In a message dated 7/13/2007 3:53:38 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

Indeed, the point is that if it means something to you, then you are  still 
alive.   My parents had the kind of collection you are  describing, National 
Geographics, slot head screws, etc., and the point  of it all seemed to be to 
facilitate a sense of optimism based on hope  for time and energy to "do 
something" with all the stuff, implying  a future.   The stuff symbolized their 
future life, and kept  them active and eager for each next day.   They both died 
with  active minds.
 
But, when they died and my brother and I had to deal with all the stuff,  the 
public values became clearly different from the private  values.   After all 
the "good stuff" was bought by antique dealers  and "useful stuff" was taken 
by the Sally Ann and Value Village, we filled two  giant dumpsters with 8-1/2 
tons of stuff for the land-fill  dump.  Absolutely nobody would take any of 
that stuff.   It was shocking to see how much that little salt-box house 
supported  when it was measured by the weigh scale at the city dump.   Most of  it was 
the "project for a rainy day" stuff.
 
My model of good life planning is our old family doctor and his wife  who inte
ntionally downsized progressively as they aged and diminished in  physical 
abilities.  They said quite clearly that their "stuff" was their  problem and 
not their children's, and that they were taking responsibility for  it at the 
proper times as their life shifted gears.
 
 
cp in bc



Talk about the good news and the bad news.......
 
Ralph



************************************** Get a sneak peak of the all-new AOL at 
http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

--
To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
<http://listserv.icors.org/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>