What would happen if you died?

[NeutronMan]

I dont think the wife would notice I died, well sooner or later the debit card will get declined.

Same here.

 

[User1]

This may be a morbid question and maybe someone has asked this before, but I can’t be the only one who has thought about this. God forbid something were to happen to me, my wife knows nothing about my reef tank.

This is not morbid but actually a much needed question that all in the hobby should answer one way or another. Especially if you potentially long living creatures. Someone needs to know not only the value of equipment and livestock but most important what to do with some of them in case local stores, or fellow hobbyists, can't. That means numbers for public aquariums or special aquaculture retail.

I was doing a financial review a year or so back when they asked if I had a letter to my loved one. I said no, I retired from the military a while ago. She said no, let me clarify and proceeded to say a document, or documents, of my account numbers, pin numbers, games, portals, names, etc - anything associated with me day to day that she may not know about but may need to should something happen. To include my hobbies - the reef tank. Letter gets put into a fire proof box with a duplicate at a bank box. Now they know what to do with the parrot who may live 40 years. Or the clam in my tank that is however many years. Or the corals, etc.

Key is to do an information dump then make a date night when you both review / update it once a year. Then this thread doesn't ask the question for you. You are already ahead of the game...

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Always important to have wills, power of attorneys, beneficiaries, etc

if i go, my wife hits the life insurance jack pot. She locks the front door and leave the house as is, fish tank and all and moves to a tropical island with our daughter to live. She might drop me off in the woods on the way to the airport :D

 

[JCOLE]

I have thought about this as well. However, it is a double edged sword. On one hand I want to go over everything and let her know how much to get for each item. However, after I made out the list she would probably be the one to kill me after seeing the total.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

I have thought about this as well. However, it is a double edged sword. On one hand I want to go over everything and let her know how much to get for each item. However, after I made out the list she would probably be the one to kill me after seeing the total.

I would make an exception and break my 57 minute drive rule to come get your tank for you :D

 

[NeutronMan]

I have thought about this as well. However, it is a double edged sword. On one hand I want to go over everything and let her know how much to get for each item. However, after I made out the list she would probably be the one to kill me after seeing the total.

Haha yes I know what you mean! I figure that the money will find her eventually.

 

[robbyg]

I used to make a living buying dead people's stuff and reselling it. No matter how passionate you are about reefing, collecting sports memorabilia, or whatever your passion is, the people you leave behind won't care if they weren't passionate about it too. And if you have a reefing buddy you want to leave it to you better put that in writing. Otherwise, your heirs will just put all your stuff up for sale for pennies on the dollar, split the proceeds and move on their way.

In this hobby I think most people are young enough that they don't really think about these things.
One of my other Hobbies is full of guys in their 70s-90s and the forums are full of notifications about members who passed away. I have seen my share of posts where one guy says he knew the guy who died and his so called buddies sold his equipment on eBay and gave his wife pennies on the dollar. It's a sad reality of the world we live in! As I said before take photos of your expensive stuff and put a price next to it. That way your spouse or kids will know the value.
If your worried about the problem of the wife seeing it then I suggest you print out the pictures and leave them in a sealed envelope with your Will.

 

[H@rry]

Another local reefer and I have discussed this and our spouses have been instructed to call the other when one of us chokes on a chicken bone. Come get whatever you want and liquidate the rest.

 

[JCOLE]

I would make an exception and break my 57 minute drive rule to come get your tank for you :D

Lol. I guess that means if I pass then you will be driving twice as slow...

 

[JCOLE]

Haha yes I know what you mean! I figure that the money will find her eventually.

That's the spirit. Now I need her to buy that as well

 

[Mikeht11]

Romantic version: My passing would probably spark memories of me and she would develop a passion for reefkeeping.

Reality: Prys the phone out of my hand, calls the LFS and tells them come and get it. NOW

Im gonna have to agree with the above response

 

[mucky1957]

The boss knows who to contact and give it all to him to dispose of as required. While my wife likes the tank she has nothing to do with it and wants nothing to do with it.