It's all just stuff...

[Engineer1911]

I have a 12 year old 24 x 32 garage full. It holds a 1992 16' john boat and 25 hp outboad, 44 fishpoles and reels, wife's Chevy Trax, tools and STUFF. Mid- to Late-September when the temperature falls below 90°, my Chevy Colorado becomes a garbage truck. If I haven't used it in the last year, it's going for a final ride. There are treasures in the garage that I have forgotten, my wife has forgotten, other family members did not want, and are consuming expensive space.

To the OP, from painful family experience, I can assure you that no matter how lovingly you handle the stuff and care for the people involved; you will be criticized to no end. My suggested response would be, "Where were you when help was needed?" You have done your very best, now is the time to have a clear conscience and Cherished memories.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

"You can't take it with you" but "stuff" makes the journey a lot more pleasant.
Being a pack rat/hoarder/accumulator I have brought many others lots of pleasure. 30 or so years ago McDonald's had some tie in merchandise for The Flinstones. A neighbor said her son's mugs had broken, I gave him TWO sets. Cleaned out my coat closet a few years ago, it went to my church's coat drive, I have found sleds, bicycles, computer items, etc. left by the curb. Some I sold, some I gave away.
I have often found memories of things far more pleasant than memories of people.

 

[Yendor357]

that was stupid to throw that rifle away.

Why didn’t he just get in his truck, go to town, and buy a cake for her?

Moderation in all things.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I have it on good authority that the Pearly Gates Placement Center is a gun-free zone and doesn't have a U-Haul turn in.

 

[Golddollar]

It's just stuff, after all..

But why is it so easy to acquire and so hard to get rid of? The local Rescue Mission has been the beneficiary of my attempt to shake down my house, but my efforts now seem to have ground to a halt.

 

[clipper1]

There are no luggage racks on hearses. This saying fits the conversation here.

 

[Rustyt1953]

A true multi-tasker.

 

[john17427]

I've been through the process the OP describes with parents, siblings, aunts, uncles. I've had to go through and dispose of so much "stuff" I long ago reached the place he describes. You just don't care much about stuff. Maybe it's having to wade through the disposition of so many people's possessions and keepsakes, I don't know. I still have 15 medium home depot boxes of papers to go through someday, but I'm worn out. All of that said, I have my father in laws first deer rifle that I value a great deal and still hunt with on occasion. We spent a lot of time in the woods, working and hunting together over the decades he was with us. He's been gone now close to 15 years, but it lets me feel his presence when I take it to the woods.

 

[45Smashemflat]

On a positive note regarding firearms, I do have younger generations that have an appreciation for family guns. I feel good about handing those down. I’ve passed some along already.

 

[Rubone]

Stuff, what stuff???

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

"One man's trash is another man's treasure." Not sure how I ended up with 2 sets of McDonald's Flintstones mugs but I made a young fellow happy.
Rudy Vallee was an enthusiastic collector of theater memorabilia, on his passing the theater department of UCLA received his accumulation, they jumped for joy.
Then again, I've know quite a few people who had lousy parents and on their passing threw out anything and everything with their name on it, pictures, etc.