Thank you all so much for your comments and suggestions yesterday. I did take it all to heart and am pulling a few things out everyday and finding new homes for them. My daughter is trying to downsize too so she didn’t want much but she did offer a home to some unused picture frames! So far I haven’t found anyone who wants the cassette tape storage cases, can you imagine??
I am glad no one suggested a garage sale. I just can’t do those anymore. So much work and then you make $200 and spend half of it on pizza and Coke for your helpers! But the worst part is having complete strangers pawing through your stuff and offering you a nickel for something that in your mind is worth at least fifty bucks…and that’s not counting sentimental value. Much easier to give it away and be done with it. In my next life, I swear I am going to move every five years whether I need to or not! Staying in the same house for 35+ years just makes it too easy to accumulate “stuff.”
So not much else to report. Russ had a doctor’s appointment today and the nurse was nice enough to include me in the flu shot dispensing, even though I didn’t have an appointment. Glad to get that out of the way.
And now for some gratuitous dog pictures! Ya’ll know how much I love my dogs. I admit Rusty is getting a little clumsy and senile but he is still my boy. He loves nothing better than to sit and watch the pool and the yard. Most of the time he wants the sliding door open and he’ll lay on the carpet with just his paws in the doorway so I can’t shut the door. Yes, I indulge him! But yesterday the weather was not too hot and not too cold and he enjoyed just laying on the deck. I had to get some pictures as I still think he’s a handsome older fella…
It seems so many bloggers have lost their pets recently and my heart breaks for each one of them. I am so grateful for each day I have with Rusty and Poppy. They truly are my fur kids.
Rusty is beautiful, Donna! He looks like a very young dog enjoying watching the world go by. They do become a part of us.
ReplyDeleteI have so much that I know I should move on out so my kids don't get stuck with the job. If Rich was still with me, it would be done in a flash. But, there are so many memories attached to so many things. Yes, I know, they are just things--but I hear whispered conversations when I see them and feel a presence in this house. Rarely did we buy something for the house unless we were together and I can remember what we said to one another. A unique little table and lamp was delivered a week after he passed--I had forgotten all about it. We laughed ourselves silly in the store while choosing it--too long to explain. I have put notes on the back of things so the kids will know the stories behind each. What they are the grandkids don't want can go to charity.
Why am I rambling? I don't know. Really just wanted to comment on Rusty! LOL
For me it did get easier with time to part with things. In fact, our first year out I had my storage shed full of things that couldn't be parted with. After the first year, I was even able to go through those and get rid of most of them. Give yourself time.
ReplyDeleteYour Rusty is a gorgeous guy. Our Scoots is getting grayer and has slowed down some days. We need to cherish them like you do Rusty and Poppy each and every day.
How beautiful is Rusty! Can really appreciate your downsizing! We did that 16 years ago when we moved out of a house of 25 years into a motorhome...The best 3 weekends were the garage sales getting rid of 'stuff'. These have been the best years imaginable and we can't conceive of not traveling....or just parked in some beautiful place. Wish you the best! Lynda & Howard
ReplyDeleteEnjoy what time you have with the dogs. Rusty is such a handsome boy!
ReplyDeleteI can really relate to this one. Stuff has become a dirty word over here. I love my dogs so much, and I hate to lose one. What would we do without them?
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to watch them get older. Rusty looks content, what more can you ask. Puppies are fun, but old dogs are dear.
ReplyDeleteRusty is very 'houndsome'!!..perfect furkids!!
ReplyDeleteNice furkid portrait.
ReplyDeleteKnow what you mean by those garage sale things. We had one about 7 years ago and I vowed to never do that again...and we haven't!! Nice pictures of Rusty. Our pets are truly our best friends.
ReplyDeleteLove your pictures of Rusty, he looks like a Good Old Friend.
ReplyDeleteOur dog passed this Spring and I am tormented about getting another, sometimes I don't think I want another, but I get all weepy when I see someone walking their pet....also knowing there are so many who need a good home out there....Oh, oh, I'm going to the rescue pages again!
We had an Estate Auction, which worked for us, then we gave away everything else to a Goodwill type store, felt good to give things to those who need it, the sales fund a soup kitchen, and in these days, it's really needed!
Good luck and hope to see you on the road!
Love all the pictures of your fur kids. I like going to yard sales to pick up used books, but want no part of having one again.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics of Rusty - he looks to be a very happy dog - and, he should be!
ReplyDeleteThat definitely is one beautiful dog. I've also noticed so many rv'ers have lost pets lately, including me, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteI too feel bad for all the rv'ers who have lost their pets recently its not easy..our furkids become such a big part of our hearts and lives.
ReplyDeleteDownsizing is very hard..I'm in the first year of that altho I feel I did very well parting with things..giving to our kids and to those less fortunate I still have a storage barn full of 'stuff' maybe after our winter away I will go through it all again and get rid of some more things..like you say there are so many memories attached to things..
I remember Rusty walking through the yard, then casually going into his "dog door" into the house. He's so cool. And very handsome.
ReplyDeleteNow that I'm rid of all my "stuff," I wonder why I needed it all. I can honestly say the only thing that went in the estate sale that I wished I had kept is a baking pan, because I had to buy one to make a casserole. Other than that, so far I don't think I've missed anything else in 4 1/2 months.
What I found is that most of my "treasures" and "collections" were packed away. They weren't really worth anything, and I've never missed them.