Moving Dilemma & Sentimental Stuff

So, I read an article online about houses getting larger in the USA. Why?
 I'm in the process of downsizing to move into a smaller place. Rented this time. Home ownership was the American dream, but.... who really likes to paint, winterize, summarize(?), change light bulbs, mow lawn and cut weeds? Among the myriad of other chores that go along with house ownership. Does the house own you, or do you own the house? I used to like doing these things, a lifetime ago.
Looking around at things that I once held on to because of sentimental "value" are now going into big trash bags. There is nothing of value attached to these articles anymore. Don't need to be saving every little thing because if something is truly dear to my life, I will remember it.
My Grandpa Julian was the dearest person in my life (other than my children) and memories of him are almost as vivid today as when they happened years past.
I remember:
- climbing onto his lap when I had a stomach ache. He would rub my belly and say a little Spanish ditty to make the pain go away. Usually worked.
-climbing onto his lap to have him read the Bible to me.
-sitting at the kitchen table from lunch to whenever he came home to relieve me from the chair because I wouldn't eat what was on my plate. Most of us have been told that we had "sit there until you finish that food! There are starving people in China!'
-being told someone was coming for a visit and I had to give up my bed. Mind my manners and don't complain. As a child this usually meant sleeping with my grandpa and learning how to repeat the Lord's Prayer in Spanish.
So many memories connected to him.
I remember the dates, times & weights of each of my children births. Even the weather outside on those dates.
Now I look around me and see a bunch of stuff. Where did all this come from? Most of the stuff doesn't conjure up any memory, good or bad. Hmmm. Is all this stuff from my shop-til-I-drop days. Pathetic. Don't misunderstand, I am getting rid of stuff that does bring back some memory or other. But, those are no longer important. Bye-bye.
I've moved almost everything that is important to me to a storage unit. Was stressing about some things until this was posted on facebook. Very appropriate, don't you think?
Have a great day!