Downsizing big time!

Hi Streaky, not seen your name before so welcome. Sounds like a big move you have coming up, will be great being nearer your grandchildren. Must admit if it was me and I had to get rid of ornaments/bric a brac I’d love it, always get a purged feeling after a de clutter. Obviously keep something to remind you of your DH, as for the rest, you can’t take it with you!

Streaky, I did something similar a couple of years ago when I moved from a rambling, 4 bedroomed house to a tiny 2-bed bungalow.
My husband is the sort of hoarder they make TV programmes about and had, literally, rooms piled up with "stuff". I was a collector of vases and jugs, many of which were displayed on any available space, plus I still had all the assorted pictures and bric à brac bequeathed to me on my father's death. Most of it had to go!

I packed up my precious collection and took it to a charity shop some distance away (I couldn't bear the thought of passing a local shop and seeing my stuff in the window; I might be tempted to buy it back!). It was a fantastically liberating experience! Looking at the empty space I'd created filled me with enthusiasm for getting rid of more clutter and, gradually, good stuff went to charity shops or Freegle; junk went to the tip and a modest core of stuff to keep moved with us.

I love living clutter free and OH is getting used to it. He has a 2-car garage to accommodate 1 car and his man-cave stuff but no more piles of stuff in the house. Storage space is restricted so, generally, something new coming in means something else has to go. All I can add is that I wish we'd done it years ago!

Hello and what a marvellous idea to move to London! I downsized three years ago from a big four bedroom house with an enormous garden to a two bedroom flat with a balcony. Decluttering took ages. I found Marie Kondo’s book “The Life-changing habit of tidying” tremendously useful, especially in tackling the emotional side of getting rid of stuff. I bought a tall, narrow glass display cabinet from a shop that was closing down, and I put anything I couldn’t bear to part with in there- it’s like a little “cabinet of curiosities.” Everything else went to charity shops, and my daughters also came to a couple of car boot sales with me, which were fun! Like Scribbles, I found the decluttering liberating, and it’s made me more careful about buying stuff since(although not clothes, I have a real problem with clothes!) Good luck with your move!

I did the same, a year ago, from a 4 bedroom to a 1 bedroom. There is nothing I miss , I have only kept the things I needed and a few sentimental items. It is so liberating and when you have to actually think about each item it is surprising how little "stuff" means to you. I do think as you get older one realises that things have little value compared to people and memories. My new house is so easy to keep clean and tidy now.

Sounds such a lovely idea. I am sooo jealous. You wont have time for all the clutter and dusting. You'll be too busy going to interesting concerts and art galleries, theatre etc. Not to mention seeing family. Personally when I pluck up courage to get rid of some stuff I always feel better. I never regret or miss it. Be choosy about what you hang on to. And I wish you lots of happy years in your new home. The start of a new era ?

Thank you so much for all your encouraging replies. I was never a hoarder...why on earth do I need three coffee sets with tiny cups, all the rage in the 70s but never used! It is certainly my intention to use this new flat just as a base for all my days out, I want to make the most of my life while I am still fit and active enough. I have also decided I am allergic to housework. I have been cleaning and dusting for days now to get the house presentable for potential viewers and my eyes are sore and red and I can't stop sneezing, a reaction to dust or bleach or a bit of both! So, the less housework the better!
Thank you so much for all your good wishes.

Having recently downsized considerably, I find it really quite liberating. Difficult to do, and I know I’ve made some mistakes, but not many.

Take the jump .... your reasons for doing so tick all the right boxes. What a wonderful opportunity.

You’ll be too busy to miss the old nick-nacks!

I have downsized once or twice.

It is important to be ruthless when de-cluttering although I do admit to having given things away to charity and finding later on that I wished I still had them! Not very often though in all seriousness.

In general, I found it cathartic to get rid of many things and start afresh.

I wish you well in your new life. Lots of people wouldn't have your courage.

As has been mentioned,de cluttering is so cathartic.
Not only in your case are you getting rid of stuff you will never use but you are helping Charities if you give the items to be sold in Charity Shops.
Greater London is the place to be when one is getting older.
Free travel -even on the Underground.
Lots of wonderful places to visit -often free.
(Check out "Ian visits" )
As you see by my pseudonym I am not from Greater London but it is a wonderful place to live and you will be near to your grandchildren too.
Win -win situation .
All the best to you

Marie Kondo has some great tips for decluttering.

