I invite you to log onto the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com - and read today's blog about our impending move.
And now this - UH OH! Sid is out in the garage at this very moment, "putting things out for the trash". Maybe I just shouldn't look and figure if it's been out there for 3 years, I don't need it. No, I had better go look. Oh boy, this is going to be some experience.
We moved 3 years ago and Paul did absolutely nothing to facilitate moving. Course he was never one to help me much as a rule. When we were about finished with loading the moving van he started grabbing the foam packing inserts we had taken out of boxes. He put them in a couple large trash bags and told me we were not going to throw those away. We left them in a outbuilding for a few days then put them out with the trash. He also balked at leaving the house for the last time. Daughter said she would stay with him. He was over that shortly. I am sure you will have a lot of "interesting" stories. What are you going to do with the stuff in the garage in your new apartment?
The villa is actually a little house. It has a one car garage. What am I going to do with the stuff in this garage? Crying comes to mind first, but then there is Craigslist.
Sid informed me that he has no ambition to do anything, but he said he will do what I ask.
Bluedaze - I take "possession" (that's what the director called it) on August 17th, and will plan the movers for around Sept. 1. That gives us two weeks to move stuff in ourselves, like kitchen things to put in the cabinets and drawers. And in my closet, which is 1/2 the size of the one I have now, which is filled to the brim. What does one do with 40 pair of shoes? In Florida, where we wear nothing but sandels and sneakers. I have the side of the closet with the "fat" clothes, and the side of the closet with the "less fat" clothes. I don't have any "thin" clothes.
We have moved a number of times since my husband's career in the Navy. We moved to this little house we are in now and put all of our silver, big antiques, crystal, etc. in storage until we found a place we wanted. After a year of looking and not wanting to have a big mortgage, we decided to stay in this little house. I called my daughter and asked her if she wanted my things and she said yes. We shipped it all to her and go to visit our stuff several times a year.
If someone had told me that I would have to get rid of all of those "precious" things, I would have cried bitter tears. But, we haven't missed them and am grateful for the opportunity to be lighter. Our house is so small, if we don't use it, it goes out. We don't have any space to store anything. No clutter. It is a nice way to live even tho I came to it by accident. The hardest part is making the decision to get rid of something, but once it is gone, it is so freeing. That has been my experience.
I have gone through my jewelry, mementos, pictures, etc and given them to the children. I haven't used Craigslist yet but have had good results on EBay. When is the big day.
PS - I have been thinking about your move and the reason for it since you have announced it. It is so powerful to me that your husband's comfort is of such paramount concern to you, that you are going to all of this for him. The thoughts about your move and the reason made me come to evaluate and appreciate the long term committed relationship I have with my husband - he would do the same for me that you are doing. Love and responsibilty like this goes unsung in today's world and it is so comforting to know that there are folks that still honor loved one's needs. I see that quality of love and value as a srtong theme in these postings. Thank you for helping us appreciate the bond we have with our LOs.
Have you already sold your house? Glad this is all coming to fruition for you. Let us know when you actually "move" so we can host a "cyber housewarming". I promise we won't bring more "stuff".
So much work to do, I have a backache just thinking about it. *wink. Wow, this is really quick!!! I hope you are able to get some help Joan! I agree with dagma, I too am moved by the love and concern for your dear Sid's future and comfort. Heartwarming <3
I have Joan's first housewarming gift. A liter of cool water from the mysterious Fountain of Youth in Florida. Guaranteed to restore your energy (and knees) to where they were 35 years ago. It will also make you skinny and you'll be able to squat, reach, lift and bend with no aches or pains. Only a sip a day is necessary. Use it sparingly. ENJOY!
OMG Joan, you are going to have to purge half your wardrobe. Better get a friend to help you do that before you move. GUT-WRENCHING!!!!!!! I am still gathering things to purge all over the house and wish I had did more before I moved. If I had had someone to help me do the purging it would have been easier. I like the idea someone else said here about shipping stuff the family who wants it and visit it. I do that with a lot of things. My daughters want everything the generation before me had but son is more interested in current stuff. I visit Mom's old rocking chair, garden plow, corn sheller, canning stove, quilts, stone jars, dishes, my rings, split bottom chairs, canning table all the time. So nice to see them enjoying those things that takes me back to my childhood. My cousin had her and her late husband's wedding bands sized down for her daughters thumbs and her daughter wears them all the time.