5 THINGS ABOUT A NEW TAKE ON SCALING DOWN

Introducing the party where you give gifts, not receive them

1 OFFER FOOD AND DRINK

Instead of leaving books, old candelabras, collections of seasonal table linens to be picked over by strangers at an estate sale, Karen and Fritz Mulhauser, an aging couple, decided to take a different approach to downsizing. They sent out invitations, served food and poured mimosas.

2 APPROACH GENERATES ENVY

The party was full of envious people. Not envious of their stuff. It was, after all, an opportunity to take anything they’ve coveted. But envious of the approach. “I’ve had to deal with the downsizing of my parents’ home,” said Laura Henderson, 60. “It wasn’t easy. Something like this would’ve made it so much easier.”

3 HAPPY OUTCOME WITH FLUTE FLUKE

The mimosas were served in some of their 200 champagne flutes that said “Happy 60th Karen” (she just turned 77; they’ve been gathering dust for years). But a stroke of unlikely good fortune came when a friend also named Karen announced she was turning 60 this month. Take a few dozen!

4 EVERY ITEM HAS A STORY

Guests walked out with canvas bags and boxes bulging with mugs, pots and pans, dishes, candles and tablecloths. As each dish or mug left, Karen told a small story to go along with it.

5 ‘MULHAUSING’ WITH MAGNANIMITY

What the Mulhausers did is similar to the Swedish practice of “death cleaning,” a downsizing and organizational philosophy, but with some magnanimity in mind. The Swedes call it döstädning. Maybe the Mulhausers have created another version. It should absolutely be called “Mulhausing.”