We spent a year downsizing our stuff. My criteria was to evaluate each item in my house and determine if it was worth it to pay to store it or worth the shipping costs to send to Bonaire. I also had to evaluate the emotional attachment to every item.
I am by no means a collector but there are things that I just couldn't part with for any reason. Many of my parents items that they collected in their travels and were with me throughout my childhood, I just had to keep. This is why I am storing German hand painted fine china that I haven't unpacked or used in years.
My husband and I have collected Christmas ornaments from all of our travels, special events and from friends and family. Each year I take each one out of the box and recall a particular place, person or event. It is one of my greatest joys to decorate a 12-foot tree with all the things I love. And of course I have a second tree because all the ornaments will not fit on just one tree. This is why I am storing 5 boxes or Christmas ornaments and two Christmas trees...just couldn't let them go.
But here was also joy in selling things to others. I found out that if some one wanted my things and were willing to pay for them and come and get them, then they really loved the items and I knew it would be taken care of and loved by someone else. That made it okay to part with it.
I sold $3,000 worth of stuff on Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor. I sold keepsakes, china, furniture, landscaping materials, plants, tools, and collectibles. I donated things to museums and libraries. I gave away things to teachers needing classroom materials. I offered things to our kids like Christmas decorations, china and collections. I also gave things to friends who expressed an interest. I had a giant jade tree that was given to us by friends who moved to California. I pass the Jade plant onto dear friends who always admired the tree.
Each item had to pass the test: is it worth it to pay to store or ship it? If not, I sold it.
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