Downsizing: One Year Later
One year has passed since we made the decision to downsize and move out of our family home. I’m sharing thoughts on the decisions we made, what I would do differently, and what I love about our new home.
In the fall of 2021, we made the life-changing decision to sell our family home, and move to something smaller. The process was stressful and arduous, but it was worth every single sore muscle!
We recently celebrated the one year anniversary of our move, and like many of you have experienced as well, the first year was filled with change and adaptations. Some of the changes I welcomed with open arms, and others took more adjustment.
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Moving + Downsizing
Catch up on our journey from the beginning!
Our Decisions
One of the questions that has been asked the most from my readers is “do you have any regrets?” I don’t even have to think about it because the answer is no.
Keep in mind that regrets are not the same thing as doubts. I had doubts during and after the entire process, but as one thing after another fell into place, even the doubts began to recede.
Moving from one home to another involves (what seems like) a million decisions. When it comes to making those decisions, the bottom line is that you just do the best you can. From start to finish, our move took just over two months. If I had given us more time, that decision-making would have been different.
Time is freedom. Since I didn’t give us ample time for the move, I didn’t have the freedom to make every decision exactly the way I wanted to…but in the end, it all turned out fine!
What Would I Change?
When I look back at the move itself, there is one thing I would do differently. I should have found a way to replace the existing carpet before we moved in. Again, if I had given myself more time, I perhaps could have figured it out. But then again, maybe not!
I was determined that every room would receive a fresh coat of paint, and if I had relaxed that a bit, I might have been able to work new carpet into the budget. But then I would have had unpainted rooms…which would have driven me crazy too. We also got all new kitchen appliances. Looking back now, I see that those could have waited. It’s much easier to replace appliances after a move than it is to replace carpet. But…what’s done is done.
Takeaway: carefully consider your big budget items, and most importantly, think ahead. At the time, I thought replacing the carpet after the move would be no big deal. Now, the thought of moving beds, dressers, and other large pieces of furniture is daunting. I still want the carpet gone…but it will just have to wait!
Life is Easier
One of the things I wanted and needed the most, and a huge reason why we moved in the first place, was easier upkeep. Even though we had already done so much, our house on Sutton Place needed work that included big renovations, constant repairs, and a large wooded lot to maintain.
Life is so much easier in our new home. The yard is small, the house is just six years old so everything still feels new, and nothing needs renovated. The landscaping is pretty, but very contained. The house and garage are a cinch to keep clean. It’s all very manageable and straightforward.
What Do I Miss?
I miss two things from the house on Sutton Place. I miss my garden, and I miss the twin bookshelves that were in the living room.
I broke ground for that fence row garden 20 years ago, when I was so much younger. I loved planting, watering, and watching everything grow. There were many failures, but there were also many beautiful successes. The thought of starting over again doesn’t interest me at all, in fact it’s a bit overwhelming. I plan to expand my backyard container garden, and add some perennials to our front landscaping. That’s enough for now.
In regards to the bookshelves, it may seem like a silly thing to miss, but I truly do miss them. They were perfect for seasonal decor, and I loved the challenge of making them look just right. Those bookshelves gave that old living room such character, and that’s hard to duplicate in a new home. So I’m not going to try. I enjoy decorating our mantel, so that has become my new seasonal spotlight!
Food for Thought
There are many reasons for downsizing and moving. If you’re like me, you just want everyday life to be easier. Perhaps you need to relocate to be closer to family, or require a different floor plan. No matter what the reason, the process is filled with questions, doubts, and decisions.
If you think a move may be in your future, the two most important things to remember are that no move is perfect, and there’s no right or wrong way to do it.
So follow your heart, listen to your family, remember that you are resilient, and take it one step at a time. Confront your fears, and then put them behind you. You’ve got this!
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