If I don't go South...

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Archie

Archie

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Hastings, Nebraska - the Heartland!
I have a good friend who is in 'failing' health. He is in a 'assisted living' facility. For many reasons, he had to divest of or move his firearms into a safe area since he is no longer able to maintain them.

Me. I took charge of his pile of handguns and reloading equipment. Emphasis on "pile". Not only did I nearly stress out my back moving the stuff, no one knows what is 'there'. I'm inventorying all the stuff. Which includes figuring out what 'it' is, unloading magazines (some in guns, some not), figuring out what magazines go to what gun, going through boxes jammed together without plan.

I've seen more organization in a troll waste management facility. Which may not be all my friend's fault, as there was 'help' to load the boxes.

So, as a friend, remember this. Get your act together and figure out what your survivors are going to do with all that crap. Throw out all the garbage. Label stuff. And if you sell something, sell the magazines with it unless you have a reason.

Doing so will probably make your active life simpler as well.
 
I had a friend whose uncle is in the process of "going", and my friend and I went over to his house to catalog all his gun stuff. There were some surprises, and a lot of disappointments, as he was careless about storing them properly and some great guns didn't survive due to his neglect. Others look fantastic. He has no surviving kids, so my friend and his brother are each keeping a couple guns and the rest is going to be going on an auction site. A lot of old S&W .32's and 38's will be showing up, along with a couple of very nice 1911's, as far as handguns go, and he has a lot of nice bolt action hunting rifles and a fair number of shotguns of all price ranges, from junk to "Whoa!!". Some of the wood on those shotguns is amazing. And I suppose it should be for the price of them.
 
You might want to check your state’s law on storage of firearms that aren’t yours. And, if you crossed state lines with them without doing the transfers.....That’s a BIG no no.

I wouldn’t post pics until I was certain no laws were broken. It’s evidence.
 
We went through our stuff for a move earlier this year, aint perfect now but much less stuff.
 
Waveski said:
Why the stream of "When I Croak... " threads lately?
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Most likely because of Covid 19 and the deaths contributed to it. Most people live their lives without giving much thought to dying, even tho we have people dying all around us everyday. When people get in their vehicles, do you think they give much thought about how many people die in traffic crashes each year. But for the last few months people have been worried about getting Covid 19 and dying. It scares people to the point that some have not left their homes in months. Plus there’s the fact that it’s in the news every day. The funny part is, you have a better chance of dying in a car crash then dying from Covid 19. Fear is a wonderful thing.
So with this in mind, I can see how some people will start to think about what if I were to die. But the part about people leaving behind a mess for family or others to go through and clean up is nothing new. It happens every day.
I’m a realest. I know that I’m going to die one day, most likely within the next 25 years.:) If I start now, I may have everything organized before I go.
 
Leaving a mess for our loved ones is another stress we don't need. As with planting a tree, the best time was 20 years ago and the next best time is now. These are good reminders that a few moments with some of our most prized possession will help ensure that they are kept safe and appreciated long after we are gone.
 
Somebody is going to have a lot of work to do when I die and most of my friends know to not let my wife sell the guns for what I told her they cost. ;)

I may change my mind some day but if I got rid of my lifetimes worth of stuff, the act alone would kill me. Be easier to have it all destroyed by fire than sell it off piece by piece, to be left with nothing but a pile of cash, waiting to die.
 
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Waveski said:
Why the stream of "When I Croak... " threads lately?
Click to expand...

Probably because that is what we are all going to do some day. To reinforce the point, I received an email from my graduating high school class historian earlier this week with news of five more members that have departed the living. The survivors are now less than half the class. Also it appears that the forum has quite a few that are in the "geezer" catagory and are looking at what awaits us all and are trying to plan ahead a little.
 
Archie said:
I have a good friend who is in 'failing' health. He is in a 'assisted living' facility. For many reasons, he had to divest of or move his firearms into a safe area since he is no longer able to maintain them.

Me. I took charge of his pile of handguns and reloading equipment. Emphasis on "pile". Not only did I nearly stress out my back moving the stuff, no one knows what is 'there'. I'm inventorying all the stuff. Which includes figuring out what 'it' is, unloading magazines (some in guns, some not), figuring out what magazines go to what gun, going through boxes jammed together without plan.

I've seen more organization in a troll waste management facility. Which may not be all my friend's fault, as there was 'help' to load the boxes.

So, as a friend, remember this. Get your act together and figure out what your survivors are going to do with all that crap. Throw out all the garbage. Label stuff. And if you sell something, sell the magazines with it unless you have a reason.

Doing so will probably make your active life simpler as well.
Click to expand...
Which is why I have started downsizing (including an ad here for some brass with more to follow). While my kids are not anti-gun, they also do not have the time or money to be "gun nuts" and would know what some of the stuff is or worth, so if I can sell/trade/gift some stuff to make that issue easier after I am gone, (and maybe get me a little ammo money), so be it.
 
jmorris said:
Somebody is going to have a lot of work to do when I die and most of my friends know to not let my wife sell the guns for what I told her they cost. ;)

I may change my mind some day but if I got rid of my lifetimes worth of stuff, the act alone would kill me. Be easier to have it all destroyed by fire than sell it off piece by piece, to be left with nothing but a pile of cash, waiting to die.
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Suppose you badly need the money? My dad is the same way with his old model kits. He and his wife are looking for a place due to his friend they are staying with running out of money in his trust fund. I had told him before to sell some of the models so he will be in better shape money wise...
 
Suppose you badly need the money?
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That’s a totally different scenario than getting rid and selling off all your stuff so there is nothing for others to clean up except cash.

The OP didn’t have to undertake the project he did but he is a good friend.

FWIW if you are one that decides to “clean house” please tell all your children and grandchildren before you do and not like a phone call of what’s happening tomorrow. A number of mementos I have from my Grandparents are things they may have considered inconsequential or trash but I wanted them for the memories. So some wanted things like microwaves and refrigerator and I wanted the penny jar in the kitchen where we could go get a coin if we found a bone in Grandma’s chicken soup.
 
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jmorris said:
I may change my mind some day but if I got rid of my lifetimes worth of stuff, the act alone would kill me. Be easier to have it all destroyed by fire than sell it off piece by piece, to be left with nothing but a pile of cash, waiting to die.
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This is exactly how I feel (at age 75). My collections are what keep me going. I'm not too concerned with what happens afterwards.
 
I had to do this last year with my mom and her house full of stuff. Brother and his kids all stated they wanted this and that; but then no one wanted any of it. Since I am the one interested in the family history, all of the 100 + year old china, silverware and some furniture is now sitting in my house. Two HUGE storage tubs full of pics, etc. None of this will have much meaning to the kids, some of it is valuable, some came with instructions to not be sold. I'll take care of that stuff; I just don't want my kids to be saddled with MY stuff, (especially odd gun-related stuff) - so if I can sell it for some cash, give some away in a pay it forward way or whatever, might as well- besides, I HATE clutter:D
 
General Geoff said:
It's 2020, roughly 70-75 years after the height of the Baby Boom that followed WW2. Lotsa folks are approaching the end of their natural lifespans.
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Yes, me “41” and the Going South fooled me. What a depressing thread if I were one to get depressed. But fortunately I have 3 sons. :):(
 
While it is good to plan for death, this really isn't a General Gun topic. I encourage all to plan, have a good attorney. Get reasonable appraisals of items. I've found things that my parents left that were to worth lots of dough, weren't. What you think are valuable collectibles are not.

Thus, to follow our rules, closed.
 
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