Downsizing big time!

I think I must be the only one who upsized when DH retired, we doubled the size of the house so we could have our own space if needed and a bedroom each for GC ?

Streaky, I agree with others who have found this liberating. When we moved 6 years ago now after 30+ years in our family house, we just took what we wanted, the ACs took what we wanted and got a house clearance company to take the rest.
I can honestly say that I have never missed anything. We'd just built up years of 'stuff' and hung on to it for no particular reason. Enjoy your new busy life.

London is great place to live. Most boroughs have got libraries & good leisure facilities, we have 4 pools where swimming is free to over 60’s.
Lots of lovely parks & gardens to visit too.
The hospitals are centres of excellence often trialing cutting edge treatments.
Loads of cinemas that do Senior special sessions.
Try joining a local U3A or W. E. A group, they often have lunch groups.
It’s really a series of villages, just loads of them.
Welcome to London, you will have a great time. X

I chose what I needed for the new place then persuaded one SIL to organise a garage sale for the rest, proceeds went to charity, a few posters locally to advertise, most things went and raised over £1000. Rest to the tip.

grannypauline
The charity shop where I volunteer sells at least 10 sacks a week to the 'rag' company.
We take everything

Lancslass1
Where I hope to move to in Sidcup, there is apparently a very good U3A with various groups which do visits to London, one is for Freedom Pass holders, another concentrates on galleries, museums etc and another is called Potpourri! There are also walking groups which do London walks. I am looking forward to joining in with some of these. Is there not one where you live?

Lancslassl,

Thank you for the link to Ian Visits. I have lived in London since 1984 but did not know about that site. Really a good one. I intend to make some visits before the cold weather sets in. I wish there was a social group which visited places together and lunches etc.

I can understand that GabriellaG. I suppose an alternative would be a small village close to London. I love where I live but going to the theatre or orchestra is a big trip. I feel if I lived closer to Belfast I would do it more. And as I get older it will be even more of an issue.

Yes LMT49 I wish it worked like facebook.

That message was to Urmstongram - new to this, thought it would slot in under your post, not miles away from it like this!

What a good idea about taking photos of loved items that have to go - my reluctance to get rid of stuff in part stems from it’s ability to trigger memories (mine’s not so good now!), but this would be a win-win situation! Thank you ?

When we downsized, I cried buckets, no - lakes, disposing of stuff. Gave most of it away, charity shops, etc., sold a few precious pieces of furniture at auction [a mistake as the commission was almost more than the value of the items sold!].

We felt totally liberated after moving!

Be brave and liberation will come.

We downsized five years ago and only kept things that really had sentimental value or were useful and our favourite books.

We haven't regretted it, or missed any of the things we had bought on impulse through the years.

Just don't persuade yourself to part with things that really mean a lot to you.

My way of - inadvertently- decluttering is to drop or chip all my most precious stuff.

annep

I worked in the City for many years but then the crush on trains, tube and bus queues plus the escalating crime and daylight robberies not to mention stabbings and acid attacks et al, put me right off. I retired and can't imagine wanting to spend hours in a queue to get in the RA, museums or the like.
I live in a small town in Surrey which has excellent transport links and the broader area has most High Street chains plus great dining. Anything else you can buy online from London stores.
I do miss Monmouth for my daily shot and the markets, especially Borough Market. Ce'st la vie.

Yes I downsized last year and moved to Edinburgh. Some of my things I was sorry to see go, but it’s gone now and I don’t even think about it. It’s quite exhilarating to declutter all my stuff. In fact, I’m still doing it and got rid of more things that I thought I would need.

Hi, It's great to get rid of stuff so please enjoy the experience. Take photos go anything that you are getting rid of but have an attachment to then you will always have the "memory jogger" which is why I think we often keep things. Enjoy London its a great city to have on your doorstep.

We downsized from a large 4 bed to a 2 bed Park Home almost 7 years ago, got rid of a lot of furniture only taking essentials with us but took everything else as we had a shed & a garage. Gradually we sorted through boxes & got rid of a lot more "stuff".

After DH died I downsized again, most things & furniture went into storage as I hadn't bought anywhere to live. I was moving closer to DD so I stayed with them for a couple of weeks & then rented a holiday flat. Luckily I found my new home, 1 bed Park Home with no storage. With help from DD we got rid of anything I didn't need, Car Boot, Charity shop & tip also DD sold some large items locally.

I still have a lot of "clutter", I have 2 display cases for my collection of Lilliput Lane Cottages (many were presents from DH). I kept a few keepsakes & photos. I have a lot of my pictures on the walls, I'll never have a minimalist home but I have less possessions now.

I found it hard to part with a lot of my kitchen items, I've kept what I need & can store in my small kitchen, DD took a lot of my larger items.

I wouldn't have moved into London for anything, we lived within the M25 (not quite within Greater London), we moved to Somerset & after I was widowed I moved to a small Town in Devon, total bliss

How nice of your son to do that Kim.

Thank you so much for all your helpful and supportive comments! They have helped me put things in perspective and concentrate on a new start looking to the future and not back at the past. I have ordered a library copy of the book which was recommended so I look forward to being inspired by that and moving on with my life.
Many thanks

I can understand your concern. I enlisted the help of a very good friend who made me ask 'do I need this?', 'would somebody else like it?', etc, and then helped me choose the pieces that I loved most and what meant most to me. Also don't get rid of stuff too quickly. Good luck with your move.

My friend who moved to a one person flat in greater London enjoys her life especially the free travel and all the activities she does including the Womens Institute.

Its hard down sizing but it makes you thing what is important. You take photos of stuff that you decide you can't take with you but will miss and then once your start your new life you will find that all is well.

When we downsized from a 4 bed big family house to move abroad 20yrs ago we held car boots sales for 5 weeks before we moved out and made many £s from the "stuff" we had collected over the years everyone liked what they bought and I was so pleased that our possessions where going to good places.
We now live in a one bedroomed bungalow with just our favourite bits and bobs which mean a lot to us.
We have never missed all our other possessions in any way but remember them with affection.

I had a loft jammed packed full of 'stuff'. I asked my son if he would completely empty it whilst I went away for the weekend. He duly did so and in all these years I've only ever wondered about two items. Had I been in attendance I would have been unable to part with much of it under the heading of 'memories' or 'might come in handy'. Total rubbish. In my case this hoarding has much to do with deprivation (material not love) in childhood. I'm getting better but it certainly is a work in progress and the rejoicing after each disposal is wonderful.

I say go for it Streaky. When my husband left I had to sell a 4 bedroom villa. I got a 2 bedroom flat for 2 teenagers and myself. I had to get rid of accumulation of 20 years of family living n a short time. It was very difficult, but with both my girls married I moved from the flat in a small Perthshire town to an even smaller 1 bedroom cottage in a city. That's 13 years ago and I've never regretted it for one moment. 3 years ago I rescued a small West highland terrier and I'm so happy, that I'll see my life out here. I have a little clutter to clear out and my girls won't have trouble clearing what is left. Just think there is less to clean and dust in a smaller place too. Hope you get on well in your future move.