Have you been driving on Route 123 or 140 in Norton lately behind a car going 25 miles an hour, while the posted speed limit is 35 or 40 miles an hour? Nothing you do to get the drivers attention – from tooting your horn to flashing your lights – can get them to go faster. When you do get an opportunity to pass or they turn into Roche Brothers, you notice that the driver is elderly. Muttering under your breath, wondering why they are out there driving, you never stop to think this might be the only way they can get to their doctor appointments, do their errands, or just get out to …
Well I answered the question I asked awhile ago – are yards sales worthwhile? – and this weekend the answer is absolutely NO! Instead of spending my weekend in Norton going to the polls (I voted via absentee ballot and I am very happy with the outcome) or attending what I heard was an excellent and very fun tricentennial parade on Sunday, I was in Rhode Island running and managing a yard/estate sale. Even if the weather had cooperated, this sale would not have been profitable for anyone. Why? Because the family thought that you could post signs around, open up the door and people would come…
Are your parents climbing ladders and step stools because they feel they can do things themselves? Climbing the ladder to clean out the gutters or touching up the paint is something they always did and still feel capable doing. Years ago that wasn’t a problem; they were a lot younger, and much more agile and steady. But things are changing. How can you stop them from doing this before they have an accident that could put them out of commission permanently? I heard of a business the other day that is offering a pre-paid monthly service that could give you and your parents peace of mind. All …
My biggest mantra is plan and prepare as much as possible for the twists, turns and roadblocks that pop up. We often go through life feeling that nothing is going to knock us off our merry-go-round. Life doesn’t always happen that way, and we can have our “perfect” life knocked out from under us in a matter of seconds. Whether it is you, a spouse, children, siblings or parents, we are often caught unprepared and clueless on what to do when and after an emergency occurs. That is what happened 20 years ago when the call came, saying my brother,48, single, and living alone in Florida, …
Some of us go through life wearing blinders because we do not want to see or think about things that are taking place now - today - that may affect the future. Our theory is if we ignore or just don't see the present, it may go away. This is because: We dread the idea of our parents getting old, frail and ill. They are not able to live the life they once had. They need more and more assistance with things they once handled with ease, and this makes us uncomfortable. We also dread the idea of becoming a caregiver, either full or part time. We fear losing our identity, freedom and our …
As you all know, it is the season for yard and moving sales, and I have already expressed my opinion on their value. There is also another avenue we can pursue in attempting to sell our prized possessions, and that is the internet. If you or a family member is internet literate and feel they have the time to place items on eBay, Craigslist or other internet auction sites, it is proving to be a great venue. It takes some time, knowledge and patience, but it does work. Once you determine what items you want to sell and have researched the pricing of the items, you can set up an account on any…
Do you notice a change in your basement or attic? Are you wondering how it got that way? It took a long time happening and it takes time to sort and get rid of years of accumulation. Your plan was to work through the basement and attic slowly. But it is taking a long time and maybe you bit off more than you bargained for. No matter what your age and physical abilities, it is a big job. There is an old African proverb that says "it takes a village to raise a child," meaning it takes many people and services to raise a child, not just one or two. So maybe it is time to call on the “village” …
Are you overwhelmed yet? Running out of room for your “stuff?" Don’t feel bad if you have collected a lot over the years. This “stuff” has been an important part of your enjoyment, and you love them. I am not talking about your furniture, but your collections of Hummel’s, limited edition plates, teacups, electric trains, tools, etc. that you or a family member has accumulated. What do you do with these items that mean so much? If you can live happily without them and can let them go, you are half way there! However, if you really, really love the items and you cannot see living anyplace …
Have you started downsizing or de-cluttering yet? Or are at least thinking about it? If you have started, you may have come across something of great sentimental value to you. So what do you do with these items? Find a new home for them! Sure, you are thinking that no one wants this stuff, it is junk. Well it is not junk! Even if it is, it is your junk, and it means a great deal to you. Go through the various items you find, write down (or have someone write down) who you would like to give the item to. To make this happen, put a name on the item and place it in a “give” box and then: For a…
We have always been told to make sure we did our homework, and this continues throughout life. We continually need to do our homework and learn as much as possible about the community we are living, particularly when it concerns buying or selling our real estate investment. The community infrastructure, public services and the quality of town and school system are just as important as the property being sold or purchased. The Town of Norton continually struggles with many of the same issues as other communities. One major area we have grappled with for a few years is adequate funding for our…
To have a yard sale or not is a big question, especially as we head into spring, the peak yard sale season. Is it worth it? Will I make any money, or will I be wasting my time and energy? The answer, in my opinion: it depends! I know that is not much of an answer, but it does depend on a few factors. The quantity and quality of the items for sale What time of year and the weather conditions Items are priced right with room for negotiation and compromise A yard/moving sale works out if there is a mixture of good, serviceable or salvageable furniture and appliances along with regular household…
To sell or not to sell, is one of the questions people are asking this spring. Other questions are: Has the real estate market come back? Will my house sell? And, is it the right time to sell and move into something smaller or just stay put? Residents of Norton are also asking these questions and this is a discussion to have with your real estate and financial advisors. If the decision is to wait, here are some suggestions for downsizing in place to make your living space safer, healthier and give you peace of mind. Just doing three simple things in your home will help achieve a new sense …
On my Facebook page, a friend I graduated high school with started out her status update with: “This was an old record that we could dance to, sing to, and understand what the heck they were saying and singing.” She was referring to an ‘oldie’ that we listened to 30 years ago. I laughed because I remember our parents said the same thing to us. I believe most generations have heard similar remarks from their parents! Do you remember the day you became a clone of your parents? I am sure there wasn’t any one day or moment that you can point to and say, "That’s when it happened." But there …
Most everyone, I am sure, has boxes filled with old photographs in our homes. As children playing in the attic or basement we looked at them. But no one looks at them now, because we do not know the people or places in the photos, and yet we keep them! This point was driven home recently, while attending a 90th birthday party of a distant relative. The children sorted through scrapbooks, albums and shoe boxes of old photos, and then scanned the photos to create a DVD to show at the party. It was great fun looking at the photos projected on a large screen. We laughed at the hair, clothing …
Have you searched through your freezer and have no clue what’s in there? Taking a package of mystery meat, thinking it is steak when it is a pork chop? You are not alone, and no, you are not ready for the “old age” home. Running around, doing our usual things, we forget the obvious; like marking the freezer bags with contents and dates. If we forget, how many of our older relatives forget or don’t think about it? No big deal, right? With older adults, however, it can be serious, because they tend not to throw food out. It is a sin to waste perfectly good food! Because it has been in the …
I feel fortunate to have found my second “hometown” here in the Town of Norton. With beautiful Wheaton College and all the cultural events it offers. I wonder how anyone could possibly think about moving from this area. However, it does happen, and people who have lived in town for many years feel that they really don’t need to prepare their homes prior to selling, and that buying a home in Norton should be enough. At a recent workshop at Tri-Town Chamber of Commerce, I met a local real estate agent, and we seemed to hit it off right from the start. Maybe it was because we are both aging …
