No Tripping Heirs

[Black_Fly]

I've been looking at all the crap I've accumulated for camping, fishing, hunting, canoeing, some of it is still valuable to the learned few. A recent health scare got me thinking. What can I do to help ease the burden on my family after I'm on the shady shore of paradise lake? I'd also like to see the wife get a better price for my stuff than a yard sale will ever bring. Anyone know of a tactic, trick or other means of liquidation that would do justice to all this stuff? I think I could take some of it to Canoecopia while/if I am able, right? What's your plan?

 

[sweeper]

I'll cull some my stuff but there will be a very nice estate sale once I'm gone, but I'm in no hurry.

 

[dougd]

I left basically a gear will for the better half with contact names and numbers for contact. There's only one boat and paddle she cares about so that goes to her. Figured it's better to have it down on paper then to leave it up to her.

 

[Alan Gage]

I've (hopefully) got a long way to go but I'm not very sentimental about most things and I guess I don't really care what happens to it. Well, that might not be entirely true but I'd rather see it not be a hindrance to whoever has to clean out all my junk rather than seeing them get the $$$ that it's actually worth. We all love a good gear score and I'd be happy to have my gear go that way and unexpectedly make someone's day

Maybe leave info on a couple forums you're active on along with your user name and password so they can list your gear for sale to people who know (knew) you. It can be played either of two ways: You're more likely to find people willing to pay a fair price or if you're gear is going to be gotten rid of on the cheap at least it will go to people who will appreciate it and think fondly of you when they use it.

But if I'm ever on death's door and Mike McCrea hasn't kicked the bucket yet I'll tell someone that the lightest solo boat I have is to be given to him. Or better yet I'll just tell them to give Mike everything and it's his job to disburse it all. His payment is a lightweight solo canoe.

Alan

 

[dougd]

"But if I'm ever on death's door and Mike McCrea hasn't kicked the bucket yet I'll tell someone that the lightest solo boat I have is to be given to him. Or better yet I'll just tell them to give Mike everything and it's his job to disburse it all. His payment is a lightweight solo canoe. "

Oh I like that...a lot! I might have to do that too! Maybe we can create a movement, The McCrea Get Rid of Dead Friends Stuff Agency or something like that! I think you're on to something Alan!

dougd

 

[Jim Dodd]

I have a terrible time seeing my canoes go !
I realize the time will come when I can no longer lift a hull up on top of my truck !
I look into my camping and canoeing room, and think, it's time for some stuff to go ! Surely if Mike M. was close by, he'd get a call !

For now My Family will get the job of Dispersal.

That's how How my Mother left it ! My sisters and I had a great time, reminiscing ! At the end we kept what we wanted, and the rest went to an Auction !

I only hope Alan comes down to either steal a good canoe at a bargain, or runs up the price on someone ! Ha !

Oh ! I have one more canoe to build ! It will fall apart as it floats down the Des Moines river carrying my ashes !

That way I can travel !


Jim

 

[memaquay]

Well Blackfly, if you want to start downsizing now, post some of your goodies for sale. I'm kinda flush right now, looking for things to buy. I've been giving canoes away and selling them lately, based on the fact that I haven't used some in a really long time. After I'm gone, I don't really care what happens to stuff, cause I'll be dead, lol.

 

[Guest]

I left basically a gear will for the better half with contact names and numbers for contact. There's only one boat and paddle she cares about so that goes to her. Figured it's better to have it down on paper then to leave it up to her.

Same here. I have a valid, witnessed will, and Advanced Directives, but I also have an addendum Will page dictating where each boat should go, including keep this one and that one and that one for various family member use, and give this one and that one to specified friends or in-laws, and maybe sell this one and that one, with boat particulars and suggested used values.

I have friends who passed leaving no Will or instructions, and it was a mess. I don’t much care about the tents and tarps and other gear; the boats are special.

A Last Will and Testament can be as simple as a signed/witnessed on-line form. The Advanced Directives is actually a check-the-box form provided by the office of the State Attorney General.

Maryland form, but better than no instructions left at all.

http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Health Policy Documents/adirective.pdf

Seriously, Google “Terri Schiavo”. Oh hell no!

But if I'm ever on death's door and Mike McCrea hasn't kicked the bucket yet I'll tell someone that the lightest solo boat I have is to be given to him. Or better yet I'll just tell them to give Mike everything and it's his job to disburse it all. His payment is a lightweight solo canoe.

