Sifting through a lifetime of treasures

It is time to bring you up to date on our deciding to sell our beloved Ironquill. There is at least another road to travel before that last one.

We have been thinking about selling for the last few years but just could not do it when it came right down to it. But, we finally had no choice.

Neither Bob nor I are able to do all the things at Ironquill that pop up at the most inopportune times. Over past years we always managed to keep everything repaired and running, but at this stage in our lives our old bodies moan and groan and let us know that those times are gone.

So, after much discussion, we decided it was time to sell and move into a senior complex in Marshfield, Wis. It is about 20 miles from Ironquill, and they have a huge clinic and hospital complex where we "do" all of our medical needs. In fact, it seems like that is where we spend much of our time.

We talked to a Realtor from Marshfield, and she came out recently and looked our place over, and we have decided to list with her.

We (I) have started cleaning out closets, sorting pictures, books and all sorts of things that I find (and hope) I can live without. We have four bedrooms, seven closets, an office, a huge front room, dining room and kitchen. So the thought of downsizing to two bedrooms and only two closets is really mind-boggling, to say the very least.

Bob has begun to think about his shed and tools and all that good stuff.

The papers are signed for leaving in six months, so there is no backing out now. I start a project and, before I know it, I have left it and started another.

I keep wondering how in the world a person can collect so much stuff (junk, as Bob puts it). All these years, I really thought of them as treasures.

Little did I know that down one of these many roads I would have to take this one, cleaning out a lifetime of collecting.

Let me tell you folks, it isn't nearly as much fun getting rid of it as it was collecting it. In fact, it is downright painful.

More next week.