Hello, friends. My blogging break continues, but I wanted to pop in with a quick life update. There's a lot happening this summer, though little of it relates to books...
For the past several years I've been lamenting that fact that we're upside down when it comes to real estate - a big house in central NY where we now spend only summers and holidays, and a small one in FL, which has become our primary residence. This past spring we decided the time had come to sell our NY home. After some intensive prep work, we listed the house in mid-July. To our surprise, we received an offer four days later, and reached a final agreement the following day.
Since then we've been preparing to right-size (I don't like the term down-sizing) - furniture, clothing, so much stuff! Our plan is to move in with my parents shortly after Labor Day as we continue to empty the house in preparation for an early October closing.
Once we're back in Florida, we will look for a house that's larger than the one we currently own, but much smaller than the one we're leaving in NY.
Most of my mental space these days is occupied with planning, logistics, and a healthy dose of nostalgia. I'm very excited about the move and know it's the right thing to do, but it's still bittersweet. You would not believe the things I've saved over the years! We've lived in our home for nearly 27 years and in this town for 31 years...
As you might expect, I haven't been reading much of anything - just 2 books since the beginning of July. I don't see that changing for the next couple of months, so will just post occasional updates here. I'm still on Instagram, will keep my goodreads page updated, and will also read and comment on your blogs as time allows.
It's going to be an exciting few months!
That does sound exciting but I can see how it will be bittersweet as well. Good luck with all the moving!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathy. The next few months will be a challenge, but I think we're up to it!
DeleteOh my! These are big changes for you. It feels like the right move for you, and that's what we should always follow, I think. It will be sad for you to leave your home of so many years, but I'm sure you will enjoy the people around you and the home you find in Florida.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the fun of planning and prepping for this new life you are creating.
Deb - This will be a big change, but we're ready and excited!
DeleteI'd say I'm sorry to see you go, but to be honest, I visit with you here on the blog. It can be quite a thing, though, I imagine after living in one place for so long. It was bittersweet when the house I lived in with my parents for more than 20 years (yes, I lived there after college for a time) recently was sold...or is in the process of selling. And certainly with everything going on, understandable why you won't be on the blog much. I'll look for you on Instagram. :) And best of luck to you and your husband on the move.
ReplyDeleteBryan - In some ways, this move will be harder for our daughters and I feel bad about that. We moved around a lot when I was growing up, but my parents still live in the house where I grew up from 6th grade on. It will be difficult for me when I no longer have that home to visit, so I can imagine how you must feel now. We have a couple of weekend getaways planned in September to break things up a bit... one to Lake Placid and another to Seneca Lake. The change of scenery might be a welcome escape for the boxes!
DeleteI imagine the process is bittersweet, I hope it all goes well for you.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a great week
Thanks, Shelleyrae... it's going to be an interesting few months!
DeleteThe last time we moved I was reviewing professionally and had no choice to stop reading. It was hectic! You are wise to put your full attention on the changes. I hope it goes smoothly.
ReplyDeleteJudy - This seems even more daunting because we haven't moved in SO long... moving kids around isn't quite the same thing! I'll still have a book going at all times, but don't expect to finish very many ;-)
DeleteJoAnn, that is all so exciting! Best wishes for the move!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robin! We are very excited, but there's SO much to do!
DeleteWow talk about an eventful summer! Hope all goes well as you make the big move!
ReplyDeleteIliana - Thank you. I'm sure I'll pop in for a quick update now and then, but there probably won't be much bookish content for a few months!
DeleteVicki - Downsizing just seems like such a negative word to me, so I embraced "right sizing" the first time I came across it. Our house up here is much too big for us now, and maintenance/taxes too expensive for it to stay vacant so much of the year.
ReplyDeleteI do hope your move turns out to be just what you need, although I do know how bittersweet changes can be.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week and a smooth move.
Laurel-Rain Snow - Thank you, and I know you do!! Lately I'm reminded of that old Dilbert comic strip the says "Change is good. You go first."
DeleteGood luck! We did the same two years ago. My weekly update
ReplyDeletePussreboots - Thanks! If you guys did it, I'm hoping we can manage, too.
DeleteWow, these are definitely some big life changes! Fingers crossed for smooth sailing with the closing and the move!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Angela. It's going to be crazy here the next few months!
