Hi soul mate Paul. I have just put my house on the market it sold in 1 day GULP. I moved in here with my husband in 1991. After he died in october I know i have to move its all too big for me. I am buying a one bed bungalow.
I came with him and leaving with him. Memories are in your heart and mind not in bricks and mortar. A house is just that a house. Who occupies it with you is what matters.
My hubby bless him is coming with me in his little casket. I have my memories and photos.
to say i was scared is and understatement. BUT he has guided me its a long story.
Anyway in 2016 I learnt a lot about STUFF we collect.
My mum died in february 2016 and we had to empty her lovely house she had lived in for years and years. What do you take, what do you get rid of. It was HEARTBREAKING to see all that stuff she had lovingly collected all those years. Those were HER MEMORIES. Not ours. Yes we saw them when we visited but each piece she knew where it came from or why it came.
There are six of us and we took what we could because it was mostly habit to see.
I ended up with photo albums way back to when my dad was a baby. What i have done is have had all the good photos scanned it took ages with people helping me, and everyone of my siblings got copies on the computer.
We all kept a piece of something she loved and knew about.
Everything else just went. Charity shops etc. ALL THAT STUFF just gone.
BUT it doesnt lessen the memories of her not at all. I can still see her sitting in her favorite chair, and dad on his. (He died in 1997).
All those memories are in my mind and heart.
So on that note since my hubby died i have stripped each room, all his grown up children have been offered memories of him, his cups he won driving etc, items of clothing he loved, his favorite shirt he loved is now a cushion and will come with me, and over the months, my house has been stripped of all stuff. The only thing left now is my clothing and household items and a few things I have collected and loved and the girls have already been given all my jewellery which i never wear now anyway, what is left is going with me.
When i leave this house I will look back on it as a home i shared with my hubby, he has gone now and all our memories will be coming with me.
I am EXCITED actually to start a new life for myself. I will be surrounded by the love of my family and by all my memories of my mum and dad, and my hubby and I will remember all the fun i had in my house by looking through photos if i need too.
I am hoping to make new memories.
I have been sorting the house since october, trying to do it in one go is way too hard.
Just take the things which are special to you.
I would get a packers in to do the rest. If you have friends and family have a packing party.
GOOD LUCK on your new move, ITS A NEW BEGINNING not an ending hun. xxxxxxxxxxx