You are right--they'd never just throw it away. Which is why I had to give them a few new things to do with all of it.

In my Shire, both couples started their families immediately, and lived together at Crickhollow until Merry had to become Master. So "Unca Pip" was almost like a second father to Merry's little ones. And he already had experience being a good uncle to his sister's children as well.