Dear Grant,I’m not such an active member on the forum but, indeed we have a common hobby related to SAK’s.I’m sorry for the loss of Karl.His loss made me think of what should I do with my private collection of SAK’s that counts more than 180 items, most of them are valuable specials.I invested so much in that collection that I can sell it without knowing that it’ll be in safe hands and, keep expending.So, I have two options in mind in case you can assist me with any.1- To sell the entire collection in a specialized action for SAK’s2- To be donated by my inheritance to a SAK museum Your assistance and, advise are very much appreciated.
I get the idea that when I'm gone it won't be my problem anymore, they can do what they want, but that's not the case more often than not.
But the other side of that coin is that, while it will no longer matter to me when I'm gone, it may matter to someone.
My uncle's brother had a valuable stamp collection. He asked me to look at ways of selling it all on. I did the math. It wasn't worth the bother to actually make the sales.
I finally finished my list for the kids. Since my last post here I had continued to give away and sell things thinning out my collection. I think my collection is fairly manageable. Many of you know I lost my son last year. In his early 20s he didn't amass nearly the stuff older folks do. What we were struck with is the combination of holding on and letting go.The monetary value of our stuff is only part of our stuff. We donated a lot of his clothes knowing someone would benefit from nice clothes. We made sure to give it to an organization that didn't resell but actually had people needing nice clothes. Cash and other things like car were more easily decided upon. It was the random things we still struggle with what to do with it. When I look at my stuff I wonder what my kids will feel connected to. I began last year giving them any jewelry I had. I gave them other items that had cash value and personal value. This is stuff that sat so it was easy to do. My partner bought me a shelved bod to store my tools. I began to put items in it when it dawned on me I should place only my most cherished items. Make it easy for them to know exactly what I valued beyond the monetary value. Maybe then they'll have an easier time deciding what to do. I have also re wrote my will letting them know it was ok to dispatch stuff. Photographing everything will be a PITA let alone packing and shipping each item. My small collection is still over 100pcs. Sure I can say it'll be their problem once I'm dead but I personally don't want to do that. After watching them try to decide what to do with their brothers stuff which was mostly clothes, it's not something I want them to deal with. Even if our collections aren't worth collector money, its worth something monetarily. They'll want to do right by us and part of that burden not realized now is them selling and worrying about getting a fair price. They'll have enough on their plate. Maybe we'll get lucky like Karl. Maybe out stuff will be like some of the stuff I see at the flea market on table tops. Recently I was at the thrift store. We saw a large collection of John Wayne items. One whole rack was filled. I wondered how long and how much time went into collecting these items. Some items still have the price tag on them. Nearly everything was being sold 1/2 off that had a price tag. The other stuff was even less from what I figured. Does it matter? The collector is gone so for them, no. I guess what I'm saying is, our loved ones will be burdened regardless. Even with explicit directions and values of what we have they will have to put some effort into moving it on or storing it. Its been a little over a year since my sons passing. The easy part of moving on some of his stuff is over. The cash and bigger items were also fairly easy to decide upon. The hardest part is the items we kept and for no other reason than our attempt to keep a part of him with us. Everything I have tools wise are kept in easy to distinguish containers from whats valuable to what just collected stuff. My most carried items are also very easy to determine. I keep them on my dresser top.