At Wise Moves, we meet many families in transition. They are making what can be a very difficult decision to downsize — to re-imagine their lives after many years in their homes. They are attached to the possessions they have accumulated over decades.

One of our favorite clients — let’s call her Mrs. Miller — made that decision several years ago. Wise Moves helped her through every step of that transition as she pared down the contents of her rambling suburban home and landed in a smart and sassy two-bedroom condo. It was hard work, but in the end, Mrs. Miller was delighted.

But it wasn’t the end for Wise Moves’ relationship, because we told her about the Wise Refresh program. Mrs. Miller was the perfect candidate. A lively, independent woman, Mrs. Miller could depend on her family for emergencies, but she didn’t want to burden her daughters with the everyday issues in which she could use a little help.

Mrs. Miller had loved decorating for Christmas, but she had trouble retrieving her boxes of holiday decorations from the condo’s storage unit. Wise Refresh came to her rescue: One December morning, our team brought the boxes upstairs and set out the creches, holiday plates and garlands as she delightly watched our progress and told us stories about some of her dearest Christmas possessions.

In January, we came back to carefully wrap and pack up the decorations under her watchful eye and returned them to the storage unit.

Mrs. Miller’s wardrobe is divided by seasons. Her winter clothes are in the master bedroom closet; the summer things in the guestroom. Through the Wise Refresh program, our team will return this May to do the switch — and while we are at it, we’ll talk to her about packing up a box of clothing she no longer wears to be donated to someone who might use them.

Mrs. Miller is a sweet and kind person who tells fascinating tales about her girlhood and what it was like to live in Washington, D.C. decades ago. What a treat for us that through Wise Refresh, we get to hear more as we pack and organize throughout the year.