I'm not too old for this, almost
Preparing to downsize is hard work. It is physically exhausting and mentally draining. Fortunately I am not too old for this now, but just. I still have enough stamina and strength to do what needs to be done. It just takes 3 or 4 times longer than it would have 20 years ago. I need to take rests to get back my energy. I need to take rests to get back my mental focus. I need to take rests to let the aches subside. I need to take rests because I am 71, going on 72.
But, after taking a rest I am able to and do continue. It is just that sometimes these rests are long and may involve a nap! These past few days I've been very busy carrying out the physical sorting of my stuff that I have been doing in my head for awhile now.
I have had to meet a few objectives:
I had spent a lot of time last year when home from helping my brother doing the same here in my home. I think I must have done a really good job. With this past week's work I have only 2 medium sized boxes of trash and everything else fits into my 3 categories: keeping, going, if there is space. And in this process I have also emptied drawers and cabinets so that I don't have to angst over not taking furniture that might not fit.
The biggest challenge was my sewing/craft/art room/office. But I have weeded out and organized and feel I have good control over what I have and also have it sorted and stored to fit any size apartment I move to. That did involve a lot of letting go, but now that it is done it feels quite freeing. I still have lots of stuff, but now have only what is truly useful.
As I have been doing this I have looked at certain things thinking, "oh, if I won't have space, I would like to give that to..." That has me a bit excited as I think a number of things will really please the ones I want to have them. But, I can't be too eager, don't want to give away what I will need when I moved. So I will think about my choices and smile about them and wait and see where I wind up first.
In the meantime I have a bit more tweaking and arranging to do. Then a good vacuuming of the floors, some polish to make them shine like mirrors and I am done with this phase. With this done I can leisurely sort through stored clothes and other personal items in my closet and drawers and have some time to do other things. A bit of a lull before the next surge of activity.
Next Up: Letting go of pictures and other memorabilia.
But, after taking a rest I am able to and do continue. It is just that sometimes these rests are long and may involve a nap! These past few days I've been very busy carrying out the physical sorting of my stuff that I have been doing in my head for awhile now.
I have had to meet a few objectives:
- Prepare my home for an open house. This means taking away a lot of wall art (some might say I have had too much). Removing some pieces of furniture to open up the space. Rearrange things to make each room look it's best and biggest.
- Separate things I will definitely be moving with me from things I will definitely not be moving and things that will only come if my space is adequate to contain them. I've designated the storage eaves off my room for definitely moving and clothes I need to sort through. The storage eaves off the guest room are things that will not be going and will be laid out for my inside yard sale. In doing this, the guest room closet was emptied and now holds things that may go, if I have space.
- Keep my home in a fashion that I can comfortably live in during this time. I need access to my sewing machines so I can continue to work on my projects. I need a comfy place to sit to read or watch TV. I need my home to still be my home and not an impersonal "model" or hotel room.
- Make the entry and deck welcoming and pretty. I have repaired some gashes in the screen/storm door and scrubbed the front stoop. I will add a new welcome mat, a hanging pot of flowers. The deck has been stripped of all things but the grill and lawn chairs, not my labor, just my direction. Thanks to C & J for getting this momentous (to me) task done in, well, it seemed like no time at all! I will put flowers in the 2 flower boxes and, for the open house, move the larger potted plants outside.
I had spent a lot of time last year when home from helping my brother doing the same here in my home. I think I must have done a really good job. With this past week's work I have only 2 medium sized boxes of trash and everything else fits into my 3 categories: keeping, going, if there is space. And in this process I have also emptied drawers and cabinets so that I don't have to angst over not taking furniture that might not fit.
The biggest challenge was my sewing/craft/art room/office. But I have weeded out and organized and feel I have good control over what I have and also have it sorted and stored to fit any size apartment I move to. That did involve a lot of letting go, but now that it is done it feels quite freeing. I still have lots of stuff, but now have only what is truly useful.
As I have been doing this I have looked at certain things thinking, "oh, if I won't have space, I would like to give that to..." That has me a bit excited as I think a number of things will really please the ones I want to have them. But, I can't be too eager, don't want to give away what I will need when I moved. So I will think about my choices and smile about them and wait and see where I wind up first.
In the meantime I have a bit more tweaking and arranging to do. Then a good vacuuming of the floors, some polish to make them shine like mirrors and I am done with this phase. With this done I can leisurely sort through stored clothes and other personal items in my closet and drawers and have some time to do other things. A bit of a lull before the next surge of activity.
Next Up: Letting go of pictures and other memorabilia.
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