I believe a written statement is legally binding in Iowa, and I saved a copy of that.

DougD only has one boat I want, his Rob Roy, and I bet I know which carbon paddle the missus already called dibs on.

First order of shop business was to give Doug the new custom made, full carbon double blade I picked up for him. He spent some bucks on that, but a lightweight carbon paddle is so freaking worth the cost. That stick will be ideal for his big decked tripper Optima, and suitable for low seat/low angle touring in the Rob Roy. Still in the sealed box, wrapped in plastic sleeves, with manufacturer literature attached.

OK, there was a double blade in the “sealed” box. An aluminum shaft Dick’s Sporting Good beast with badly broken plastic blades. Not worth fixing junk from the shop. Watching his face fall when he hefted the weighty plastic bags out of the box was a treat.

The cherry on top was that, despite my waving one of the paddles missing half the blade under his nose, he fixated his barely concealed disappointment at the clunky aluminum shaft without saying a word. Jeeze, I guess Doug was expecting something better for his buck.

It was a considerable straight-faced wait, trying not to bust up, until he finally saw the garbage blades and got the joke. That episode would have made a wonderful video. Doug has a helluva good laugh.

I bet I am willed Doug’s Disco which, while it should be in the Tripper Hall of Fame, will not ever be my canoe of choice.

 

[Boreal Birch]

Leave everything you own to one of us, we will quickly arrive, have a big yard sale to get rid of the things we think are junk. Most importantly will also comfort the widow.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Leave everything you own to one of us, we will quickly arrive, have a big yard sale to get rid of the things we think are junk. Most importantly will also comfort the widow.

Ha ha.. we will arrive in hordes like tripping blackflies! O Goody a Last Will and Testament Funeral Party and Campfire!

 

[Odyssey]

A good old fashioned wake. Plenty of music, food and drink. Pots of strong tea for those who don't imbibe. So yeah, just like a party.
Shall we fancy up Mike's final pine box wannigan with a few more reflective stickers?


My dear late Godmother was what you'd call sharp and hard. Someone you'd never want to cross, but really nice and kind under all that flint. When she knew her time was nigh she documented all her possessions, even going so far as to label everything in her home. I thought it weird at the time but understood afterwards. It was meant to eliminate any confusion and disagreements. (Who gets the bath towels?) It didn't work completely, but did for the most part. It seems ya can't please all the people, all the time...with all the bath towels.
We have wills, but haven't labelled anything. Our towels are still up for grabs. I honestly don't know which if any of our kids would want the tripping gear. They are all dear possessions to me, as much as I try not to be attached to material possessions. It would be nice to know they'd be going to folks and family who'd take them on trips, not stuffed into closets or the back of barns. Maybe I should call dibs on Mike's labeller?
When our mother passed one of my older brothers handled the affairs, he's such a thoughtful big brother. He asked everyone in the immediate family, sons, d-i-ls, g-kids etc to all come round to show and tell what single item held a special meaning for them. It's amazing sometimes how certain objects can hold so many memories. My wife chose a cut glass candy bowl my mom kept by the front door always full of candy. I chose the old garden spade. Too many memories in that sharp old blade. Anyway, this idea made more sense than simply divvying up the stuff. Or labelling. I've thought perhaps the original owner could write up notes for all the items to be dispensed with treasured stories to tell of that particular possession? A trinket with a tale? Hat. Paddle. Book. et cetera. Oh if only this boat could talk.

But no new possessions for me thank you. I've spent most of my adult life struggling with mindful decluttering with limited success. If we were to have a McCrea Last Will And Testament Party and Campfire (in a can) I'd choose to come away empty handed, but enriched by the company beyond measure. That would be priceless.

 

[Guest]

My dear late Godmother was what you'd call sharp and hard. Someone you'd never want to cross, but really nice and kind under all that flint. When she knew her time was nigh she documented all her possessions, even going so far as to label everything in her home. I thought it weird at the time but understood afterwards. It was meant to eliminate any confusion and disagreements.

My paternal grandfather could have been described the same way. And as a craftsman, but he died without a will, leaving a house alongside Lake Champlain, boats and cars and guns and a long lifetime’s worth of tools, hand crafted furniture and other possessions. He had four sons, then mostly scattered with families of their own.

They played cards for a night to divvy up his estate; no ante, no bets, no sense bluffing, just name the item or put it center table straight poker. They started with the little stuff and worked their way up boats, guns, cars and tools, concluding with the house. The only son who still lived in the area won the final hand for the house.

