I am watching a program on TLC (”Jon and Kate Plus 8″), and they are making their will. I’m not sure how people get to have eight children without already having a will, but I do know that people “don’t like to think about those things” and thus put it off.
With as many health problems as I’ve had (and the fact that I have had life-threatening complications of my endocrine disorder in the past), I have certainly thought about dying more than the average person my age. Yet, I don’t have a will, but I also don’t have heirs, so I don’t worry about it too much at this point. All of my accessible monetary assets have a second name on them, and my life insurance, retirement, etc., all have beneficiaries listed (some people, some charities). I hope that would be enough if something happened to me. The rest of what I own is just stuff — yes, some of it is sentimental stuff, but it’s just stuff. I don’t really care what happens to any of it…except my photographs. When I’ve thought about it seriously, the photos are the only thing that I’d find upsetting if I thought they’d be mishandled. I’ve taken so many photos (have basically been the family photographer for close to 20 years), and I go to great lengths to preserve my photos in ways that reduce fading and other problems. They are precious to me. So some day, when I sit down with a legal kit or an actual lawyer to make my will, that topic will probably be on my list to talk about. And woe to whoever handles my estate and has to deal with all my instructions regarding the photos! *grins* With any luck, by then we’ll have a budding photo historian in the family who will gladly take over my archives.
