Recently I spoke with a couple living in a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), also called a life plan community, in Virginia. Let’s call them Joe and Becky. They’ve been at the community for about three years and say they couldn’t be happier. One thing that stood out to them was the consistently high level of service from staff, which they described as exceptional. As our conversation continued, I asked about the move itself and how they handled the challenge of sorting and downsizing years of accumulated belongings.
Sorting decades of possessions is daunting. Inevitably, somebody has to deal with it, and it only gets harder with time. I’ve written before about practical steps to make the process more manageable. Here I want to focus on creative approaches that can reduce stress and, in some cases, even add enjoyment to the task.
Attitude is everything
The first thing I noticed about Joe and Becky’s experience was their attitude. Once they decided the CCRC was right for them, they accepted the emotional and practical work that came with moving and got on with it. They didn’t ignore the difficulty, but they didn’t let the physical burden of packing override a decision they believed would be best long-term. A positive outlook made the transition smoother.
>> Why Everyone Should Move Every Ten Years
Make a party out of it
Joe and Becky turned packing into social events. They hosted a series of packing parties, inviting friends over with snacks, drinks and music. They focused each event on a specific area—one party for the kitchen, another for the book collection. With friends helping, they packed the kitchen in a few hours. For the books, they sorted and donated many to the local library, documenting donations for a possible tax deduction. Framing the work as social time made packing faster and more enjoyable.
Involve family
Adult children don’t always want the keepsakes you assume they will. Rather than guessing, plan a time to go through belongings together. These moments can be meaningful, giving children and grandchildren the chance to claim items with family memories attached. I recently found my childhood piggy bank in my mother’s attic—something I hadn’t seen in decades. If possible, schedule family sorting well before move day so prized items can be taken home in a relaxed way, making the actual move easier.
Not sure what to keep?
We all hold on to things we think we’ll need later. If a shirt has hung unused for five years, you’re unlikely to wear it again. The same goes for many seldom-used items. Don’t keep possessions just because you think you might need them someday—if they take space now and gather dust, they probably aren’t worth the trouble. For appliances or tools you rarely use, consider borrowing when needed. One practical strategy I heard from friends in a California CCRC was to rent a small storage shed for a year. Anything not retrieved after twelve months was sold or donated. That approach forced choices and revealed what truly mattered.
>> Related: Move-In Coordinators: Easing the Stress of Moving to a Retirement Community
Embrace your new freedom from clutter
Many people who downsize describe a feeling of liberation. Becky told me she feels lighter and more at ease without excess belongings. She noticed that some residents tried to bring too much into their new homes and ended up cluttered, while others welcomed the opportunity to simplify. Letting go of unneeded items often opens up physical and mental space.
Making new memories
Leaving a long-time home full of memories is never simple, and it’s normal to feel sadness or apprehension about relocating to a CCRC. For Joe and Becky, those feelings eased quickly after they settled in and began enjoying community amenities and services. They made new friends, created new routines and appreciated the peace of mind that comes with knowing the “what ifs” of the future are better managed.
If you’re exploring CCRCs in your area and want to learn about services and options available, a community search tool can help you compare profiles of many communities and find one that fits your needs.