You better be carefull of what you throw away...old boys like that squirrel away money in the strangest places. He left you a treasure hunt.
My Dad was a packrat! This is what we cleared out of his house!
- Thread starter Wyatt Burp
- Start date
You better be carefull of what you throw away...old boys like that squirrel away money in the strangest places. He left you a treasure hunt.
BLACKHAWKNJ
Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2006
- Messages
- 6,228
- Reaction score
- 6,708
I'd be more concerned about 2nd and 3rd mortgages and home equity loans and finding that all you've inherited is a pile of debt.
tyusclan
Member
I'm a semi-packrat. I'm not bad about hoarding useless junk, but I do have a hard time getting rid of something that could be useful. I've broken down a few times a thrown something away that I hadn't used in a while, and wound up having to go buy one two weeks later. I hate that.
I have an acquaintance that is a MAJOR packrat. He has literally acres of junk on his place. He told his son recently that it was taking most of his retirement income to live, and he wasn't gonna be able to leave him much money. The son said, "That's all right, Dad. Just leave me the junk pile." Gave him a warm feeling to hear that.
I have an acquaintance that is a MAJOR packrat. He has literally acres of junk on his place. He told his son recently that it was taking most of his retirement income to live, and he wasn't gonna be able to leave him much money. The son said, "That's all right, Dad. Just leave me the junk pile." Gave him a warm feeling to hear that.
alde
Member
When my FIL passed away my BIL was in charge of the estate. He sold anything of value he didn't want, kept what he wanted and gave my wife what he didn't want that had no cash value. My wife did't even have a shot at any cherished items that she would have liked. The BIL had the FIL declared incompetent and made it so that if my wife contested anything she would get nothing. The BIL is a real piece of work. You can't choose family I guess.
Spotteddog
Member
Alde,
Since my sister was widowed 5 years ago (the downside of marrying a guy 20 years her senior) perhaps the BIL of yours would like an E-Harmony intro to my sis? Sounds as though they'd get along swimmingly.
Since my sister was widowed 5 years ago (the downside of marrying a guy 20 years her senior) perhaps the BIL of yours would like an E-Harmony intro to my sis? Sounds as though they'd get along swimmingly.
rburg
Member
All these sad stories. Most families have bad apples who work nights as vultures. Time for a better story. Please excuse the tense of once removed....
There was this poster at a gun forum. He has a wife who doubles as an RN and an easy mark, kind of. She had an elderly aunt who was dying 2 autumn's ago. So the wifey split to care for the generous aunt who was rapidly declining. Sure enough, the end came. There was a modest but nice estate. It was being split 4 ways, among the nieces and nephew. All was well, and it was divided pretty fairly, with the above mentioned posters wife traveling to the place, LV, both to care for the auntie and then clean up the place to sell. Some carping and bickering from those who did nothing (the expected.)
The one series of events of interest here (and to me) was that one of the 4 parties had passed away already. So his quarter was being divided between his very responsible daughter and then the son, who'd apparently had some drug problems and was known for his irresponsibility. All kinds of behind the scenes plotting was considered to not give the irresponsible one his fair share. It wasn't greed, it was the fear he'd just blow it. So when the time came, he insisted, then demanded his due. Everyone was disgusted with him (and mad at him.) But he got his first installment.
I'm guessing it was a bit over $20,000 (good guess.) The next day the reputed druggie/drunk split the scene. Didn't tell anyone where he was going or why. His business, and he was justifiably mad at them for their plotting. Gone for 3 months, assumed to be partying and trying to see how much abuse a person could take.
Then one day he reappeared. He'd quit his job when he got his money, and was actively looking and found a job. He seemed happy. Any questions about how he spent his cash were ignored and rebuffed. His life, stay out of it.
Forward to the near past. The responsible sister was getting married. One minor problem, she decided to go all out, getting hitched on a cruise, but inviting everyone to go to (at their own expense, of course.) Brother declined. A little upset it wasn't being held anywhere near where the mass of the family lived, and refused to spend that kind of money. Eventually the questions kept coming about how he'd wasted his first installment of his inheritance. It finally came out. He checked himself into a rehab clinic for the 3 months.
So the poster of gun stories found a new respect for the nephew. His inheritance, his choice, well spent in my opinion.
Just as we probably shouldn't infringe on others privacy, we do need to allow freedom. Both for the living who enjoy their junk, and for those who get the stuff.
A very good argument could be made that I have no conceivable use for all the guns I own. Or the knives, or the ammo. Hell, you could say I have no "right" to own that many spoons, or ribbons, or embroidery thread.... But my wife and I enjoy our stuff. And the guns say no one had better try to take it from us! Once a few years ago my wife was even teasing me when I imposed on her to embroider a half dozen golf towels for a friend. She whined I was giving all of her stuff away (I'd just bought her about a thousand of them on closeout.)
The fact is, its our exercise of freedom. The same forces of evil that would prevent me from owning another gun would also impose upon me to "share the wealth" by giving my goodies to someone too lazy or sorry to acquire them when they could.
