I'm not sure that thrift shops are a good option for me--Not that many sewers in NYC, is my suspicion. And I've never seen any at the two stores I've been in--though I'll admit I haven't looked that hard for this category. We don't have AmVets (and something like this might be a store-by-store thing anyway). I could try Craig's List or Freecycle, I guess.

some more thoughts on rugs https://www.westelm.com/m/products/distressed-nadine-rug-t4876/?pkey=crugs-flooring&isx=0.0 https://www.westelm.com/m/products/verve-rug-t3653/?pkey=crugs-flooring&isx=0.1 https://www.westelm.com/m/products/meadow-rug-t4539/?pkey=crugs-flooring&isx=0.1 https://www.westelm.com/m/products/royal-grid-shag-rug-t5050/?pkey=crugs-flooring&isx=0.2 https://www.westelm.com/m/products/remy-rug-t5344/?pkey=crugs-flooring&isx=0.0

@remodeling1840 Thank you for your input, and I know you're right. I used to be very active. Snowboarding was my LIFE for many years, and now I worry about the price of a lift ticket. I just wanted to clarify the reason why an estate sale wouldn't work: This house is sort of like the Winchester Mansion. Lots of funky stairs and passages where I can't have people just wandering through. @maifleur03 I do want to rent a dumpster, but winter isn't the right time. There's plenty of stuff that won't hurt to get rid of, and may be the easier place to start. Once I get rid of actual junk, I'll have space to sort out the good stuff and see what I'm really dealing with. My spare unit is a furnished, short-term rental only, at this time. Being as it's actually a part of my home, I'm being particular about who I rent it to. The gal who rented it for two months LOVED it, but she's another Californian moving up this way and only needed a place while she looked for a new home. She bought a condo up in Washington. Ends up she HATES it there, and if I'm still here in two years, she wants to sell her condo and rent my space again while she looks for a place in Portland, so that ought to say SOMEthing about it @jane__ny I think I would be happy in a smaller house, a very large garage, and space to dig in the dirt a little. My husband and I both have motorcycles, and I happen to be a female gearhead, with two classic cars; one of which I've been thinking of selling just because I don't really have the time (& money, lol) for all of them like I used to. I have been taking into account my age and all that, as well, and want a single-level. The back lot really doesn't require a ton of maintenance. I mow it and every so often take my loppers or bowsaw back there. I do want a room for my music stuff, as well. I'm a drummer, but haven't played for quite some time. I have a small business - if you could call it that. It's more of a hobby business now, but I don't work on it much at all anymore. I quit my weekly gig 5 or 6 years ago in order to concentrate on Voodoostx - hand-painted drumsticks, but I didn't concentrate enough! I actually need to paint some more sticks and check the store where I sell them. I appreciate your response and hope your husband will be ok. I wasn't going to get into it here, but my other issue is Husband wants to move out of Oregon. He just turned 64, had open heart surgery in January and started smoking again about a month ago! I don't want to move away and end up being a widow who just left her home and support system. I'm 55 and have an 11-year old transplanted kidney.

I have a whole set of books that it is worth waiting for local sales since they are light pop themes books. The ones I'm struggling with are the vintage ones and the niche ones. Someone will want them as is demonstrated here, but not a whole lot. I'm having success with "Operation Paperback" for a lot of the history and light psychology/self help books. Its for veterans libraries. It's these old philosophical ones from the 50s that are the worst. They're very nice books but just not worth keeping around because I already have a HUGE horticultural library, an environmental science teaching library, and a kids picture book nature themed library. So if its a classic book that I could get at a library if I wanted to read it, I am giving it up. My Mom had almost every book C.S. Lewis wrote, for example. Nothing wrong with them still, but not my bag. I just hate to throw them out. Already gave a collection of Jewish religion themed books to the local synagogue. My mom had a religion minor in college . . .our church library is good . . . same generation of folks started it.