Caring for your loved ones after you are gone
Every once in a while I go to yard sales. (I love the bargains, but HATE getting up early enough on the weekends to go. LOL)
A while back, I went to a yard sale and found something so sad that it prodded be to take action. Someone had died and they were a crafter. There were tons of books, magazines and yarns for pennies on the dollar. Since I am not a knitter/crocheter, it wasn't my goldmine, but it was a bit of an awakening.
I went home and talked to my husband. I asked him what would happen to my sewing room if I die before him. (A distinct possibility since I am 14 years older and never excercise. He's got the whole Paleo/Crossfit thing going, so he COULD outlive me. Even if he doesn't, I only have the one son, who does NO crafts at all.)
I was horrified to have me suspicions confirmed. He would have a yard sale and get rid of everything. Oh, horrors! Oh, screaming nightmares! Oh, uneasy eternal restlessness!
All the books and magazines I had pour over, marking the patterns I really wanted to make. All the fabric I had washed, ironed, folded and fondled. The tools I had cherished and sworn by. These treasures would be pawed over and bargained down by STRANGERS! .
I couldn't stand it, so I did the only thing a thinking person could do. I made a will. (That's right, concern for the welfare of my quilting fabric finally brought me the point of making a will; not a sense of responsibility to my husband or son. Stangers would not be pawing my fabric!)
The problem with the will was that the only relative I had who quilted was many hours away and couldn't drive. (Besides, our taste in fabrics are sooo not the same.)
I thought and thought and realized that I had met a responsible person who I knew would be the perfect executor for my stash. A lady who worked at the library actually ran quilting related events there, organized charity sew-ins and had the kind of mind that would understand the treasure that I might leave.
I talked with her and, sure enough, she agreed to be my quilt executor. She agreed that the fabric would go to people who would admire it, that the books and magazines would be go to good homes or be placed with the library. (I have books that they do not have in their catalogues. This gives me the chance to HELP them.)
The codicil was written. The will placed in the lockbox. My husband and son notified of my request for handling.
I can finally rest easy, knowing my loved ones will be taken care of. It's the next best thing to taking it with me.