There was this poster at a gun forum. He has a wife who doubles as an RN and an easy mark, kind of. She had an elderly aunt who was dying 2 autumn's ago. So the wifey split to care for the generous aunt who was rapidly declining. Sure enough, the end came. There was a modest but nice estate. It was being split 4 ways, among the nieces and nephew. All was well, and it was divided pretty fairly, with the above mentioned posters wife traveling to the place, LV, both to care for the auntie and then clean up the place to sell. Some carping and bickering from those who did nothing (the expected.)
The one series of events of interest here (and to me) was that one of the 4 parties had passed away already. So his quarter was being divided between his very responsible daughter and then the son, who'd apparently had some drug problems and was known for his irresponsibility. All kinds of behind the scenes plotting was considered to not give the irresponsible one his fair share. It wasn't greed, it was the fear he'd just blow it. So when the time came, he insisted, then demanded his due. Everyone was disgusted with him (and mad at him.) But he got his first installment.
I'm guessing it was a bit over $20,000 (good guess.) The next day the reputed druggie/drunk split the scene. Didn't tell anyone where he was going or why. His business, and he was justifiably mad at them for their plotting. Gone for 3 months, assumed to be partying and trying to see how much abuse a person could take.
Then one day he reappeared. He'd quit his job when he got his money, and was actively looking and found a job. He seemed happy. Any questions about how he spent his cash were ignored and rebuffed. His life, stay out of it.
Forward to the near past. The responsible sister was getting married. One minor problem, she decided to go all out, getting hitched on a cruise, but inviting everyone to go to (at their own expense, of course.) Brother declined. A little upset it wasn't being held anywhere near where the mass of the family lived, and refused to spend that kind of money. Eventually the questions kept coming about how he'd wasted his first installment of his inheritance. It finally came out. He checked himself into a rehab clinic for the 3 months.
So the poster of gun stories found a new respect for the nephew. His inheritance, his choice, well spent in my opinion.
Just as we probably shouldn't infringe on others privacy, we do need to allow freedom. Both for the living who enjoy their junk, and for those who get the stuff.
A very good argument could be made that I have no conceivable use for all the guns I own. Or the knives, or the ammo. Hell, you could say I have no "right" to own that many spoons, or ribbons, or embroidery thread.... But my wife and I enjoy our stuff. And the guns say no one had better try to take it from us! Once a few years ago my wife was even teasing me when I imposed on her to embroider a half dozen golf towels for a friend. She whined I was giving all of her stuff away (I'd just bought her about a thousand of them on closeout.)
The fact is, its our exercise of freedom. The same forces of evil that would prevent me from owning another gun would also impose upon me to "share the wealth" by giving my goodies to someone too lazy or sorry to acquire them when they could.
BarbC
Member
We have a "letter of instruction" from my dad and it goes something along these lines:
The key to the safe deposit box is in the padlocked cabinet, the combination to which is √2916 -- (4³-10) -- x + 9 = 18 - 2x. In the safe deposit box, you will find a scrap of paper with the name of our lawyer, written as an anagram. Go to the lawyer and ask for the file entitled "Estate". In the file you will see several folders. Ignore all of them except for the one marked with the correct date and time of the last solar eclipse. In that folder, you will find the name of our stockbroker. At the stockbroker's office, they have on file a consent to have you co-sign the account after you submit a verified DNA sample.
Last edited:
glasseye 44
US Veteran
You learn the true character of you'r family members after settling a couple of estates.
BLACKHAWKNJ
Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2006
- Messages
- 6,228
- Reaction score
- 6,708
I am a Packrat, though I have been getting better. Some years ago I made a neighborhood kid happy when I gave him TWO complete sets of the McDonald's "Flintstones" mugs. But again, look up the Collyer brothers, that's me.
Depends on what is left behind and if it's organized. When Rudy Vallee died in 1986 he left a huge collection of theater and show business memorabilia to one of the universities-items going back to the 1920s, rare items, posters, opening night playbills, etc.
Depends on what is left behind and if it's organized. When Rudy Vallee died in 1986 he left a huge collection of theater and show business memorabilia to one of the universities-items going back to the 1920s, rare items, posters, opening night playbills, etc.
alde
Member
I wouldn't wish him on anybody. All he cares about is money and himself. Of course, who does he call when he needs something? I'm always there to lend a hand with my truck or my labor when he asks. My wife too. We just can't be like that. We also believe in Karma. What comes around goes around
.Spotteddog
Member
You misunderstood me my friend?
The idea WAS Karmic.
I was just trying to function as the universe's conduit?
They seem perfectly matched, further descriptions convince me more with your every key stroke!
The idea WAS Karmic.
I was just trying to function as the universe's conduit?
They seem perfectly matched, further descriptions convince me more with your every key stroke!
alde
Member
Maybe they are a perfect match. But he is saving every penny for his son that is just like him. The fruit dosen't fall far from the tree. It's funny how he and my wife were raised in the same house and turned out so much different. Looks like it worked the same with you and your sis. I guess I was lucky with my two older brothers. We all just wanted to be together and have some laughs over a good meal at the folks house.
