Dreams of downsizing

I've been retired almost 4 years now, Mr FF a year, and we've both come to the conclusion that we have far too much 'stuff' and particularly too many work related clothes. I'm not a hoarder, I have plenty of clear surfaces in the house but sometimes feel overwhelmed by the amount of possessions we have accumulated over 42 years of marriage. We want to spend more time in Italy so we've started to consider moving to a smaller lock up and leave property that is close to shops and services, though not just yet please. We love our house and garden here and can't contemplate living in an apartment with perhaps a balcony but no real outside space.  Where would we keep our bikes, what about all the things in the workshop, our extensive stock of wine, my stash of knitting yarn. We'd miss our lovely wood burning stove, the greenhouse, our view of the hills, everything.  We have to tell ourselves we'd still have most of these things in Italy including a garden to which we could devote more time and grow lots of interesting plants, like outdoor tomatoes.  It all feels very scary so I've adopted a policy of downsizing gradually, like reading from my stock of books then taking them to the charity shops without bringing more home.  

Mr FF has entered into the spirit of things and had a good sort out in his wardrobe.  I think he was a bit surprised to rediscover unworn clothes and actually shocked at the number of business suits he owns and will never wear again. 

We sorted items into three departments - charity shop, textile bank and family, by the time we finished there were twice as many bags as these.

I finally parted with these gorgeous pink suede shoes, they are so lovely but so painful 

and turned one of my jumpers into a cover for an existing cushion on our bedroom window seat
Tiny steps and to be honest they haven't made much difference physically or mentally so we might end up shipping everything to Italy, plenty of room for it all there.