Re: hobby electronics

On 7/9/2024 6:41 PM, Don Y wrote:

I am only scanning in my collection of fiction books.  Sorting
them should be relatively easy, although my daughter is also
a reader, so she might have a problem sorting out the ones she
wants to keep.

 Do you really think she will want to spend that time when she
also has your sudden "malady" weighing on her mind?
 I've watched many friends/neighbors moved into assisted care
(or worse, "memory care") facilities.  Leaving their "stuff"
and "home" behind is very traumatic for them.  Esp as they
often have delayed that transition to a point where adjusting
to a new environment (new friends, etc.) is exceedingly
difficult.
 The woman two doors down made that transition a few years
ago -- at the insistence of her children (cuz she was
unable to take care of her own physical needs).  Because
her mind had deteriorated a fair bit, she was unable to
process the fact that she was no longer in "her" home which
just added to her confusion.
 Another friend delayed that transition until a few months before
(unexpectedly) dying.  Leaving her husband to deal with the
loss of their long-term "dream home" (and possessions) on top
of her death.
 The folks across the street just moved east -- to enjoy the
cold winters?  They will similarly discover that their memories
of what life WAS like, back there, won't serve them well.  And,
their bodies won't be as able to deal with iced sidewalks,
cold/rainy weather, experiencing the deaths of their old friends
"first hand" (vs. getting an email about someone's passing),
the added chores consequential to life, there, etc.  This on top
of having to liquidate their home (possessions) of 40 years, here.
 I'm not keen on finding myself (or SWMBO after my demise) in
a similarly traumatic "adjustment".  To that end, I can afford
to rid myself of dead trees, paper financial/business records,
test equipment, etc.
 "What do I *need* this for, at this point in my life?"
 YMMV.  But don't underestimate the impact it will have on
those around you!
 

My position is different from those you mentioned.  My
daughter lives in a rented house, while I live mortgage
free.  20 years ago when my brother died I made a vow
not to collect 'stuff'.  I have been through the house
several times trying to get rid of 'stuff'.  It is of
course a losing battle, but when I die I will not leave
huge lots of stuff cluttering up the house.  My daughter's
main problem in that regard is deciding how to merge
her furnishings into my house.  Hopefully she will be
able to just make the cut and then call the Salvation
Army to take away what she doesn't need.  And she has,
unfortunately, just been through that experience.  Her
boy friend died and she had to separate his stuff from
her stuff and get it appropriately dispersed.
So her big problem will be sorting my library, and she
will be happy to have a lot of the books.  Sorting them
will be a chore, but not one that, hopefully, will
call out a lot of memories.
Which doesn't mean that she won't be distressed by my
passing, it just means that I will try to leave as
little for her to do as I can.
Bill