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Thread: Down sizing!

  1. #1
    austastar's Avatar
    austastar is offline YarnMaster Silver Subscriber
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    Down sizing!

    Hi,
    Having recently cleared out both parents' homes, and one for a close friend, I thought we were done with endless trips to the tip, op-shops, and faffing about on GumTree.

    But no!

    "The time has come," the Walrus SWMBO said, "to talk of too many things.
    Of bikes and boats and piles of stuff, including old leaf springs."

    Not wishing to inflict similar grief on the offspring is I think the driving force at play here, and 30 odd years in one house that used to be quite large and had cavernous storage many years ago now has doors that barely close.

    Now OCD hoarders we are not, (or should that be CDO (to keep it alphabetical)) but a lot of stuff is failing the 'use it in 5 years or chuck it' test. There is stuff with lots of memories, but am I going to use things like rafting gear, kayaking stuff etc that actually hasn't been used for years?

    The BMW motorcycle has only been out once in the last 12 months, which was a bit scary (no bull-bar up front). It does take up quite a lot of room in the garage.
    Is this what getting old is all about?

    Where to start?

    • Sort, label and store?
    • Rigorously apply the 5 year rule?
    • Tell the kids to come and get it?
    • Pretend we are going travelling for ever and won't be here?


    It would be nice to have a bit more room (still have boxes of stuff from parents to go "Next time we are near the op-shop")

    How have others coped with such life events? Any wise words to be had from those who have 'been there and done that'?

    Any comments are welcome.

    Cheers

  2. #2
    Tombie Guest
    Be realistic not materialistic.

  3. #3
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    Work it down to one year and size. We have gone into a flat from a house and still use this philosophy. MighT be another cull again soon. A great feeling to have a clutter free space but hopefully the old goods get a good home and are put to use.

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  5. #5
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    We downsized a year ago (where did that time go? !! ) Went from a large house and half acre to a small house and a bit of back yard. Did we have to do some culling . A example of our dilemma. Moved into the new home and had five lounges and only one lounge room. Was a tad tight in the lounge room for a bit. All sorted now though.
    Cheers Hall

  6. #6
    austastar's Avatar
    austastar is offline YarnMaster Silver Subscriber
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    Hi,
    I think we have camped next to that property over the years.
    Very nice position, but intensely cold in winter with a katabatic draft off the Western Tiers.
    Cheers

  7. #7
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    I can take the BMW off your hands!

  8. #8
    austastar's Avatar
    austastar is offline YarnMaster Silver Subscriber
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ranga View Post
    I can take the BMW off your hands!
    Noted!

    Cheers

    Sent from my GT-N5110 using AULRO mobile app

  9. #9
    DiscoMick Guest
    I recommend you be ruthless.
    We once packed up a five bedroom house, got rid of most of our stuff and stored some things, packed a 30kg suitcase each and headed off to the airport to live overseas for three years.
    When we came back we stood in the storeroom and asked ourselves, "So why did we keep this stuff?" Most of it we threw out or gave away, which we should have done three years earlier.
    Its amazing how simply we can live if we really try. We surround ourselves with junk, which we have to work to buy and maintain, so we become slaves to our possessions. Then we complain we never have time to relax.
    It doesn't have to be that way. I've met people who lived in a bamboo hut and were happy.
    In three years we plan to move into a studio apartment which is to be part of our retirement house, where the daughter and our family now live, when we retire, so we're slowly getting rid of a lot of stuff we have accumulated since we came back.
    Mind you, we will be building a triple garage and two carports! Finally get my shed.

    Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

  10. #10
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    I'm always nervous about throwing stuff out as usually I'll find a need for it shortly after. Having said that - I have had a bit of a clear out this year. There is a Car Boot day coming up (22nd October?) - you could make some room and a few dollars to errrr..... buy some more stuff.


    cheers,
    D
    1957 88 Petrol (Chumlee)
    1960 88 Petrol (Darwin)
    1975 88 Diesel (Mutley)

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