Are older generation primarily responsible for unsustainable lifestyle, other probs?

[PamNY]

As for too much stuff acquisition from previous generations: A close friend of mine is trying to sell a 4 bedroom house that she inherited from parents. She lives in this home herself which is gettin' too expensive for her to maintain..and now has to deal with a pile of wonderful antique furniture her parents left behind which she and a sister is unwilling to give up.

Moral: Absolutely don't accumulate too much possessions for the next generation or even now.

I found it emotionally wrenching to get rid off my parents' "stuff" -- but that was my problem, not theirs! They weren't wealthy, but they had a wide range of hobbies and interests. So I had to deal with camping gear, yarn, wood for carving, gardening equipment, sheet music -- the leftovers from two full and interesting lives.

I also found evidence of the depression-era mentality -- screws and buttons and lots of things that might be reused were saved. It was a large, painful and difficult job for me to sort, sell or give away the contents of their house. But I would never say they should have limited their interests or activities simply to spare me that task.

I don't want to criticize your friend, especially if she is grieving, but I would wonder about the emotional maturity of anyone who can't handle disposing of parents' possessions. Such things are a normal, albeit difficult, part of adult life.