Dear LPG, 

While looking around the internet I came across a list of items that are supposedly thought of as the most valuable items in the average house and it did hold my interest for a while.  

I suppose that the subject provoked me to take a good look at my personal answer to a question that I hope I never have to put to the test.  If I had ten minutes notice of a time where I would have to leave my home forever, what things would I want to take with me?

I took a look at four lists and most of the items on them were quite similar (Family pictures, wedding rings, family pets, the house itself, cars etc…) although the order of importance was an interesting feature of all four while one of them looked at the difference between the male choice and what women are more likely to focus on.    I found it fascinating to see the difference; for instance, I noted that the men surveyed featured cars in much higher positions on their priority lists than that of the ladies where jewellery was placed nearer the number one spot.  

I assume that the choices were made by people who are, on average much younger than we pensioners but this whole question got me thinking about what I would really want to keep if I ever had to leave my home.

I am guessing that like me, the majority of younger pensioners think that it is most unlikely to happen.  Once you have paid the last mortgage instalment and the house finally becomes yours, it is a really good feeling but I have seen two of my older relatives have to leave their homes and make such decisions at relatively short notice.  Their physical health meant that they could no longer live at home and it was heart-wrenching to be involved.  The hardest part is to visit a relative who has had to downsize their possessions and move into sheltered housing or assisted accommodation when talk turns to reminiscence, because that is when those possessions will find their way into the conversation and the regret of having lost them can be so upsetting. 

The problem is that a long life leaves us with time to amass so many things of intrinsic value and it is so easy to take for granted that they will always be with us, for at least as long as we are around.

The point is that it is never too early to start the habit of sorting out your things and having an idea of what you would want to take with you if you have to suddenly move even though I hope that the situation never arises for any of my fellow readers. 

KS, Downham

KS shares her findings… 

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