. We won’t know until after we move in and see what space is available. Please let us know if you are interested in any of the items or have a suggestion of where they might go.
Furniture: small computer table, rolltop, tall bookshelf, oak file cabinet, maple dresser, Ikea conference table, Ethan Allen breakfast table with four chairs, a small wool carpet and a well-used maple dresser.
Collectibles and miscellaneous: Clock, 20 pound iron, porcelain figures, and HP printer.
Art work including original paintings, mosaic, silkscreen, and photography. Please excuse the reflections in the glass. All are in good condition although the crab boat is a little faded.
I paid to get appraisal advice on the jewelry items. Yes, they are nicely crafted and “valuable” but unlikely to sell, at least not around here or in a reasonable amount of time. We’ll probably keep them, but feel free to make an offer if you are interested in a purchase. At least they won’t be hard to store.
Jewelry: Bolo tie and Southwest-style silver necklace (2-sided design). The necklace is silver, not blue, as it appears in the photo.
Please share your suggestions, either on this site or by e-mail.
Thank you for your help.