Thank you for reading and your thoughtful response.

I'm proud of your husband too! (And you as well.) It is not easy to start the process of slimming down one's worldly goods--we all kind of know what that means, that we understand we can't take it with us, even if we've got a ways to go yet. I absolutely understand why most people don't want to face the problem.

The sad thing I hear among family members and here in the comments is that going into their parents' homes filled with stuff is making them anxious. I know personally that we are less likely to visit older relatives if we are uncomfortable and can feel the work of managing all that stuff closing in on us. I would much rather just visit with people rather than always have to be working flat out to try and help them maintain houses that we don't have the time to maintain.

My favorite part of learning to prune stuff is that it has made me less likely to buy stuff. One of the few good habits I've picked up very easily.

Good luck to you!