[Milsurplus] [Boatanchors] [BoatAnchors] An object lesson

[Glen Zook via Milsurplus]

Although I don't plan on going SK for a long time (a number of my ancestors lived into their late 90s, early 100s, I am gradually preparing a document containing photographs of each item, model number, serial number, any special features (i.e. additional filters), and what to expect to "get" for the item.  By "get" I am putting an "asking" price, an average price to expect, and a "rock bottom" price lower than which not to take.
This document will be in a file on my computer, printed out "hard copy", and then save the file onto a CD ROM copies of which will be given to my wife and each of my 3-daughters.  I will also list possible persons to help dispose of the equipment as well as the names of people to absolutely refuse to deal with.  Those are the persons, that I know, who offer to dispose of all that old junk, paying almost nothing, and then reselling at inflated prices. Glen, K9STH

Website: http://k9sth.net
      From: Don Merz via Milsurplus <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
 To: Ian Wilson <ianmwilson73 at gmail.com>; David Harmon <k6xyz at sbcglobal.net> 
Cc: Boatanchors <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>; Military Surplus net List <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net> 
 Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2015 10:53 AM
 Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] [Boatanchors] [BoatAnchors] An object lesson
   
The underlying problem here should not be neglected. The fault does not lie with the unknowledgable family nor with Apex Surplus. It was unfair and unreasonable of this person to accumulate all that and expect someone else to CORRECTLY handle it. 
Don't stick your family with some horrendous chore when you die. Treat it like planning your retirement. Calculate how many years you think you have left and make it a goal to dispose of some percentage of your pile each year until you are down to what can be thrown away with minimal loss. If you think you have 20 years left, 5% of the pile should go out the door (no fair adding new stuff!) every year. 
The aternative is to resign yourself to the thought that it might all go in the dumpster. And maybe that is okay too--bizarre as that sounds, it IS a valid choice. But if you have never been executor of an estate, then you really can't grasp the burden that it all is. We should not be adding hobby hoarding to that burden for our executors. It's just that simple.