We are at that funny age where retirement is not on the cards quite yet but we are rattling around a large home with lots of stuff & empty bedrooms.
I dream of a little shack at the beach (and I do mean a shack, not a bright shiny monolith with outdoor kitchens etc that are now ‘de rigeur’ everywhere in Australia) and realise that I would have to get rid of A LOT of things.
My man has cars and that proves a bit challenging. Wherever he is he will want a shed…..
A recent & unexpected family death has me once again weighing up all the things. We truly only gave this lifetime here and I want to make it joyful. The beach shack looks even more enticing now.
One day I’ll be the old lady who swims in the sea year round, potters along the beach collecting shells and sits at her desk writing.
There will also likely be a big ugly shed outside because there is that necessary thing in life as well.
I'd happily be an old lady swimming in the sea, pottering along the beach and writing Tiffany! Rob always had his own office/workshop in every house we lived in, but is reduced to just a toolbox now. He's taken up sketching and painting watercolours as well as continuing with his photography, so he seems occupied at the moment. Who knows what's around the corner, but we're enjoying life with minimal stuff at the moment 🙂
I love this! Ten years ago we downsized from a big suburban 4-bedroom in the U.S. to a small flat in Amsterdam. It took some creativity to fit our family of four (plus dog), but we love it. And like you, I think much more carefully about what I buy now, because I know I’ll have to find a place for it.
It can ruffle feathers doesn’t it when there is thriving on doing things differently 🙌🏻. Cheers to finding your true north to guide you down the waters of your choosing 💫. Getting rid of most of our possessions has been so liberating… although I did just buy a cute new dress today I’ll have to find a spot for in my one suitcase 😂
I have to confess I've bought a 'few' dresses recently as we're going on holiday to Spain soon with our youngest daughter, her partner, our 25 year old grandson, his partner and our great grandson (6 months old) so I figured I'd better make an effort! Definitely need to have another cull and throw a few old things out now 😅
We bought a home in 1972 and lived in it for fifteen years. We made it our own, with a back deck and yard that was spirit-nurturing, full of life. We sold and moved to another house and lived for nine years with a space full of birds and bushes, flowers and vegetables growing. Then came a townhome with a back deck and yard and waterfall and birdhouses, fit for sitting in serenity for hours. I stayed there for eight years after Mary Ann died (a total of 22 years). It was hard to leave the beauty, but I decided that I did not have to own the beauty I enjoyed in those spaces. Ultimately I was only a visitor no matter how long I lived there. I spent four idyllic years in the heart of downtown in the River Market area of Kansas City, living in a loft overlooking a park. I didn't own the park. I rented the loft. I fell in love with the cosmopolitan setting. After walking the Camino de Santiago in 2013 I discovered that I didn't actually need anything more than I could carry in a backpack. Two and a half years ago I shed the rest of what I owned and live out of a backpack the year around, most of the time traveling (cheaply) outside of the US. I feel lighter, no less at home wherever I am than I was in the places I owned. It is cliché to say it, but what I owned, owned me. I don't regret those years. It was a trade-off. I and my family benefitted from the places we owned. In both my transitions from owned house to rented loft to Airbnbs, hostels, rented rooms, visits with family and friends, the monthly costs have been about the same. The only difference is that I don't own the spaces in which I live nor to I have leases tying me to them. Now I don't own the beauty that I enjoy wherever I am. I visit it, savor it, feel my spirit nurtured by it, and I am endlessly surprised by it. Clearly, at 82, I fit the "later in life" designation. I have shared my story with you before and feel a kinship with you and the choices you have made.
Peter, I'm so touched by your kind words and by the spirit and grace of how you live your life. I do remember us connecting previously and I have to say, I'm in awe of you! At present, our lifestyle suits us as there are 2 of us and who knows what the future holds when one is left without the other. I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to do what you're doing and I so admire you. You truly are living life to the full and how beautiful that life is. We're by the coast this week and we went for a long walk along the beach earlier. The weather in the East of the UK is amazing at the moment and I'm so grateful to be able just to walk along an empty beach in the sunshine. Wishing you continuing excellent health and I'll follow your journey with interest and admiration 🙂
Here! Here! We are so with you on this one and our move to our Motorhome recently has bought nothing but joy (a few hiccups, but mainly overall joy) and this is from someone that was always told to 'pay the mortgage first'. What nobody told you was the £1,000+ interest every month that goes alongside that. You do you🫶
So good to hear your move went well Mark. We had issues moving onto the boat, despite it being brand new and we had a few snags with the van too. I'm slowly learning that it's necessary to go with the flow and meet life a day at a time which is something I've never done before! Wishing you every happiness in your new home and continuing great health 😊 ❤️
So good to hear your move went well Mark. We had issues moving onto the boat, despite it being brand new and we had a few snags with the van too. I'm slowly learning that it's necessary to go with the flow and meet life a day at a time which is something I've never done before! Wishing you every happiness in your new home and continuing great health 😊 ❤️
Isn't it amazing how much we're learning about ourselves and life in our later years Denyse. I always thought I'd have everything sorted at this age, but it's what makes life interesting 🙂😘
We downsized the house and left the adult kids in that while we traveled. Due to illness, glad we kept a small house to come back to for hospital appointments
Lucky coincidence that we kept somewhere though and fully understand those that don't as it was our original plan
None of us know what's around the corner healthwise and thank goodness you had a backup plan. We're healthy and well at the moment and really hope we stay that way for a long time 🙏🙂
I love that you shared this perspective.
