DOWNSIZING
The time had come! There were no little children running through the house, no teenage boys listening to their music, no girls gathered in my daughter’s room, and no mother to enjoy her grandchildren. Even my husband had moved to a care home, and I was living on my own for the first time in my life. I didn’t need a house and a yard to look after. It was time to move into a condo or an apartment. But… what do I do with all my stuff!? 83 years of collecting things! How could I fit all that into a small apartment? My thoughts of moving began in February, 2019, and didn’t materialize until the end of August, 2019. I had to divide my things into 3 groups – Keep, Donate and Discard.
KEEP – It was hard sometimes to decide whether I really needed some items and, after I moved, I discovered some things did not fit in the new place, or were not necessary. Unfortunately, Grandma’s silverware and my mother’s china competed with my own silverware and china, so my wedding trousseau won out.
DONATE – I used 3 charitable organizations who collect items, although generally not furniture – Big Brothers, Diabetes Canada and Developmental Disabilities Association. You can go online, arrange a pick up at a certain day and time, and leave your items outside your door. The Salvation Army and the Lions Gate Thrift Shop on West 15th St. take donations, but you have to deliver them to the stores. In 2019, I donated things to the St. Agnes Anglican Church’s Fall Fair. I also donated Mum’s bone china, crystal glass and other fancy dishes, and Grandma’s silverware to Highlands United Church’s Fall Fayre.
You can put items on Craig’s List. You can sell your items, but I usually found I did not get a response unless I offered them for free. It would depend on how valuable and/or popular your items are.
There are consignment stores, like Echo, that will take bone china, crystal glass and silverware, but they might not be interested, if they already have enough in stock. It seems the younger generation are only interested in dishes that can go in the microwave and dishwasher. Because of this, fancy china and crystal are not in demand, and I have seen several of these items in the Lions Gate Thrift Shop.
DISCARD – There are always things that have seen better days. You can take small or electronic items to the Return-It depot or larger items to the Transfer Station. If they’re too big for your car, you can contact a disposal company to get rid of them for you. I was given the name of someone who, as a sideline to his musical digs, takes items to the Transfer Station for a reasonable fee. If you’re interested, email admin@gbrra.org and I’ll have him contact you.
Marilyn