If You Can't Take it All With You

It's human nature to save and tuck things away just in case we need them. This later life move is the time in your life to pare down and simplify! Think of this as a chance to free yourself from all the "stuff" you really don't need or use. Remember that this move is different from previous moves. When you were starting out, you may have moved into progressively larger homes. In those moves, the sorting process was more "uncluttering" - or getting rid of impulse buys that you never used.

In this later life move, you are doing more than uncluttering. You are downsizing - which means selecting only those things that you will truly use in a new life style. You may not be cooking as much, or maintaining a yard. Your activities may have changed, and you no longer need a craft closet or woodworking bench. The sorting process is almost the opposite from past moves. Instead of picking a few items to get rid of, you are now picking the best of the lot, and leaving the rest behind.

Here are a few tips to tackle the most difficult areas of moving from a longtime family home.

• Take time to look around your home and think about the items you love and use - these are the first to go with you. They can be sentimental or practical. If you value them, take them. Surrounding yourself with the things you love will help you feel more at home when you move.
  
  
• But simplify and remember the 80/20 rule. Most people only use 20% of what they have. The other 80% is just taking up space. We all keep things "just in case" - now you can let go of these.
  
  
• Start with the major items in your home and decide what you want first. Later you can decide what to do with items you no longer need. Your first goal is to figure out what you want and will use.
  
  
• It helps to mark the major items you want. Use color coded stickers - green for "keepers." Start marking the larger items in your home - furniture, mirrors, pictures, lamps. The green stickers will let you see how much you are planning to take. You can always change your mind later - just add or remove the sticker. (Make sure the stickers you buy are "removable.")
  
  
• For items you want to give to family or friends, use a red or yellow sticker with their initials. Again, this is a visual reminder of what is going where and it can help you distribute your excess items equitably. If an item is left without a sticker, you can ask if someone wants it. Or you can decide to hold a moving or estate sale for all of the excess household items. If you are having a sale, don't throw items away. It is amazing what people will buy at these sales. You can discard or donate any unsold items after the sale.
  
  
• Once you've marked the furniture you want to keep, create a floor plan drawn to scale and place your furniture on it. This will help you decide exactly what will fit, and where you will place it. You don't want to pay to move furniture that won't fit (and you'll have to get someone to come and get it). On moving day, the movers work quickly. "Where do you want this?" is a constant question. It's very confusing if you don't have a plan.
  
  
• Assemble smaller collectibles in one area. Choose a table or corner in your living room where you can begin to collect smaller mementos and collectibles. Don't pack them at this point. You'll forget what is in the boxes, and you might underestimate how much you're taking.
  
  
• If you have large collections of things - jigsaw puzzles, books, videos, CD's - set a limit (say one-fourth), choose your favorites, and donate or sell the rest. Your storage space will be limited, (and you can always get more for birthdays and holidays!).
  
  
• Make sure you have storage and display space for items you are keeping. If you currently have built in book cases, you may need to buy additional storage units for you new home. Adding custom shelves in a closet is one solution. Buying a small bookcase or stand is another. Small, narrow display shelves that hang on the wall are a good solution for family photos and small collectibles that may now be on a fireplace mantel. For mementos, old family photos, and souvenirs consider specially designed under-the-bed storage boxes to hold items you want to keep, but rarely use. There are many sources for low cost storage units - Target, Home Depot, Linens 'n Things, and Lowe's, to name a few.
  
  
• Once you've sorted your major possessions, you can start to tackle closets, drawers, and cabinets. But set goals, and tackle one area at a time. Sort your linen closet one day, and your kitchen cupboard another day. Again, decide only on what you want to keep. Begin to assemble these items on a spare bed or card table. When you have finished one area - linens, for example - then you can pack those items in a clearly labeled box, and you will still have spares to use until you move.
  
  
• Be realistic when sorting though your clothes closets. Keep your new closet space in mind, and get rid of things you haven't worn in a year - things that don't fit or need repair - and any clothes you won't likely need (business suit, formal wear, or an extra bulky winter coat). Do the same with shoes, belts, purses, ties, and other accessories. You can always donate or sell unnecessary items - and throw away things that are beyond repair.
  
  
• Do the same when sorting through your dresser drawers, especially if you are leaving a dresser behind. Once you've sorted and discarded items, you can leave your clothes in the drawers for moving. But don't take unnecessary items. You can use the freed up drawer space for storing other things, like photographs.
  
  
• Get someone to help you sort; it is easer to let go if someone else is holding the item and seeing it objectively with you.
  
  
• Allow plenty of time for the downsizing process. It's never too early to start, and take your time; work room by room in short spurts. Moving is stressful, and when you get tired, it becomes more difficult to decide. You may throw it all in a box and move it simply because you run out of time.