Senior Moving Checklist: Just Let Go
Happy Friday, everyone! Let’s continue with what I am learning through my move with Senior Moving Checklist: Just Let Go.
When I began thinking of a complete re-location to another city, I believed I would fight letting go and desire to hold on to too much.
Thank goodness, I have been mentally and emotionally ready to let go of….well, more than I thought I would.
So, I feel ready to tell you about the importance to just let go for the senior moving checklist.
I hope this will encourage some of in the process as well.
SENIOR MOVING CHECKLIST: JUST LET GO EMOTIONALLY
Just because I am ready to let go of many things…that doesn’t mean that everyone in the family is.
This Ethan Allen red leather couch was originally owned by Mr. B’s mother and it has been in the front room of our house since she passed.
We only have room for one couch and I wanted to make sure our nicer brown leather couch goes with us.
At first Mr. B said no…but after thinking about it, he was willing to finally let go.
Next, one of our grandsons, age 6, said a resounding NO.
He has jumped on that couch…slept on that couch…climbed the outside of the staircase off that couch and he did not want to say good-bye.
He said (remember he is 6), “Gigi, I will pay you what ever you want to not get rid of that couch!”
I told him that he would need to pay the costs of moving it and then gave him an estimate….he finally said, “OK, donate it!”
Here he is with his cousin of the same age, in the closet (or playhouse) under the stairs from last week.
I love that the grandchildren have their favorite places and belongings in the house and they also are struggling a little with the changes.
Nevertheless, the red couch and a few other pieces were donated to the ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF SAN ANTONIO.
This summer a neighbor asked me which city we would get a storage unit in.
I said….NEITHER!
We did not want to hang onto so much that a storage unit was necessary…and we certainly do not want to pay for one.
So the decisions on this senior moving checklist became:
- What do I want to pay the movers to take to our new home? What is so Important that it needs to be on the truck and part of the weight assessment?
- What would family or friends like to have?
- What can be donated?
- This last category is pure junk, and there is a junk pick-up the week after we leave…so a few things will be out for that pick-up.
SENIOR MOVING CHECKLIST: JUST DO IT…BECAUSE YOU CAN
If I can do this, anyone can do this.
I see the stories behind every piece of furniture, garment, toy…everything.
I am a writer. A storyteller. And I remember it all.
So, sometimes, it is difficult to leave things behind.
However, I have been able to say to myself, that this chapter in my life is done.
That has helped me to close the books on my past, and just keep a few small mementos that help me remember special moments.
I had so much saved from the years I was a teacher. It was a very special time in my life. But it is past and there are new special moments ahead.
Be willing to ask the hard questions about keeping something…is it really worth the money to move it and to take up space where you are going.
Everything about moving is exhausting…emotionally and physically.
So, give yourself time and, yes…take a nap or two.
I am sure there are some of you out there who can add to this conversation about the Senior Moving Checklist: Just let go!
Please do…and I will see you tomorrow for the next of the 2024 Fashion Trends….until then….
STAY STRONG & KEEP SMILING!!
By Pamela Lutrell
For all your shopping, please use the links on my SHOPPING PAGE…thank you, thank you to all who shop this way. These provisions are very much needed now more than ever.
In 2021 I moved twice. Once from my home of 33 years into a 500 sq. ft. studio apartment while I waited for my current (small) home to be completely remodeled. I am single. I acted as my own contractor for the remodel. Downsized twice, in a big way. I saw it as an adventure. Certainly, there were stressful times, but I didn’t have much time for stress. I focused on the completion. I still miss my studio apartment because I found that living without “the things” was freeing. In downsizing, I learned that things, even family things, are just things. In the end, what endures is the people who make up the memories. I felt such freedom every time I left a trunk load at Goodwill or had a Habitat pickup. Some things I regret giving away or throwing away. That’s life. It helps to remember that my kids don’t want “the things.” My mom just passed away and I kept only two things of hers, tiny things, glassware, one because it has my name on it and a note. It’s not being heartless, it just gets easier to let go of “stuff” and hang on to the memories. This is just how it’s worked out for me. We’re all different though and I understand that.
You are doing well! It is exhausting, both mentally and physically. I remember two moves back, from Philly to NH, we rented a storage unit to stash items to let our house look “lighter” for possible buyers. After selling, we couldn’t even remember what we had put in storage. When we returned to the unit , we ended up not moving much of it with us. If only we had made that decision to dispose of it to begin with. With our last move from NH to Maine, it was much easier. I had been living in our cottage home during summers my whole life, and we had renovated it a few years before. It was much easier to see a few items that we wanted to swap out and just sell or donate the rest. I was so hoping that your son might have decided to keep the red couch, but he has to make the home his own. My biggest lesson while moving several times in my married life was to thank the pieces for many years of service and pass it on to someone else that could use it. Keep up the good work. Love the nap and playroom pictures. So cozy.
So happy to begin my day with you, Karen! Thank you for sharing your experience. I have let go of more than I ever thought I would and it does feel good. We are truly making a fresh start!
Thanks for sharing, Deborah. There are just a few items that I am calling the wait and see pieces. They may eventually be donated but I want to see if I want them in this new house. The red couch will always be a family memory.
I feel the very same way numerous moves, it’s an adventure I love that!!
It is an adventure! Thanks Debra!
