[Sara65] About accumulating lots of stuff - having had to clear out both my Mum's house after she died, I can firmly say that I do not want my son having to do the same for me.
Mum had lots of knick knacks - crystal ornaments, porcelain collectibles, decorative plates on almost every wall,not to mention a vast collection of glassware (a set of glasses for every conceivable style of drink - wine, champagne, sherry, brandy, port, martini, etc etc, even babycham glasses!). It took weeks to go through everything and find an alternative home for it all. Some items went to family members, some donated,
I ended up keeping certain ornaments not because I liked them, but because I knew that Mum liked them. My house started to become cluttered as a result. And when we decided we would be moving and I started to box up our possessions, I realised that, eventually, our son would have to deal with it all. I didn't want that, so started making inroads into downsizing.
I like to think that everything we let go is now owned by someone who is appreciating and using it, instead of being stuffed in a cupboard collecting dust and being considered clutter. I still have some sentimental items and old pieces of jewellery,but I plan on passing them to my Granddaughter when she is old enough.
I reckon that if the worst happened, it would take just one day to clear out our house now and I intend to keep it that way. For someone who had for a long time measured success in terms of material things, this is a whole new lease of life. And I love it!