Stuff and more stuff -Stress?

[Notayurt]

A newspaper column got me thinking about stress and moving. The article was about moving from an old familiar home to a newly purchased one. But what about the stress from moving an old familiar home to a recreational vehicle—a moving home?

Closing down a “sticks and bricks” house and moving into a 36 foot long RV presents stressful challenges Setting aside the imagined stresses of mechanical breakdowns, blowouts, collisions, and wrong turns—the stress of moving into tiny living quarters isn't imagined; it's real and present.

Should I pack or sell a Le Creuset Dutch oven, cherished musical instruments, or countless other precious possessions? Do I need this? Do I use this? What is useful and truly important, and what is “stuff?”

Books? From college? Stuff. All of them? Well, maybe not the Riverside Shakespeare. But I haven't opened it in 17 years.

Cookbooks? All? Well, maybe keep two; the others? Stuff. Sure about that? Will I really prepare fancy cookbook recipes while on the road in an RV kitchen?

On and on, through closets, drawers, curios and shelves – stuff and more stuff.

It gets easier, slogging through, but it's not easy. Regrets, second thoughts, fatigue—all amplify the stress in the countless decisions. But it is worth putting up with the roller coaster emotions to reach the end.

Is it the end? On the road I've found that one-third of the things I brought along aren't used all that much, if used at all.

Wow. Who knew I still had all this stuff?

[Oneeyedjacks]

I can empathize with your situation as I'm going through that right now. After 30 years in the Air Force collecting "stuff" I will soon find myself living on the road in an RV starting life over.. Just roll with it--it is what it is. Good luck.

[momdoc]

We are in a similar situation. Most of the stuff we can do without and lucky for us here in the Caribbean most homes are sold furnished so most of the "stuff" stays. The things we cannot "do with out" we will put into a small storage unit (U-Haul) back in the states. The rest is just stuff. We are a nation of the overstuffed!
We also have found that things we brought to or bought for the RV we are no using. So at the end of the last trip we gave lots of more stuff away.


momdoc

[MSHappyCampers]

I can imagine what you're going through! We hope to be doing that by the end of the year. I don't look forward to it!

[JohnCheryl]

When we sold the Sticks and bricks last year we got rid of anything that wouldn't fit in the TT we had at the time. It was definitely not an easy thing to do but we were determined not to pay for storage somewhere we were never planning on going back to. We have since upgraded to a 5-er and it's nice to have storage spaces that aren't stuffed to the max.

[gruelens]

Most folks choose not to get rid of all of their stuff in the beginning of fulltiming. I know soooo many RVers that kept some stuff and paid storage fees. Somewhere 3-5 years later, you realize that it is just "stuff". You return back and sell the stuff. Often you don't even recover storage and traveling costs. We did the above, only thankfully had free storage for our beloved "stuff" before we parted ways with it. All the best.

[RE_Farmer]

Here is rural KS there are farm auctions all the time. Sometimes called estate or retirement or moving sales. Quite likely, while they're not held as often as here, there are similar estate sale auctions in more urban venues.

Much of my farm "stuff" was acquired through someone else's auction, and that and more will be "moved" to the winning bidder's farm/home. So, at least for my auction-squired "stuff", I'll likely break even. Other things...well the right bidder will get some good bargains. Either way it will clear the way for us to start FT RV'ing and be done with in just a couple long days' work - at least once we've decided what goes with us in the MH.

[Mr_D]

My wife died in August, leaving me with a houseful of stuff. Some of my sons stuff, some of my parents stuff, some of Cindy's parents stuff, some of her deceased daughters stuff, then there's the business inventory and our stuff of 30 years. Oh yes, the over 150 Hummels and the display cases they're in.

[easywind]

George Carlin did the worlds greatest bit about "stuff" watch it on youtube, It will relieve your stress through laughter.
Enjoy

[FreshAir]

This thread gave me an idea. Maybe I'll practice planning on going full time so that I can get rid of all the unneeded stuff/junk I have been collecting and don't have room for. It prevents me from finding the stuff I actually need. And when I get rid of it I can then say, "changed my mind."
Pat

[Gordon Dewald]

IMO there is a vacuum created by empty spots on any shelf, in any drawer or closet or any other space that is not occupied. It "demands" that you purchase something to place in it.

Very few people can resist the vacuum. We must be part Ferangi!

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Gordon Dewald

IMO there is a vacuum created by empty spots on any shelf, in any drawer or closet or any other space that is not occupied. It "demands" that you purchase something to place in it.

Very few people can resist the vacuum. We must be part Ferangi!

Well,darn it, that is a very good point which I've never considered before and may explain the situation I'm in now. Very good. Interesting. But! you've stumped on I might be part "Ferangi"? Maybe I don't want to know and shouldn't ask.

[NLOVNIT]

We too have 30+ years of purchased & inherited "stuff" we're going to have to get rid of soon in preparation to retire. From friends that've downsized, either to a smaller place or to be fulltime RV'rs, I've heard them say it's hard to get started but quite freeing once it's all gone & so simple to live with less. I've spent a lot of time on Early-Retirement.org (a sister site to iRV2) trying to learn how to let go of cherished possessions. Right now it seems quite daunting. Many here have walked that road & I hope I can do it.


On the side note: Ferengi were a fictional race in Star Trek: The Next Generation. They were obsessed with acquiring things & making money.

Lori-

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT

We too have 30+ years of purchased & inherited "stuff" we're going to have to get rid of soon in preparation to retire. From friends that've downsized, either to a smaller place or to be fulltime RV'rs, I've heard them say it's hard to get started but quite freeing once it's all gone & so simple to live with less. I've spent a lot of time on Early-Retirement.org (a sister site to iRV2) trying to learn how to let go of cherished possessions. Right now it seems quite daunting. Many here have walked that road & I hope I can do it.


On the side note: Ferengi were a fictional race in Star Trek: The Next Generation. They were obsessed with acquiring things & making money.

Lori-

Your correct as it can be a daunting task to let go of cherished possessions but my dilemma is I seem to have a lot of non-cherished stuff.

BTW, i'll now sleep tonight with not having think about what a Ferengi is. Thank's, Webster didn't know either. However, I resemble that in some ways except I am good at the acquiring but not at making the money.

"Ferengi", I won't forget that.