Everyone was happy. Especially my father, who was a very skilled poker player. And very skilled Dealer, he could sleight of hand cheat at will with a deck of cards, and later told me that he had worked the table so he would be last dealer.

The house and property are still McCrea owned today.

 

[BWCA66]

Just took 2 grandsons to the BWCA and I think they're hooked so maybe they will want my camping/canoeing/fishing stuff.

 

[Black_Fly]

Just took 2 grandsons to the BWCA and I think they're hooked so maybe they will want my camping/canoeing/fishing stuff.

Took my grandkids in 2017, and my grandson said he's NEVER coming back there. Spoiled brat.

 

[Guest]

About the poker for estate prizes, I recreated that game for my wife and her six siblings. When her mother died one of the things we took was a collection of rusty old saws. As luck would have it, seven saws, most of which, it turned out, were old enough to have belonged to her grandfather.

I spent (more than) a few days cleaning them up bright and shiny, and found a local saw sharpener/saw historian. He not only sharpened them, he gave me a short written history for each saw, what it was and was used for, the company that made it, the handle and shape and other who-knew saw minutia.

I put blade guards on them, wrapped them in plain brown paper with his history note tucked inside and gathered the siblings together around the kitchen table one Thanksgiving, telling them I had a game for them to play.

Seven hands of Poker for seven saws.

One of those saws was an antique Stanley with a factory engraving of a biplane on the blade. A very attractive antique saw with an interesting history. It was a high end saw back in the day and the eldest son, who does some wood work, won that hand.

No, it wasn’t me dealing, it was the fates.

Listening to them laugh and kibitz, opening the wrapping to reveal their winnings and reading the history of their saw aloud was well worth the cleaning effort and sharpening costs.

Even the keyhole saw was seemingly fated, it was “won” by the most prim and proper “Thee” and “Thou” speaking Quaker sister-in-law. The blade was slightly bent and the history essentially read “Unlike the other saws this is a cheap crapty modern day piece of junk, but I went ahead and sharpened it for you anyway. Good Luck”

 

[Seeker]

eBay is one place. CraigsList or Facebook Marketplace, with local pickup, would be another. I can't remember this forum's rules for selling (though i did buy a Chum here now that i think about it), but on another forum I frequent, you can list things for sale if you're a paying supporter... anyone can buy (keeps people from joining just to flog their trinkets).

I'm fortunate to have an heir. I also have a trusted friend who my wife knows to go to for advice on pricing my things.

 

[ppine]

I just finished updating my will and trust arrangements.
My good saddle, tack, rawhide reata, silver spurs and buckskin clothing is going to the Nevada State Museum in a package.
I as starting to give away some of my outdoor equipment to the Boy Scouts or anyone else that can use.
No one in the family really cares at all. The cousins, nieces, nephews, and my daughter are not outdoor people. In a way it feels like I have failed.
I have the 1929 Johnson outboard motor my Dad found in 1948. He gave me the old crosscut saw. He still has the Trapper Nelson I started backpacking with in 1960.
These conversations make me really sad.

 

[Robin]

My father in law passed away last year and left some nice hunting and fishing gear. Like a lot of folks we know, my wife's siblings left Connecticut for greener pastures so it was left up to us two to settle the estate. I mentioned the H & f gear to my brother in laws (his sons) and they showed little to no interest. Sell it they told me.

They where more interested in his flat screen and I pad.

So we ended up having a yard sale but I kept all the good gear, guns, and fishing rods and gave them to my 3 kids and 7 grand kids.

To sell his house we needed to do a ton of work and it required a lot of my equipment, truck, power washer etc so I considered that a good trade off.

As for my gear, my 3 kids all are outdoor types and they know the value I have for my stuff. It will be well taken care of by them, I even have 3 wood canvas Chestnut canoes for them and I hope my Duluth Packs are passed down to my Grandkids some day.

 

[Canotrouge]

I think and I hope that my daughter will still be an avid camper tripper when I die.... All of my stuff will go to her and my wife(after all the wife paid for all of it so it is basically hers!!) the worst is my tools, I don't know who will end up with all of it maybe I can sell some of it before I die and the money can go to who ever is still alive after me!!

But I like to think I'm a long ways away from the end!!

 

[Black_Fly]

I just need to adopt a foster tripper grandchild or little brother. Send me any deserving prospects you know.