We got to thinking about that during one of our walks in early spring. About it being just the two of us most of the time. About living in an oversized home with its oversized chores and oversized responsibilities. Week after week after week. After week.
Then we thought...well, now...why not just sell our oversized house with its oversized chores and oversized responsibilities and move into a place that is much more suitable? More appealing. Something smaller. Much smaller. With less chores and less responsibilities. Week after week after week. After week.
And the more we discussed this, the more we liked it. So much so that we called our real estate agent (the one who helped us find our present home) a few days later to invite him to come by and discuss the idea with us. He seemed to like it – for obvious reasons – and suggested that we either get the house ready to sell by the end of May or wait until mid to late September. Summer, he said, is very slow in real estate.
Although I would have loved to be done by now with this oversized home and its oversized chores and oversized responsibilities, we decided to wait until the end of September to put it up for sale. This month will be dedicated to a long list of smaller projects around the house and to helping my daughter get ready for university. And come the beginning of next month, when she’s happily settled in Ottawa, the most amazing man in the world will take three weeks off from work and together we will tackle a handful of bigger renovations. And right around the time that autumn arrives, we will put a “for sale” sign on our front lawn. Happily.
It’s going to be busy and tiring and probably a little overwhelming for the next several weeks. But also exciting. Because we are really looking forward to moving out of our oversized house with its oversized chores and oversized responsibilities and into a small, cozy and easily manageable space. My favourite kind of home.
What’s keeping you busy these days?
Awe congratulations and can I say I am SO very jealous! I approached the subject of downsizing with Uncle Jeffy because we no longer need our oversized house, but he will not hear of it. His response is, "I lived in a trailer before and I ain't livin' in one again". hahaha But seriously, I'm happy for you.
ReplyDeleteYou have to find the magic button, girl. For the most amazing man in the world, the two most beautiful words ever to come together are his greatest motivator: "early retirement". Once we downsize, that is going to be possible!
DeleteWow this is a big undertaking, good for you guys! Lovely photos btw.
ReplyDeleteIt is a big undertaking but the end result will be great!
DeleteI am so attached to my home and area, it will be tough for us to do that.
ReplyDeleteThat is a hard thing to do if you've been in the same neighbourhood for a long time.
DeleteI am so excited for you both!! It is wonderful that you reached this conclusion now and are comfortable with it. I'd be content in a 2 bedroom/2 bath 1000 square foot house, but then I'm married to a musician who needs at least one room if not more for all his stuff. I do agree, go with smaller and less chores and more time to enjoy life :)
ReplyDeleteI hope it sells quickly when it goes on the market! I think pacing yourself with projects is a good way to get it all done and not to feel too overwhelmed.
betty
Thanks, Betty. We'd be thrilled to find a place that is about 1000 square feet. Our home is twice that size right now and I cannot stand taking care of it anymore. When we downsize, we will do exactly as you say: have less chores and more time to enjoy life!
DeleteI'm not sure do you want to sell your oversized house because of its oversized chores and oversized responsibilities? LOL
ReplyDeleteFrom my experience... the best move ever! It's going to be really stressful but it's more than worth it in my opinion.
One of the best motivators is ditching the oversized chores and oversized responsibilities! Definitely worth downsizing. We're both looking forward to a more manageable place so we can enjoy life!
DeleteGood luck with your home-hunting and selling. Yes, transitioning to empty nesters is a huge change, but a good one.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda. We are very excited about this move!
DeleteI live on a farm so everything keeps me busy.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the reno and wishing you a quick sell.
Yes, I can imagine how busy farm life will keep you!
DeleteCongratulations, that's a big decision and exciting! Love the ant on the daisy
ReplyDeleteIt is a bit of an adventure for us. It'll be wonderful to move to a new home that is much smaller and easier to maintain. It'll free up a lot of time!
DeleteCan't wait to see where you end up! We are in the planning stages of such a move. It will take us a couple of years just to clear away the clutter! Good luck with your house hunting!
ReplyDeleteThings certainly accumulate the longer we live in one place. Moving is a great way to get rid of some of it!
DeleteBig changes for you Martha, have you picked out a place where you would like your undersized house with the undersized chores and responsibilities to be :)
ReplyDeleteWe've scouted some neighbourhoods and have chosen a few that we'd love to live in. They all have undersized house with undersized chores and undersized responsibilities :)
DeleteSounds like a big change for you! All the best in preparing your house for sale, and I hope the move goes smoothly and easily!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bethany! It is a big change but a good one. We are very excited about it.
DeleteThis is so exciting! Are you going to stay in the same community?
ReplyDeleteWe've going to stay in the same city but not in the same neighbourhood. The houses in this section are mostly too big and some are too expensive. We want a much smaller home with a much smaller overhead!
DeleteYes...all the above questions...staying in the same area??? We have tried to move several times...but never agree on what to buy!! hahaha! Best of luck Martha...keep us posted!!
ReplyDeleteWe actually contemplated moving to another city in Ontario but decided it's not a good idea while my daughter is in university. Maybe after she graduates and truly heads out on her own, we may consider it.
DeleteI hear downsizing is the smart thing to do
ReplyDeleteIt certainly can be in many ways for those that it appeals to. For us, less responsibilities, less chores, less overhead...all great things.
DeleteGood luck in your new venture. I look forward to how it goes. You're sharp to look after this move now rather than wait.
ReplyDeleteThank you! We are very excited about this move. Our next home will be much smaller and so will the monthly expenses! Win-win all around.
DeleteOur kids are heading towards their teens and we are planning to upsize!
ReplyDeleteThat makes sense at this stage in your lives. For us it's the opposite. It'll soon be jus the two of us and a large home is not appealing.
DeleteGood luck with your downsizing!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHow exciting, Martha! Lots of changes coming up for you but when the dust settles I hope you find yourself in the perfect house with the perfect garden!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Francie. I hope so, too. We've visited a few open houses to see what interests us and we have an idea of what we really want. Hopefully it all works out. Selling a home and trying to find another at the same time is quite complicated! The timing is not always good. Fingers crossed that we get lucky.
DeleteVery good pictures to go with this post. And since I already knew about these fab plans, you also aready know that I thonk this is a great idea. Cheers and boogie boogie.
ReplyDeleteYou get all the previews of what's coming up :)
DeleteI love what your doing for yourselves, a smaller house will let you enjoy all the possibilities of having less to do, less to pay, but oh my dear girl, please make it a small home, a smaller house but never ever move into an apt no matter how much the appeal it will never be worth it. Buy a small home that will be magnificent, and will let you enjoy the outdoors more with little upkeep less money to pay and still have all the loveliness of owning your own place. I can see it in my mind and I CAN feel how much more happy you both will be, all my blessings to this new home I know you will find and never, ever regret the change. I can't wait to see it, atta girl !
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lorraine, for these lovely comments! We thought about getting an apartment but we're not ready for that. Being able to enjoy some gardening is still very important to me and I can't imagine giving it up so soon in my life. So we will definitely search for a much smaller home that will not overwhelm us with high monthly expenses and an overload of chores and responsibilities. A small home will be easy to maintain and clean, we'll still be able to enjoy our own space and we'll have more free time to enjoy life. A winning combination in every which way!
DeleteMartha, I really do think this is a good idea ... and wish you all well in your forthcoming plans. I'm sure it will be an amazing and busy time.
ReplyDeleteHappy August, an exciting month.
All the best Jan
Thanks, Jan! Have a great month ahead. Ours will definitely be very busy but well worth all the work we have planned.
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