Re: Gear Grinding 7: Really? This crap again?
I've already said it to my (adult) children and plan on putting it in my will the next time I update it -- "Because something has sentimental value to me doesn't mean it needs to have sentimental value to you." The fancy china and crystal? If you don't want it, sell it and put it toward your kids' education. Stuff that might have historical value? Donate it to a museum (my History teacher son has already chastised me for not doing it already). My high school letter jacket? Dumpster.
Heirlooms mean different things to different people.
While I feel bad, I do not want the home that my dad grew up in, that I'm part owner of. It was a nice place to visit as a kid, but it's not that meaningful. We haven't visited it for well over 10 years.
And other stuff that my parents collected, even as gifts for my siblings and me, they really don't mean anything to me, as I have different interests.
There are really only a handful of items that are historically significant that I'd want to keep track of. The rest is just stuff. Stuff that someone else will likely enjoy.
I've already said it to my (adult) children and plan on putting it in my will the next time I update it -- "Because something has sentimental value to me doesn't mean it needs to have sentimental value to you." The fancy china and crystal? If you don't want it, sell it and put it toward your kids' education. Stuff that might have historical value? Donate it to a museum (my History teacher son has already chastised me for not doing it already). My high school letter jacket? Dumpster.