In the summer of 2010, my parents realized that the 2100 square foot home they built when I was in the 4th grade had become more than they needed. My brother and I were living out of state, and mom and dad were looking ahead to retiring and moving to their quaint cottage in northern Michigan. My husband Luke and I volunteered to help them downsize to a temporary rental house. If I had to pick two words to summarize the process, they would be “emotionally stressful.”  

Moving: the act of simply transferring all your things from one home to another is challenging. A downsizing move, though, is: Even. More. Stressful! I’m guessing my parents were worried they were taking this step prematurely. I, on the other...