God, I hate to ask this…

Sorry to hear about the OP Health Issues.

This topic has been discussed here and it’s time to face reality, which is that most of the world doesn’t value physical media or the boxes that play them.  
  The sensible thing to do is acknowledge that our boxes and petroleum products are not as important as our loved ones, and that the best thing we can do for them is to lighten the burden.  I would offer all the gear at fire sale prices either to second hand stores or the internet.  That would be priority #1.  The software-no one wants it, and if your time and strength are limited I would offload the gear.  Save yourself one headphone system and perhaps the smallest of your systems for your final listening sessions.

  I have had to be the executor in the last 10 years of my parents and in laws.  Even the most organized of them presented a myriad of challenges, as the financial institutions make settling affairs as complicated as possible.  Believe me, you don’t want to burden your heirs with your stuff as well

Thank you for your sobering and thoughtful post, William.  My heart goes out to you.

I have legitimately prayed for your peace, and thoughtful examination into your eternal soul's final destination. We will all face death and it's long shadow forces us to make honest evaluations of everything in our remaining life and afterlife. 

You mentioned that the people you consider most inclined to inherit your gear won't talk of it. I understand their reluctance. May I proffer that you will it to them in a way that they will most appreciate what you have given them- perhaps with exhaustive explanations of that makes it special and how to maximize it's enjoyment. 

I'd also suggest asking your local dealer or a dealer who will speak honestly with you to quote a purchase price with agreement to deconstruct and move the equipment out of it's location with zero hassle to your wife at a time best for her. Of course TMR is an option, but they pay 30% of retail at best. I'm pretty sure a competent dealer could do better. 

May God bless and keep you William. 

Wow - what a moving post. A reminder of my own mortality and who is in charge and it ain't me. I had just finished editing a document on my computer entitled "How to live my life without me" – a comprehensive guide to knowing what to do with all my stuff when I am dead and gone. The document presumes that along the way before the end, I will be too sick or not care enough at that point to tell them what I want.

I would keep it simple. The energy that you still have now might be best spent on people and not on stuff.

That said, I believe that the simplest path forward is to speak to the dealer who sold you the bulk of your stuff and ask them to help out your family after you are gone, or unable to participate in this particular process.

I bought a vintage tuner from a dealer, who told me that the family of one of their long-time collector clients had asked him to help move along the components he had in his collection (almost all McIntosh equipment), after his death. I was struck by the joy that the dealer had in the (re)discovery of the cool things in the collection, and in helping them find new homes. I bet knowing someone will have that joy of discovery that you once had with your components will sit better with you now, than worrying that the stuff will feel like a burden to those grieving your incapacity or loss.

Hang in there. The poet Carlyle wrote "It's not life, but living, that matters". I will pray that you enjoy all the living that you have in you, as long as you can. As a mentor once said, "If you can tell the difference between a noun and a verb, I'm in favor of verbs". 

Tim
 

I’m so sorry to hear of your health issues. I know there is little we can do to help with that, but I’m sure we can help you and you wife sell that closet full of stuff.

All the best!

You know the old joke: an audiophile’s greatest fear is that his widow will sell off his gear for the prices he told her he paid for it…