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crazycatlady

(4,492 posts)
72. There's a way to remember who you are without stuff
Fri Aug 25, 2017, 12:54 PM
Aug 2017

I have two pieces of family history displayed. They're both ancestors of mine (one on each side) who ran for office. Their campaign posters are framed and and hanging on the wall. The other piece of family history I found cleaning out my grandparents' place was a typed out history of my family dating back to the Mayflower. I preserved it as I could (it was falling apart-- I put it in a sheet protector), took a photo of it, and later typed it out as a Word document (updated by adding two more generations).

Taking a photo of the item you want to remember is a good substitute and you don't have to move, store, maintain, etc. It just lives on a phone or computer (or you can print it out).

A framed print is a lot easier to store and move than a dining room set.

I'm looking at moving across the country after next year. I am downsizing to the point where it has to fit in my car to make the move (nothing large I have is worth the cost of shipping it cross country). Am I self absorbed for not wanting to spend more in moving costs than my car is worth?


ETA I have other stuff from deceased ancestors. I inherited my grandmother's knitting collection (yarn and needles) and have used some of the yarn (the pink stuff) and her needles to make pussyhats. I'm working on a hat right now (her pink yarn has since been used up and I've bought more) using her needles now. Two DUers have pussyhats made with her yarn.

I don't want my stuff. rusty quoin Aug 2017 #1
+1 mountain grammy Aug 2017 #21
+ 1000 Alice11111 Aug 2017 #81
bwahahahahaaa i agree...and i surely don't blame them spanone Aug 2017 #25
me neither! lol samnsara Aug 2017 #67
My kids have already told me that. Freedomofspeech Aug 2017 #2
The mister and I figured about 10 items either son might want. We have come to terms that... Tikki Aug 2017 #3
Just this afternoon I donated a punch bowl with 18 cups, Croney Aug 2017 #4
Have an estate sale. There are people who do it professionally who can help... brush Aug 2017 #31
Prices on a lot of "collectibles" are in the tank. Boxerfan Aug 2017 #5
We didn't want much of our parents' stuff LeftInTX Aug 2017 #6
My folks' clothing was evenly divided between Aunt Sally Warpy Aug 2017 #8
Nobody offered or wanted any clothes. But I was HAPPY to get furniture, pnwmom Aug 2017 #11
My nephew wanted my parent's piano LeftInTX Aug 2017 #13
My niece recently sold their 2800 sq.ft. Home in anticipation of moving Grammy23 Aug 2017 #75
My maternal grandparents recently passed crazycatlady Aug 2017 #18
Replacements Ltd. might take china, crystal, silver, etc. Dulcinea Aug 2017 #42
Replacements Ltd will take this, but DeminPennswoods Aug 2017 #52
Stuff your parents have is just old, shabby stuff Warpy Aug 2017 #7
Then my kids can do whatever they want when I'm dead. Cuthbert Allgood Aug 2017 #9
Try and see what they are worth currently so you can let him know which to save or sell lunasun Aug 2017 #14
Oh, for sure. Cuthbert Allgood Aug 2017 #20
My parents Sgent Aug 2017 #37
Most of my parents' stuff is just fugly. Mariana Aug 2017 #10
Our stuff is fugly...Can't afford better stuff LeftInTX Aug 2017 #12
There is plenty of expensive fugly stuff out there. Mariana Aug 2017 #19
This times a zillion ! Take a photo if you want them to remember it . lunasun Aug 2017 #15
I know they don't want our stuff, but I like some of it. When's the right time to let go? Shrike47 Aug 2017 #16
The mountain of shit my parents have moved into my house is unbelievable Sen. Walter Sobchak Aug 2017 #17
My mother AND grandmother are packrats. They already know I don't want their stuff. Luciferous Aug 2017 #22
My MIL was the same way. Dulcinea Aug 2017 #44
Mine likes to buy stuff at Goodwill and then tries Luciferous Aug 2017 #62
Are 89-year-old people "Boomers" as mentioned in the article? phylny Aug 2017 #23
