"When You Die, I’ll Be There to Take Your Stuff"

Narratively ^ | September 12, 2016 | Shane Cashman

[pangaea6]

I think he was also joking about the pointy “dunce” caps. Speaking of which it would be nice if we had those in school again. Shane and ridicule work wonders in an educational setting.

[HotHunt]

I was executor for both my parents' estates. I had to go through their stuff to decided what to do with it. I also helped my wife do the same for her parents.

We also bought a rental house that was owned by an obsessive-compulsive hoarder with stuff left in it and had to sort through all of it to get rid of stuff. And then we retired to my wife's grandparents' homestead and have spent eight years cleaning out the house, barns, and sheds out of stuff that never got thrown away because they lived in the country with no garbage pick-up. So my wife and I have plenty of experience doing this.

Most people as they get older, accumulate things. They don't get rid of stuff as they get older because it is a burden and takes hard work and energy they don't have. So most estates are chocked full of things from people's lives.

Over the years we have picked up some nice antique furniture and keepsakes. We find jewelry, money, coins, and things that are worth something if sold.

We've kept the nice things we wanted and sold most of the rest at estate sales or on Craigslist. Some advice, never have a garage sale to get rid of stuff in these situations. Always have an "estate" sale because it automatically draws twice as many people who seem to buy anything and everything.

My wife and I have moved a lot in our lives, being in the military and changing jobs and locales over the years. Moving provides a good opportunity to trim the sails each time of unwanted, excess items that one accumulates. Our last move to this homestead in Florida, gave us another chance to unload our lives of baggage we don't need.

But we both realize that most of what we have, is not of interest to our kids or others. It's just stuff. We love antiques but our kids don't. We have boxes and boxes of old photos before digital became the norm. Almost all of them will be thrown out in a dumpster one day when we're gone. Because who is going to want them or appreciate them? Nobody.

I remember talking to the neighbor across the street from my dad after he died. I was at my dad's house trying to sort through all the stuff he and my mom had left in their home. He had a workshop filled with tools and hardware and materials.

The neighbor said he asked my dad one time what he was going to do with all that stuff they had in the house, workshop and yard. He said my dad told him, "I'm not going to do anything with it. I'll let the kids worry about what to do with it after we're gone".

And that he did.

[goodnesswins]

We are slowly getting rid of stuff...it helps that we helped special 95 year old cousins move to Assisted living a couple years ago. I cherish 2 wine glasses and some slotted Spoons they gave us. Have been going thru mean MIL house as she is in assisted living for 2 years...found a 200 year old teacup and saucer with its story written in tape on bottom. Also a few things of her mother’s we have removed. Beyond that, 3600sf of mostly stuff...anyone interested in a salt cellar collection?

[yetidog]

“I would rather collect experiences and memories.”

So true but unfortunately some people do not know how to savor, recall or comprehend the nature of experience. Not unusual...my thrift store addicted wife is one of them

[Big Red Badger]

Oh bear Me away
On Your
Snow white
Wings,
To my eternal Home.

[Kommodor]

Just be sure and don’t miss out on Jack Vance or James Schmitz. :)

As to the story, I have a garage (half) full of my Mom’s stuff. I need to do something with it one of these days.

I have a cousin who wants all the old family (grandparents etc) pictures. Maybe I should put them in a box and send them to her.

[Kickass Conservative]

We sold our House.

We had a few Garage Sales and ended up giving away a bunch of stuff to people who didn’t have much money and to Charity.

When the Movers showed up, we had more than we estimated. We ended up paying more to move the stuff than we planned and even gave the some of the spillover to a Neighbor.

Now that we are at our new location, my Wife is going through the Boxes and giving more stuff to Charity.

After clearing out all the junk my Father held on to until his Death I had no desire to accumulate things, yet here we were. Things I swore I wouldn’t leave behind turn into things that aren’t worth the trouble.

What’s the old saying, if you haven’t touched something in over a year, get rid of it.

[Drew68]

For later.

[TheWriterTX]

I have several very expensive things in the house; the kids know what they are and their value. Some sentimental pieces; the kids know their history too. All the rest can go.

I live in tornado alley. Once you accept the fact that God can turn it all to kindling in a heartbeat, stuff doesn’t matter anymore.

[TADSLOS]

Bingo.

[Oratam]

I've cleaned out two houses as the executor and the one thing it taught me was "nobody wants your stuff."

"Hi, I'm calling about your cleanout service."

"Any antiques, gold or silver?"

"I don't know. Nothing in particular."

"Sorry, I need antique jewelry or furniture or sterling silver or gold to make it worth my while."

"But this is quality, American-made furniture in excellent condition."

"Yeah, but there's no market for that style anymore."

It's destined for the landfill.

"This is all mid-century modern bought when my parents got married in '58. Will it find a buyer?"

"The kids today LOVE mid-century modern but the new stuff made to look like old stuff. You know, like West Elm."

This stuff ended up in the landfill, too.

"Nobody wants your stuff."

[Big Red Badger]

I think it was
Edison that said after
A Fire completely
Burned his Workshop,
-—That the Fire
Got rid of All
His Mistakes.-——

[HotHunt]

?

[Rebelbase]

I quit going to estate sales after watching the vultures pick through the remains of a military man’s possessions. Memorabilia that should have been honored were heaped and piled like trash.

Very disheartening to watch.

[TADSLOS]

Just agreeing with your comments. I have a similar experience.

[dfwgator]

The best thing about moving to a new house is getting rid of all the crap.

Although I still think we have too much crap, but the wife disagrees.

[beaversmom]

Thanks for your post.

[beaversmom]

Thanks for your post. I agree. And I enjoyed the article, too.

[Big Red Badger]

I have a bunch of items
Deserving of Honor.
Kabars,
Field Jackets and
Footlockers.
I hope to go to
Reenactors and
Gun Shows to
Buy,sell and Trade.

[beaversmom]

Vulture is a good word. I’ve gone to very few estate sales over the years, but that is exactly how I have felt looking through a person’s possessions.