When I talk or write about my down sizing experiences, I immediately get the same response. "What would I do with all my stuff?"
I say, "Get rid of it."
They say, some version of---Oh-h, but that was my grandmother's, that was my mother's, when we did that or lived there, when the kids were little.
I do get it. I have sentimental things that have no purpose and I just can't part with. When we down-sized here at home base, I took two cedar chests (one had belonged to my grandmother and one to my spouse's mother) to the summer cabin. I had promised myself to pare down my "keepsakes" to those two chests and I did. Since we are now settled in our tiny house at the home campground, I brought those two chests back this season. I went through them again and organized them to go into the small storage shed we have at home.
I greatly enjoyed just touching and seeing some of my mementos. I am glad to have them near, but they will go into hibernation and who knows when they'll ever emerge.
The thing is, having some things that just are special and remind you of other times and people is not bad. BUT, if you have your rooms, your cabinets and closets, your storage areas completely filled with useless stuff, you honestly are smothering your life today. You are not living your grandmother's or mother's life. You are not even living the life you lived 10 years ago---at least, you shouldn't be.
You should be living your life today, in the present. You should have the things around you that you use everyday in that life. By all means, if you still bake and cook and entertain lots of folks and family, keep all the dishes and tools that you love to use. Don't keep cabinets and drawers of stuff that you truthfully never use any more. Pardon me, but it's just crap. Nobody needs 6 spatulas. Trust me, you can get rid of massive amounts of material things in your life and still be very happy. As a matter of fact, you will find that you will feel much better when you have cleared away clutter and excess.
Give your children things NOW, not after you're dead. Give things to people that really could use them. Sell it, trash it, donate it. Go out and get something that you really could use or just want. LET GO of the past. I don't mean merely the distant past. You and life has changed since last year, since last month. Just because you were happy in another time and place doesn't mean that you would be now. Memories are in your heart, keep them there, not cluttering your space now. If you are lucky enough to be in the world, give yourself room to breathe and enjoy it.