89 isn't a Boomer. They are the "Greatest Generation" TexasBushwhacker Aug 2017 #29
Yeah, I knew the article was wrong :) n/t phylny Aug 2017 #33
Just as many Boomers are downsizing crazycatlady Aug 2017 #43
Poor babies. Sparkly Aug 2017 #24
+1000 crazylikafox Aug 2017 #71
Amen! Kittycow Aug 2017 #80
But, but, beanie babies!!! Baitball Blogger Aug 2017 #26
Not just young people kimbutgar Aug 2017 #27
I did not want my parents stuff. Demtexan Aug 2017 #28
I'm just heartbroken for Ms. Beauregard KentuckyWoman Aug 2017 #30
I've explained to my niece.... Historic NY Aug 2017 #32
My family has never been sentimental about things. SharonClark Aug 2017 #34
I don't get not wanting the silver. And what about recycling? Isn't it better to use all those lunamagica Aug 2017 #35
I don't even want my stuff. Solly Mack Aug 2017 #36
They buy cheap junk and shun treasures. Duppers Aug 2017 #38
I"m 37 and will probably never want fine china crazycatlady Aug 2017 #40
I'm 60 and do not own fine china LeftInTX Aug 2017 #77
Wasn't my idea but I've grown to appreciate it. Duppers Aug 2017 #82
My sister has spoken for my parents' china crazycatlady Aug 2017 #84
Clothes can also be donated to burrowowl Aug 2017 #39
Cheap costume jewelry too LeftInTX Aug 2017 #86
They can have my stuff, if they want it. MineralMan Aug 2017 #41
Yeah, I can't imagine my kids looking forward to Codeine Aug 2017 #45
Sound like me exboyfil Aug 2017 #60
Probably a third of mine are what my daughter Codeine Aug 2017 #93
Kindred spirit exboyfil Aug 2017 #94
This is funny. cwydro Aug 2017 #46
I live in a one bedroom apt PasadenaTrudy Aug 2017 #47
When my parents passed DFW Aug 2017 #48
I remember your pics. Maybe a CD of all pics for both of them . Easier to keep lunasun Aug 2017 #61
From a strictly practical standpoint, you're right DFW Aug 2017 #73
Put the valuable photos aside and/or list them in your will LeftInTX Aug 2017 #87
I have a ton of china and crystal that belonged to both my grndmothers nini Aug 2017 #49
Here's the problem crazycatlady Aug 2017 #51
I didn't start out in a 4 bedroom house in my twenties & thirties nini Aug 2017 #70
There's a way to remember who you are without stuff crazycatlady Aug 2017 #72
I'm not talking about dining rooms sets.. I'm talking about a plate and a cup, or vase etc.. nini Aug 2017 #74
I will admit I wouldn't want a plate or cup crazycatlady Aug 2017 #79
eh, I'll be dead KatyMan Aug 2017 #50
I'm a Ge-Xer and I don't want my dad's stuff. RandySF Aug 2017 #53
My plan is mercuryblues Aug 2017 #54
k&r DesertRat Aug 2017 #55
Whatever... RobinA Aug 2017 #56
photos can be digitized crazycatlady Aug 2017 #64
That's Fine RobinA Aug 2017 #78
Depends on what it is. jcmaine72 Aug 2017 #57
I donated 98% of my parents' stuff no_hypocrisy Aug 2017 #58
relevant story for me....unloadeed some stuff and much more to go dembotoz Aug 2017 #59
I have my family furniture Runningdawg Aug 2017 #63
I have dealt in antiques over the past 30 years or so, mainly stuff I picked up at garage or estate Frustratedlady Aug 2017 #65
hubby sent that article to me.. going thru that now with my aged parents.. samnsara Aug 2017 #66
My great-grandmother didn't want my g'g-gm's stuff; gm didn't want her mother's stuff. politicat Aug 2017 #68
My first two apartments were furnished exclusively by hand-me-down furniture LanternWaste Aug 2017 #69
Young adults don't even want these kind of China , silver etc gifts new at weddings lunasun Aug 2017 #76
The relish trays, don't forget the relish trays LeftInTX Aug 2017 #89
I have been inspired by this & CTYankee irisblue Aug 2017 #83
I'm having to throw out yearbooks now Duppers Aug 2017 #85
I will happily take your parents treasures Iwasthere Aug 2017 #88
I don't disagree about recycling crazycatlady Aug 2017 #91
When my parents died, we had an estate sale LeftInTX Aug 2017 #90
Photos, a few heirloom items, etc are all we will leave. Ilsa Aug 2017 #92
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