Essay

Downsizing - What to Keep, What to Toss

By: Nancy Wallace, 12/15/2020

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Downsizing – What to Toss, What to Keep Sept. 2, 2020

Moving into a Continuing Care Community is unlike all the previous residential moves I’ve made. I began my adult life in a small one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan, eventually graduated to a two-bedroom in New Jersey and then to a three-bedroom when I retired to Florida. I never had to go through the hassle of downsizing.

In a few months I’ll be going into an apartment at Pomperaug Woods, a CCRC.
I’ll be returning to the one-bedroom floor plan - much less space. Stuff has to go. The dilemma – what to get rid of, what to keep. It’s a painful process both physically and emotionally.

Items of clothing are, for me, easily disposable. So, I’ve already donated any clothing not worn in the past couple of years. The only items I was attached to were my wedding dress and my beautiful wide brim bridal hat. The dress was donated reluctantly but it was tough finding a new home for my lovely hat. The bridal shops considered it passé. But then I found a costume shop – the owner was delighted – he said it would be the crowning glory to a Southern belle outfit.

Generally speaking, I’m not attached to furniture but it happens that my nephew has made some lovely pieces for me over the years. There is a work table and coordinated bookshelves that house all my quilting supplies. I’ve pared down the supplies recently so I don’t really need the bookcases any longer. If my nephew can’t use them, they’re headed for a consignment shop; I’d much rather keep them in the family. The work table I will need as long as I keep on quilting. That stays!

But what about my beautiful china cabinet which was my nephew’s wedding gift? I can’t part with it. I don’t need fancy glassware, serving bowls and silver trays any more so those things can be donated. I’ll be having my meals in the community dining room. No more cooking and serving for me – hallelujah! I’m sure I can re-purpose the china cabinet.

And so many quilts. I enjoy gifting my quilts to friends and family when the right occasion presents itself – I can’t part with them. Since I’m keeping my china cabinet maybe the quilts can be stored there too – the glass cabinet doors would create a lovely show case for them.

For several years I taught computer classes and quilting classes. I’ve kept paper copies of all my handouts. There really is no need for this paper library; all of my lesson plans reside on the computer. Since I don’t trust myself not to accidently destroy these cherished files I will back them up into the “cloud” or onto an external drive – perhaps I’ll do both just to be super safe.

It will be a pleasure to empty out the kitchen. I’ve never enjoyed cooking or baking and will have no hesitation when it comes to donating all those pots and pans and cooking utensils to the local thrift shop.

My new community has some spare rooms which can be booked for overnight guests so I won’t be needing my guest room furniture. My trundle bed and all the associated linens can go to charity.

Contemplating this final move makes me weary (my mother’s word) but I am looking forward to the stress-free life style - no more food concerns, no house repairs, no landscaping to worry about, no house cleaning. What’s not to like!

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