Featured photo is an AI-enhanced image of Marie as the muscled-woman first 
member of the Wellness Committee, as designed by her staff member chairperson.

Early in 2025, I interviewed Marie (age 90) about her experiences downsizing from her huge home of almost 60 years to a tiny apartment in a city almost 100 miles away from where she lived her entire life.

Her story was one of legacy decluttering in action.

(If you missed it, you can see it here: Real-Life Legacy Decluttering 101 🏡 How Marie Did it Her Way)

Recently, my husband and I, along with two friends, visited Marie in her new home, an independent living retirement community.

Marie couldn’t wait to show us around. As our excited tour guide, Marie took us through the entire community and grounds. Her tour included group gathering places, theater room, activity rooms  for mahjong, cards and art, billiards, shuffleboard, putting green, pickleball court, exercise spaces, swimming pool, dining spaces, beauty parlor, and more!

My favorite was the seated volleyball court! Players had to remain seated as the volleyball (beach ball type) was batted back and forth across the net. I wanted to play!

Seated Volleyball Court

The tour ended with Marie’s apartment – a one-bedroom suite with all the amenities and a balcony overlooking a row of trees that made you wonder if you were still in the city.

Marie’s tour took quite a bit longer than you’d expect, because she stopped and introduced us to every friend along the way. And there were many!

When Marie left our community and church, we hated to see her go and even wondered if she could be happy leaving so much of her life behind. But after our visit, we came away uplifted by seeing how engaged and active she was. And happy.

Marie made the decision that this move was necessary. She knew her time for living independently in a huge house all alone was limited, and being closer to her children was a priority.

Marie made the decision to be happy where she was going. She told herself from the beginning that she would not stay in her room all day, but that she would mingle and make new friends and engage in activities.

Yes, she decluttered her whole house and sold it. But it wasn’t about getting rid of things. It became clearing space for a new chapter of her life.

She made it less about “leaving behind” and more about “living forward”. Her choice allowed her to enter a new season of life with joy and freedom.

Marie made the successful transition from legacy decluttering to legacy living.

Our first response to decluttering is to see it as a chore. Something that must be done. But something we simply don’t want to do.

But what if we could think beyond the chore. What if the real reward is creating space for the life we want and need right now?

Marie is a model for that shift.

If you’re a retiree or solopreneur, how might legacy decluttering free you to embrace new opportunities? What clutter – physical, digital, or mental – is keeping you from your next chapter? Imagine what awaits you if you choose to create your next chapter.