Gifting

[FLY-DOG]

As I start to get older I sometimes think about what I will do with my “stuff” upon my passing. I’ve been blessed by being able to help many relatives and others through college by paying for their tuition and books and giving them laptops for school so they could get a start in life. I have and continue to collect items I cherish but are unimportant to my relatives such as my kids, grand kids and others. They would only sell those items I cherish to liquidate for cash. Over the years and even up till now I’ve have many close friends and acquaintances that share similar interests such as guns, motorcycles, hot cars, boats, Rolex watches, or fine cigars. Although no single friend has all the same interests as me, each friend shares in at least one or two of my passions. I have my car buddies, my boat buddies, my motorcycle buddies, my shooting buddies, etc. Of course if my wife out lives me she’ll get the house, her personal car and all our savings, but that still leaves a lot of stuff she’s not interested in. Instead of leaving al my cherished hobby stuff and watches to relatives I have come up with the idea that I should put in my will to “gift” the stuff I most cherish to friends or acquaintances outside the family. I feel friends that share my in my interests would be more appreciative being gifted that special antique gun or decked out off shore fishing boat, or that Rolex I bought new when returning from the first Gulf War. I cherish these items because each watch, each gun, or each motorcycle or car has a history or story behind it that I’ve recorded and I’d rather leave them to someone with a shared passion. I’m not sure what some family members will think because they may be surprised that they are coming up empty and a total stranger to them is getting something of relatively great value but I’ve pretty much made my mind up….. and, my heart tells me that it’s the right thing to do. I know I’ve rambled a bit on getting to the point but am wondering if anyone else feels the same or would you just automatically leave everything to immediate family members because that’s what’s expected of you? I’ve still got another 25 – 30 years if I’m lucky and by then will have even more nice “stuff”, that’s why I’m trying to sort through these thoughts now and not wait until I get too old to do it. Your input and thoughts would be most appreciated.