Blog draft feb 9 26

Downsizing

As you age, you need fewer things. It is that simple. How you value things in life dims significantly, especially as significant others die.

What is valued are relationships with special people, and experiences. Those two are primary.

I have always loved cars, watches, shoes and food. All those things become lesser to me as I age. I still have some good watches, but shoes? Not so much. I can only fit into larger sizes these days, and ease of putting them on is now a much larger issue than it once was. Cars need to be especially functional these days and that eliminates many model types. And food? Well, diet is more circumscribed focused on health and ease of preparation.

As I downsized in the past, silverware, china and chrystal were items in need of passing on to special family members. To my shock, they were not interested. My generation mostly was. I did find willing recipients for china and silverware. Not silver tea sets, platters or serving bowls, but the flatware was an easy placement. Chrystal other than glasses or stemware were impossible to give away. That surprised me because they can be quite useful and always beautiful, especially in bright light. The shimmer and diadems of color are spectacular!

Then furniture became a problem. Less for me meant I could live in smaller spaces. But others didn’t want my special items. Giving them away was the only thing possible. Hardwood items were acceptable to some charities, but stuffed and upholstered items were simply not on the good list.

Clothing is easy to donate to local charities. So too, small personal items like watches and jewelery. Even shoes are acceptable. Books as well.

Experience and relationships are generally not space or storage reliant. Distance, maybe, and time-consuming certainly, but the pleasure and importance of both are esteem-able.  I’m in the midst of planning a trip to the southwestern deserts and canyons. Just thinking of the places and vistas to be encountered are a huge pleasure. The actual travel and experience of seeing them will be even more so. Then there are the pleasures of road travel, the finding of cozy little diners and cafes in small towns is one of those pleasures. The variable weather patterns is another. So much to look forward to and then be a part of. And the people going along on the trip? Great relationships all the way.

Downsizing has its distractions and pains, but it does provide more time for the other things in life tha, t matter so much more.

February 9, 2026

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