When I wrote Thirty Days to Glory, I started thinking about the transitions ahead in my own life. And about the down-sizing that might eventually be required. I certainly hope to remain a feisty old lady living with no one except my still-handsome husband until we are about one-hundred and twenty. But, I suspect life won’t follow that outline.

In fact, my husband and I are suggesting the children start a bidding war right now to see who gets us someday. Or, perhaps, the highest bidder wins the right to ship us to a sibling. It could go either way.

We almost had it going when we suggested maybe we could help invest in a bigger home for one of them so they would have guest quarters for us. They started calling “dibs” immediately. Until they discovered we didn’t have any actual funds for the investment idea. All offers have been rescinded at this time.

Right now, I’m watching my mother begin the sorting process that precedes downsizing. It is tedious and painful, and I wish she didn’t have to do it. She has been telling us for years that she wanted us to come down and help her clean out her basement. We should have done it.

We should also learn a lesson from this. We should all start cleaning out our junk drawers now while we have good health, strength, and access to The Container Store online. I’m committing myself to it, in fact. I’m determined to travel lighter through the next couple of decades.

That should be great news for the children who will have to take us in someday. Maybe we can even sell some of our junk and put it into that housing fund. Let the bidding begin!