DeleteWow JoAnn, what a big change. I wish you well with your big move. Who will I commiserate with now about winter? I will miss hearing about your NY lake place but I know in the long run you'll be happier -- and since you're excited that's what matters. Take some time with saying goodbye there.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. It's a big change, but I know it's the right thing to do. It's funny, but I can point to exactly when the switch flipped for me and winter... close to 10 years go now, but an especially horrible winter when we had an ice damn on the front of our house. I was awake many nights listening to water drip as the ice melted. We'll still spend summers here, but maintaining such a large house for so little time no longer makes sense.
DeleteGod bless! What great news for you! We've moved (cough, cough) way too many times in my adult life, that it becomes a nuisance but not terrifying. I still have relatives in FL and the price of housing has gone up there as it is still a seller's market, at least since last year when my daughter went from a rental to buying a home north of Tampa.
ReplyDeleteWe've lived on both sides of FL, the Gulf side is a slower moving, quieter area for the most part and the east coast has a faster vibe to it (making generalizations, of course).
I never lived in one home for 27 years but I can still relate to the nostalgia. There are homes we've lived in that we now miss but as Wolfe said, You can't go home again.
Sending you good thoughts and wishes for a smooth move! I love your blog so will keep my eyes open for posts in the future.
Rita - I know you've had lots of experience in this department and I'm trying to draw on memories from all the moves we made when I was growing up. The good thing for us is that we already have a place in FL, so are under no real time pressure to find a new one. It's been liberating to get rid of things we've accumulated over the years and no longer need. Think we'll both be a lot more conscious about what we accumulate in the new place. I plan to be back reading and blogging about books later this fall.
DeleteWow! I love when people know what they want to do and then do it!
ReplyDeletePatty - We have been dithering about this decision for years! I'm so glad we're finally moving forward :)
DeleteWow! You do have your hands full, but what an exciting change. It must be hard to say goodbye to your NY home, but also so good to be moving toward a situation that will work better for you. Plus, finding a new home in FL will be fun. Try not to get overwhelmed with all the work. It will get done!
ReplyDeleteSusie - We're lucky that we aren't completely leaving the area. As long as my parents are here we will be spending a significant part of the summer, and some of the holiday season, in NY... the best of both worlds as far as I'm concerned!
DeleteGood luck! An exciting and hectic change!
ReplyDeleteJenclair - That it is! We're embracing the change... thanks!
DeleteOh wow! I can imagine you're not getting any reading done. Your mind just has to be flying all the time. Good luck and try and get in a little quiet time!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katherine... reading will definitely be on the back burner for a few months.
DeleteWow!! You mentioned in your comment to me that you were moving and I had missed you mentioning it! Sounds like a big exciting change is on your horizon. :) Change is good and it sounds like this will be a good move for you guys. :) Looking forward to hearing about your new adventures. :)
ReplyDeleteErin - I just announced it with this post, so you didn't miss anything, Wanted to make sure everything was on track before saying anything. It's going to be crazy for a few months, but we're pretty excited about is all!
DeleteGood luck with your decisions and moving stuff! I know it will be a lot of work, but suspect you will be quite pleased after it's all done. We're thinking about our next few years and what life might be like when my husband retires. It will be a few years down the road, but we're considering whether to stay in the Austin area or move further out of the urban. We did that once, but our current area is growing like crazy as well. We have a vacation house in New Mexico, which we may or may not keep. The best thing would be to spend May-October in New Mexico and November-April in Texas. We'll see if we can manage that. So, I have sympathy for you, but also think it will be exciting. I will say that I am such a minimalist about 'stuff', I won't have the huge job of deciding what to keep and what goes. We did that before this house and it makes me happy now to think we won't have those decisions.
ReplyDeleteTake your time. Your friends here in the blogging world will be around and breaks are good. Glad you're going to have a couple of weekends away. Take care, JoAnn!
Congratulations on the quick sale of your home even if it is bittersweet. I like the term right-sizing!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nise' :)
DeleteKay - Thank you. It's been a couple of years since my husband retired, so the change for us has been gradual... a good thing! Sounds like you two are beginning to make plans and will fine tune them as time gets closer. We'll see whether we end up buying a second home up here, looking into a long-term seasonal rental, or stay with my parents. One thin I'm certain of... it's liberating getting rid of all the "stuff"! I'm a minimalist at heart, too, and this process makes me happy. I'll check in here from time to time over the next couple of months and look forward to getting back to a regular routine when things are settled.
ReplyDeleteI'm very happy for you (but a little sorry that you'll be farther away!) Congrats and all best wishes...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Audrey. Things are pretty crazy here right now, but I'm sure we'll get though it.
