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[quote=Anonymous]OP, what did you decide to do, if you've done anything yet?

I have to agree that you should notify family members clearly and with a very specific date for when you need it out of your house--whether "out of the house" means donated, sold or given to a family member.

OP, you need to  know that the announcement that something that is thought of as a "family" piece is no longer wanted can spark a lot of memories, and a lot of sudden regrets or desire for an item to stay in the family, in some folks.

Some people who haven't thought about the rocking horse in many years might suddenly be contacting you to say, "Oh, I remember it so fondly and really hope you won't let it go out of the family" even if they then add that they, themselves, cannot take it. (After all, if you don't have room for it, likely others don't have room either, even if they are more sentimentally attached to it than you are). If you get that response, I hope you'll treat them gently. That [i]doesn't[/i] mean keeping an item if it's truly huge and you know for sure that you will not regret donating/selling it in years to come. But maybe, if someone comes to you begging you not to get rid of it but unable to take it themselves, you can hang onto it long enough to say, "I do have to have it out of our home but will extend this deadline only until New Date X so you can see if you can get anyone else to give it a home." Do stick to your date and do remind them closer to your deadline.

My close friend ran into all this with a family home that had to be cleared out and had some large items in it. No one had room in their own homes for these things but other than my friend and her sister, no one was willing to be frank and say, it's time to let this stuff go "out of the family." It did create some rancor, despite friend and sister doing their best to give people a lot of notice and a lot of time to take things or find others to take things. It was surprising to them how much emotion suddenly popped up over possessions once people heard those items were going to go away--but they had no way to take them for themselves. Just be aware that you might encounter this. I hope you don't, though.

I love the idea from a PP about seeing if this horse could be of interest to a local museum or historical society collection etc.[/quote]

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