What are you going to do with all that audio gear when you kick off?!!! I've actually been thinking a lot about that now that I've been retired for a while. I was watching some YouTube videos of "explorers"' who go into abandoned manor houses and castles of owners who have died and nobody to pass it on to in Europe. There are hundreds of them, it looks like everything, including the linens, clothes and food in the kitchen were just left as is. In some cases, table place-settings on the table. It's all just rotting away. What a waste. Anyways.
Besides the audio gear, what about all your shop gear? Nobody in my family cares much about this stuff (and that includes my vinyl album collection) and it's within the realm of possibility that they just post them on Craigslist and make an uninformed guess at the price. My wife even told me to make a list of the "valuable stuff" - she's the opposite of me, a minimalist at heart, just wants to "clear the clutter". She said she'd offer the tools to our wife's husband and the rest would just get "cleaned out". She'd probably take $20 just to get something out of the house at no effort to herself. My kids are absolutely uninterested and clueless about anything that doesn't fit in their pocket or briefcase. I know if they try to sell it unguided, a lot of money and equipment will be squandered. This is a struggle for me, especially with stuff that a lot of blood sweat and tears has gone into keeping running.
I don't think all this gear belongs in a physical museum - there is not only too much of it that was produced and it's important to continue the legacy of quality. I don't think saying, "who cares, I'll be gone" is legacy worth leaving.
I'm thinking about two things - passing down an inheritance (money) and getting things into the hands of people who value the stuff and will preserve and protect it for their lifetime. (Not that I have all that much gear!) I will probably make an advance directive, outside of but right next to my will. It will probably have two categories - One is the systems that I want to get the most money for to pass along to my family upon my demise. The second list might be a "private sale" to a group of audio afficionados (a-hem, Audio Karma) that are quite invested (or just starting out). I would probably make a list of the equipment (which we should do for insurance purposes anyways), and a recommended price that would be affordable to a audio lover. Not interested in someone who would mark it up and make a buck at it, or someone just trying to build a collection.
I know I've discussed this before, but most of you may very well outlive me, so I'm bubbling this up once more to hear what the rest of you plan to do (or not). Thanks!
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