September 12, 2024
Volume 54 - No. 37
Five Life Saving Tips
to Adventurous Downsizing by R. L. “Pete” Peterson Gregg Stanton stood in the living room of his former house, his body racked with sobs, tears blurring his vision. He’d planned to sell his house and move into a senior living community, before Johnanna died. But after her funeral, he’d been so depressed, so hurt, so angry, that the simplest of chores – mowing the yard, clipping shrubs, grocery shopping tired him out and the projects Johnanna reminded him to do went undone. An only child of a first generation family, he and Johnanna were
childless; his only family member, Johnanna’s uncle, lived in Pennsylvania and was in poor health. The people Gregg had worked with at Plastic Molding were retired; his Social Security and retirement checks were on automatic deposit, so there was no reason to go to the bank. It was a hassle to get up early, so Gregg quit his bowling team, dropped out Kiwanis, his only outing a two or three times a week drive to the Country Inn for a late breakfast and early dinner. Most of his time was spent indoors thinking of days gone by. He’d trim the roses tomorrow. Get his high blood pres-
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sure prescription refilled tomorrow, call his insurance agent tomorrow. One night wondering for what he never knew, he stumbled and fell. Luckily, his bare legs were spotted by his neighbor. She called 911. This simple act of kindness set in motion an onslaught of government and non-government agencies, who “acting in his best interests” turned Gregg’s life upside down. Within weeks the court ruled that he was incompetent, unable to act on his own behalf. The organizations and people he owed money to – the I.R.S., his Home Owner’s Association, the
city of Escondido, the State of California, pressed their demands to be paid immediately. To settle these claims, Gregg was forced to sell his house and close out his savings. His resources depleted, he moved into the cheapest assisted living facility he could find, where he knew no one, and no one knew him. Three years later, he died. Gregg was one of approximately 237,000 seniors a year forced by circumstances to downsize - the one word seniors fear more than cancer. We agree Gregg’s experience is extreme; experts say there
Downsize See Page 2