Thought on Downsizing is the preliminary to recycling or finding new participants. I have a neighbor who has been collecting flyer and S scale trains and toys for most of his adult life. We often have had the “talk” about the inevitable. As we age the conversation is shortened each visit or communication. He says that his wife will just rent a dumpster when he is gone (how harsh). His adult sons have no interest, nor his daughter. My two adult kids, not interested, my granddaughter just loves the plasticville (she is 6 years old). I already consider all the plasticville hers.
so, to complicate matters we adult owners of electromechanical junk ( which I state with full endearment) have Tentatively decided to leave entire collections and layouts to one another in the possibility of one or the others demise. Btw, reside in the same neighborhood. So, this was an initial relief to our wives! but there is that inheritance wife (based on who goes first) eventually will have to deal with two (maybe three) collections.
Because there’s a third friend who wants to get in on what he calls the Postmortem train lottery! Lol, that kills me! LOL, he has my former layout and the postwar Trains, accessories collection when I transitioned to 2 rail. Plus he has added quite a bit since 2005! I have recollected the PW Lionel and made the same layout simplified since.
After all is said and done, there will be visitations from reputable Auction house or dumpster companies! Lol.
Most of this is just in jest of course. Should something like this happen we have vowed to arrange with auction house of spouse or relatives choice to rid the burden from each other’s family. Please make the check Out to family member. We have agreed to keeping One predetermined Item from the Individual collection as a remembrance, question remaining is for how long? And any of this can be revoked at anytime by surviving family.
Can’t take it with you, But maybe it will make someone else happy.
