Have never posted here but my DD and I will be moving next summer to MA and have a bunch of plastic totes we moved up with us 7 years ago after my DH passed from CA to WA. At the time we couldn't manage the thought of getting rid of stuff and moved them here. we've been going through them the past few weeks.
To date have sorted through 17 totes, only 7 are filled with items we are keeping of my DH's, childhood items, special keepsakes, photos. Have donated most of the items to Salvation Army (I can't deal with having garage sales, would rather take the tax break) sold books and dvd's to half price books and consigned a few items.
Still have about 6-7 totes left and will go through Christmas stuff after the holidays, and going to be donating our two trees to DD school. Need to start going through scrapbooking items again too soon which I donate to a local women's shelter.
Had gone through our clothes after Christmas and donate to women's shelter and orphanage in Haiti, usually do this yearly anyways.
It's been a shared project for us and going through our memories have been healing.
Good luck to all in this process of decluttering take one day/area/box at a time.