DeleteHow exciting. I DREAD moving from this house, which we've been in since 1990. On the other hand, I bet it feels freeing to go through things and lighten up.
ReplyDeleteBeth F - Moving is not a pleasant task, especially if you've been in one place for decades. I'm surprised at how liberating getting rid of 'stuff' feels... and we're getting rid of lots of it!
DeleteOh. Wow. First off, I’m very happy for you, I know it will be a change but I think it’s great you are moving to an area you love in Florida.
ReplyDeleteYour post somewhat mirrors our situation. Doug and I have been our home for 29 years, the longest we’ve lived in any house. It’s where Tristan grew up and I know every nook and cranny. Lately we have talked about moving to something smaller and I have been cleaning out closets, etc.
I look forward to hearing about your home search! Don’t get rid of all your winter gear though as if you travel, you’ll be glad you kept it. We are hoping to get away during the hot summers so I’m saving all my favorite sweaters and coats.
Congrats on your home sale!
Tina - Our situations sound very similar!! It will be such a relief to be out of this big house... so much cleaning, yard work, and general maintenance!! We plan to hang on to a portion of our winter wear. Early fall and and the holidays can mean just about anything around here! Can't wait to start looking for a new place in earnest after the closing here. I'll also be interested to hear about your journey with this process :)
DeleteWe can compare notes for sure. Yes, I want a smaller house too. Less maintenance, less to heat and cool and best of all - less to clean! Our home was good for raising a family but I'm ready for less.
DeleteI was curious if you would start a new blog or rename yours?
I've considered renaming mine and in parenthesis state it's Squirrel Head manor. just for a year. Then again, it will be a big change for us to move so I considered start fresh.
Tina - The blog name has been on my mind... right now I'm leaning toward incorporating gulfside somehow. Could just rename it Gulfside Musing... formerly lakeside. Not sure how I'll handle it yet.
DeleteWhat a big change in your life—I can barely imagine right sizing, moving permanently, buying a new place. Best wishes!!!!
ReplyDeleteJaneGS - Thank you. It's a little stressful now, but I'm sure it will be worth it in a few months.
DeleteI think it's good that you took a long time to decide. This way you will not have the regret you may have had if you had done it right after retirement. I'm really happy for you, but I also understand how your kids feel. I lived in one house for 31 years (coming home from college on vacations), and have been here for 38. And the first house is only about 8 miles from this one.
ReplyDeleteNan - We really did take our time with this decision... guess neither one of us is the type to rush into things! For the past 3 years we've been accessing the situation both here and in FL. Neither place is the right size and we're spending more and more time (and have more guests) in FL. Selling the big house here is definitely the right first step!
DeleteSending you my best wishes! We went through a big move last year (selling our 2 houses and buying one together and merging households), and it often felt overwhelming -- but we got through it and it's been such a wonderful change.
ReplyDeleteYou have my strong good wishes for strength and patience and a healthy sense of humor. You'll get through this and then marvel at how well you managed it all.
Unruly Reader - Thank you!! You are living proof (and now my inspiration!) that we can survive selling two places and find a new, happy normal!
DeleteJoAnn -- So excited for you, and so pleased that we can be living proof of something so very pleasant. Hope all's going well... (and even in the moments when it isn't, that'll change. You'll get it done!)
DeleteI am all for downsizing when able. I think this is a very good move for you and just makes sense. I hope it all goes smoothly so you can get settled before the holidays.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ti. I don't think we'll be in a new place by the holidays, but there's always hope. When we find a new house in FL, there may be kitchen/bath renovation to be done... but it would be perfect to find a move-in ready place!
DeleteBest of luck with your big move. I'm sure you will find the perfect size home in FL in Fall. The older I get the less stuff I want to keep.
ReplyDeleteDiane - Thank you... it's actually very liberating getting rid of so much stuff!
DeleteI haven't been reading very many of my favorite blogs for over a month and decided tonight it was time to catch-up. Yours is one of the first I look at and I'm glad I did! You seem to be living my life of two years ago! If it helps at all, we don't have any regrets selling our house (we lived in NE for almost 25 years) and selling 75% of our belongings. We love living on the Oregon coast with my mom and enjoy our time away in our rv. I know how stressful it can be to pack and move and get rid of junk, but you are going to feel so much freedom. I'm so happy for you guys!
ReplyDeleteLate to this news, as only catching up with blogs after a little summer break, but such big news & changes - it sounds like you are so ready for it though. I wish you the best of luck, especially with the rightsizing!
ReplyDelete