Keep things that bring you joy. Liberate the rest. (and yourself!)

konmari.com/

Good luck with your new adventure op.

A couple of years ago, when we were having some building work done to our house, I cleared out as much as I could to boxes and crates in the large shed at the bottom of the garden. A few months ago I went to get something for my grandson, and found all this stuff I had once thought I couldn't part with - it turns out - I hadn't missed any of it at all. So perhaps start by putting things into storage, then, a few months after you've settled in to your new place go through your stored stuff to whittle down further.

You'll feel liberated. Why spend time cleaning bric-a-brac and ornaments that no-one really makes comment on when visiting? Dust gatherers.
My view is that it dates you. Side tables piled with knick-nacks and display cabinets and shelves with figurines and useless Capodimonte (sp) flowers etc. Sell the old and streamline your new home. Less is more.

We did it 8ys ago and it’s very liberating Streaky - we took only what we really loved, bought new furniture and never regretted it. Less housework, less heating & decorating expense, more time to go out & about! If you have items you feel sentimental about that have to go for whatever reason, take photographs of them. That helps as on a rainy afternoon it’s quite nice to look back on them. Good luck, it all sounds wonderful!

Lancslass
London is one place I wouldn't be banging the drum for.

Streaky.
How long is a piece of string? What do you think you will need in your one bed accommodation ?Your reason for moving is to be near your family and the facilities in the area you are moving to means you may not be spending that much time in your new home. I feel you should put items in storage you are undecided about, get rid of the rest, and whittle down the ones you have saved once you are settled into your new home.

I downsized when my 3 all left home .... however, they all kept coming back at various times, then grandchildren came along so I ended up “ upsizing “ !! I did have mass clear outs, some of which I did regret, so def store stuff you are unsure of, maybe in AC attics ??

streaky if I was in your position I would do just the same - good luck with it.

You don't like London GabriellaG? Or just don't fancy living there?

Our memories remain within our heads and travel with us no matter where we are and stuff is merely just that, stuff. Downsizing for a much better existence is a liberation itself. Don't be sad, just do it. I moved country twice and brought my stuff backwards and forwards with me, they never left the packing cases until I decided enough was enough. My local church benefited big time and was delighted with the extra cash it all raised. Good luck and enjoy every minute of your new life.

We downsized massively many years ago. The auction guys came round to see if there was anything worth selling; other stuff we disposed of through freecycle, charity shops and finally the tip. I found it totally liberating and was amazed by how much stuff we had accumulated over the years. Saying goodbye to the house was hard but we've never looked back. I hope your move is successful.

Scribbles, taking stuff to charity shops away from your area doesn't always work how you think. Most charities disperse donations to other areas from where they are handed in e.g. where they are most likely to sell so you may well have seen your stuff back in your area. Hope all goes well with your move.

I have lived in London for decades and I hated it at first but now really enjoy its benefits as stated above.

If you move to Sutton or Croydon (don't know about the other boroughs) you will get free swimming too!!

Your London freedom pass will take you on the tube to Amersham (through countryside) and you can bus it down to Brighton for free - my friend and I make the day trip to Birling Gap (near Eastbourne) and back nearly every June.

We are coming up to London Open House - another free event here. And actually you will not have enough time to explore London and its surroundings.

Regarding downsizing I have to say that the Charities can throw away a lot of stuff even though they appear grateful when you take it in.

There are ways of disposing of stuff while making sure it is re-used and not scrapped. If you can visit a local toy fair you will find the stall holders there will take the models for free - they will be really pleased. Try not to think of them as dealers but as people who re-home things. I can assure you (being one) that none of them drive Rollers!

In London several railway stations now have free book swaps and as far as I can see nothing ever gets binned. I once left a biography of a not very well known Norwegian (written in Norwegian) in Sutton station and it did take 4 months to go! Probably you have more readable books to give away?

Good luck with the move - get lots of rest.

Freecycle is a good route to go - when we moved there were folk who were delighted with then things they took away.

Get rid of bric a brac.