There is a danger to making the list. The obvious one that nobody will speak of is that it will be used in the event of a divorce or some other legal matter. Instead of being able to spirit away all those items we bought in lieu of shoes, purses and make-up, they have now become tangible marital assets.
But the danger to not having the list is that certain small items that may be very valuable can end up going for sale in boxes of junk for a few dollars. I have a gunroom full of crap, but the few gems in there (for example a Bren Plessey sight now can sell for $3K to $5K) make proper listing important for the wife when I do cash it in. Same for carrier stuff out in the shed. The difference between $10 for the brass content or $200 for the sale value of a Bren AA stem mount depends on the proper ID and valuation of the item.
Just as important as the list is also the list of who does not come over the day after I go. I have heard of vultures coming over to houses while the body is still warm trying to claim a deal that does not exist. Rather, I have left instructions for the wife as to who can come over and properly evaluate the items, and not be out to make a quick buck.
As to mapping out the number of projects vs my expected life span, that is admitting mortality, and I am not quite there yet. I still haul home two or three projects for every one that I complete, and I am afraid I do not see an end to that cycle.
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