I recently read a quote from actor Richard Kind: “I spent 40 years striking the perfect balance between constantly working and never being bugged in a deli.”
We recently downsized to a new home about five miles from our previous home, and we had the luxury of having time to clean, line shelves, and move small items ahead of the actual moving day. I pride myself in not having (too many) unnecessary items, but you never really appreciate how much you own until you move it carload by carload.
My parents were children of the Depression (meaning they kept a lot “just in case”) and lived in their house for 55 years. As their only child, I was the one who had to go through everything. I will tell you that your children will bless you for clearing away as much as possible while you’re still able. I have always tended toward minimalism, and seeing how much my parents had accumulated moved me even further in that direction. I am embracing the art of Swedish Death Cleaning.
I hope it was an artificial tree!