Deciding what to let go of is difficult. Your checklist is brilliant. Way back when we decided that we were going to move in the next year or so a friend gave me excellent advice: to get rid of 10 things a day. Decide what to do with each: sell, give away, donate, throw out. She suggested to start small with drawers, work up to closets and then the big stuff. Obviously this isn’t a great plan for a move that comes quickly but it sure helped me and I try to do this each January. I didn’t get to chime in yesterday but I also want to say that picture of you & Mr. B is wonderful. Good luck with all you have left to do & keep smiling.
Thanks, Kathie….my goal is to smile the whole way through.
Pam, this is really hard, but you are doing the right thing. I admire you. I also have a story that goes with everything in my home, and I hope that when the time comes for me to move, I can do what you are doing. You will have a fresh start with new stories and memories to make. God bless you!
Moving (even with help) is some of the hardest work out there. Demanding physically and emotionally, usually with a hard deadline. Paying movers helps, because you do ask yourself whether something is worth paying to move. And storage units are a massive expense. I’ve heard inertia keeps stuff there, with years of payments, and most people don’t even remember what’s in theirs. When we downsized to our condo, we were fortunate that our son was setting up his own household and could take all the duplicate (yikes!) kitchenware, tools, etc. It was a tough but satisfying experience and we love our condo and new lifestyle. You will too!
It’s easier because you have your husband and family by your side.
When we were helping my Mother move it was so hard for her to let go of things. She wasn’t just leaving stuff, she was leaving the life she’d had with my Father, who passed away years ago.
You’ve got lots of your memories up and at’em, running around, making messes, disagreeing with your get-rid-of picks. They’re a blessing!
Your post is a wake up call for me. I have been putting off clearing out over 20 years of “stuff” since my husband passed over 7 years ago. When I write this down, it looks pathetic. But reading your post today has given me the push to get things cleared out now so that our children don’t have to deal with it.
Thank you and I truly admire your determination and strength in looking forward instead of back.
Retirement led us to relocate 1200 miles. I did the same if it doesn’t fit in the largest trailer we can rent it’s out. But then I made the mistake over the years of filling up my somewhat empty house. However, let me assure everyone that everything is replaceable. And will actually fit in the new place.
Everyone’s input is reassuring as I, too, am moving late Sept. A happy move–solo at 76–from North Scottsdale single-family home to active-adults apt in lively area 10 miles away. Thrilled for this opportunity, yet praying for physical stamina to pack boxes, engage with friends old and new, and emerge stronger and with more joy. I’ve already imagined a few new pastimes there. It’s energizing and fun to reinvent a lifestyle and explore a bit outside the usual box. Thanks everyone for logistical tips. Cheers to Pam, Mr B and family as they bravely share their adventure. Isn’t Pam’s blog the most encouraging, and the one we most enjoy with morning coffee?!
The longest that I have lived in one house in my nearly 80 years of life is 17 years in what we thought was going to be our forever home. Then my health limited me from stairs and all of the yard work so we had this much smaller villa style house built in our older aged but not officially a 55+ community. Our HOA takes care of all of the yard work and snow removal and trash collection. We have mountain views from most of our windows. Our home is ADA accessible as all 46 of the homes are here. Our smaller yard is fenced and we put in artificial pet turf for Trix and a power doggie door. Life is so good here if different than I thought my life after retirement would look like. Down sizing has been freeing in so many ways. Enjoy your new life in Abilene Pam.
I love that you let your grandson make the decision on the red couch. His response was precious. As I continue to shed my “stuff”, the decisions are getting easier. It has become all about disassociating the memories from the objects. Each decision is another step forward as I transition to the new life that God has planned for me.
God Bless You! My goal is to make new stories, and cherish the ones in my heart. Thank you, Marcia.
Thanks Linda…I am looking forward to it. It is emotional, but really not in a bad way. Going through items has exploded my gratitude to God for the life we have had as a family.
Many people have told me that we are giving a gift to our kids, by weeding out stuff now and not sticking them with the task. I understand what your Mother was feeling, there are parts that are difficult to let go of. Each day is a blessing.
Just do a little every day, Rhoda. It has helped me to face each day knowing that I just had to tackle a piece of it. Some days I am done with it after one task, some days I have been motivated to do more. Show yourself some grace as you dive in.
I do have some items that I am not certain about, but even though our new community is smaller, they still have places to make donations. Thanks Cathy.
Char! You just blessed my socks off! I love having my morning coffee with everyone here every day. We can do this, but make sure you rest when your body tells you to….an adventure awaits..
Thank you, Sydney…mountain views are priceless! Enjoy.
I told my daughter this morning not to tell him that the couch is officially gone now. Pretty cute when he told me to name my price!
Take photos! They can help ease the parting.
I agree, Marin. As you know, I love to take photos.
When we moved to Hawaii six months ago, we decided to get a container to ship our items and vehicles. In retrospect, we both agreed that we wouldn’t do that again -well, we probably would ship the cars. We had read so many posts and watched so many videos
about the costs of items here, as well as lack of necessities on the island. As it turns out, everything is available, with no waiting!
We finally were able to get our belongings out of storage last week. We have been renovating a property for the past six months, and had no room for our belongings with all of the construction. Six months of storage was adding up in costs, so it was time to retrieve everything. While I do appreciate that we downsized our clothing and shoes before we left, I think we could have let go of the furniture. It’s a big decision, and one to really consider carefully.
God bless you in your move. XOXOXO ❤️
Thanks for sharing your experience, Linda. I am sure there are others looking at Hawaii for retirement.
Hi Pam,
I so admire what you are doing. It’s exhausting and not easy on the body or mind. You both are doing so swell.
Warm hugs 🤗
Thank you, Katherine…you are so kind.