Declutter Now If You're Going to Move to a Retirement Community in the Next Few Years

My husband and I plan to move to a retirement community sometime in the next 10 years. Thinking about decluttering makes groan, but we have to do it. Question is, where should we start?

I decided to start with books because it can be done in stages. Most of our books are in the family room, home office, and kitchen. We've lived in our home for 18 years and have culled books before, so I was surprised at the number of books we didn't need.

In just a few hours, I gathered four bags of books to give away. Many organizations - nursing homes, public libraries, used book stores - welcome book donations. We donated our books to the library book store. While I was in a sorting mood I also sorted magazines and also donated them to the store.

The kitchen was my next focus. Personally, I think kitchen decluttering is an ongoing process. I began this process by getting rid of doubles, things like an extra strainers, kitchen tools, and casserole dishes. Damaged items - rusty baking pans, chipped dishes, and incomplete sets - were discarded. Items I rarely used when to the church rummage sale.

Furniture was next on the list. We've moved at least 16 times and bought furniture for each place. Consequently, our home is too crowded and we have some "tight" traffic patterns. My daughter had always wanted my upright piano, so I contacted a moving company and shipped it to her. Though I was shocked at the moving charge, I was glad the piano arrived safely.

A friend of ours is an antique dealer and he has a huge sale each summer. We contacted him and he came over to look at the things we were willing to part with, including an antique roll-top desk, antique music cabinet, antique children's desk and chair, a set of china, and a silver tea set. He agreed to sell these items for a 15 percent commission. We also had to pay for a truck to pick up the items. Everything sold and we had a little extra money in our pockets.

Inherited possessions are our biggest challenge. Five family members died in the last dozen years and many of their things, such as my parents' twin beds, wound up at our house. My husband and I were literally tripping over furniture. We put an ad in a shoppers' newspaper and sold the beds, a matching table, another Shaker bed with a matching table and trunk, and two wicker chairs. We didn't get a lot for these items, but we did lighten the load and clear traffic patterns.

Lightening the load is physically and emotionally tiring. How can you keep going? Ease into the process with shorter jobs like sorting magazines. Sell or donate items you aren't using. Follow the "in and out" rule. For every new item that comes into the house, a corresponding item goes out. Moving to a retirement community will be easier and cheaper if you declutter now.

Copyright 2011 by Harriet Hodgson

http://www.harriethodgson.com

Harriet Hodgson has been an independent journalist for 30+ years. Her 24th book, Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," written with Lois Krahn, MD, is available from Amazon.

Centering Corporation published her 26th book, Writing to Recover: The Journey from Loss and Grief to a New Life and a companion journal. The company also published The Spiritual Woman: Quotes to Refresh and Sustain Your Soul. Harriet's latest book, Happy Again! is in production now and slated for summer release by Centering.

Harriet has two other new books, 101 Affirmations to Ease Your Grief Journey, available from Amazon, and Real Meals on 18 Wheels: A Guide for Healthy Living on the Highway, Kathryn Clements, RD, co-author and available from Amazon soon. Please visit her website, click on the blog tab, and share your thoughts with this busy author and grandmother.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/6332979

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