We are at that funny age where retirement is not on the cards quite yet but we are rattling around a large home with lots of stuff & empty bedrooms.
I dream of a little shack at the beach (and I do mean a shack, not a bright shiny monolith with outdoor kitchens etc that are now ‘de rigeur’ everywhere in Australia) and realise that I would have to get rid of A LOT of things.
My man has cars and that proves a bit challenging. Wherever he is he will want a shed…..
A recent & unexpected family death has me once again weighing up all the things. We truly only gave this lifetime here and I want to make it joyful. The beach shack looks even more enticing now.
One day I’ll be the old lady who swims in the sea year round, potters along the beach collecting shells and sits at her desk writing.
There will also likely be a big ugly shed outside because there is that necessary thing in life as well.
Compromise.
I'd happily be an old lady swimming in the sea, pottering along the beach and writing Tiffany! Rob always had his own office/workshop in every house we lived in, but is reduced to just a toolbox now. He's taken up sketching and painting watercolours as well as continuing with his photography, so he seems occupied at the moment. Who knows what's around the corner, but we're enjoying life with minimal stuff at the moment 🙂
If I could, I’d live in my tent all year round!
You are much braver than me!!
I love this! Ten years ago we downsized from a big suburban 4-bedroom in the U.S. to a small flat in Amsterdam. It took some creativity to fit our family of four (plus dog), but we love it. And like you, I think much more carefully about what I buy now, because I know I’ll have to find a place for it.
That sounds great!
It can ruffle feathers doesn’t it when there is thriving on doing things differently 🙌🏻. Cheers to finding your true north to guide you down the waters of your choosing 💫. Getting rid of most of our possessions has been so liberating… although I did just buy a cute new dress today I’ll have to find a spot for in my one suitcase 😂
I have to confess I've bought a 'few' dresses recently as we're going on holiday to Spain soon with our youngest daughter, her partner, our 25 year old grandson, his partner and our great grandson (6 months old) so I figured I'd better make an effort! Definitely need to have another cull and throw a few old things out now 😅
We bought a home in 1972 and lived in it for fifteen years. We made it our own, with a back deck and yard that was spirit-nurturing, full of life. We sold and moved to another house and lived for nine years with a space full of birds and bushes, flowers and vegetables growing. Then came a townhome with a back deck and yard and waterfall and birdhouses, fit for sitting in serenity for hours. I stayed there for eight years after Mary Ann died (a total of 22 years). It was hard to leave the beauty, but I decided that I did not have to own the beauty I enjoyed in those spaces. Ultimately I was only a visitor no matter how long I lived there. I spent four idyllic years in the heart of downtown in the River Market area of Kansas City, living in a loft overlooking a park. I didn't own the park. I rented the loft. I fell in love with the cosmopolitan setting. After walking the Camino de Santiago in 2013 I discovered that I didn't actually need anything more than I could carry in a backpack. Two and a half years ago I shed the rest of what I owned and live out of a backpack the year around, most of the time traveling (cheaply) outside of the US. I feel lighter, no less at home wherever I am than I was in the places I owned. It is cliché to say it, but what I owned, owned me. I don't regret those years. It was a trade-off. I and my family benefitted from the places we owned. In both my transitions from owned house to rented loft to Airbnbs, hostels, rented rooms, visits with family and friends, the monthly costs have been about the same. The only difference is that I don't own the spaces in which I live nor to I have leases tying me to them. Now I don't own the beauty that I enjoy wherever I am. I visit it, savor it, feel my spirit nurtured by it, and I am endlessly surprised by it. Clearly, at 82, I fit the "later in life" designation. I have shared my story with you before and feel a kinship with you and the choices you have made.
Peter, I'm so touched by your kind words and by the spirit and grace of how you live your life. I do remember us connecting previously and I have to say, I'm in awe of you! At present, our lifestyle suits us as there are 2 of us and who knows what the future holds when one is left without the other. I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to do what you're doing and I so admire you. You truly are living life to the full and how beautiful that life is. We're by the coast this week and we went for a long walk along the beach earlier. The weather in the East of the UK is amazing at the moment and I'm so grateful to be able just to walk along an empty beach in the sunshine. Wishing you continuing excellent health and I'll follow your journey with interest and admiration 🙂
Here! Here! We are so with you on this one and our move to our Motorhome recently has bought nothing but joy (a few hiccups, but mainly overall joy) and this is from someone that was always told to 'pay the mortgage first'. What nobody told you was the £1,000+ interest every month that goes alongside that. You do you🫶
So good to hear your move went well Mark. We had issues moving onto the boat, despite it being brand new and we had a few snags with the van too. I'm slowly learning that it's necessary to go with the flow and meet life a day at a time which is something I've never done before! Wishing you every happiness in your new home and continuing great health 😊 ❤️
So good to hear your move went well Mark. We had issues moving onto the boat, despite it being brand new and we had a few snags with the van too. I'm slowly learning that it's necessary to go with the flow and meet life a day at a time which is something I've never done before! Wishing you every happiness in your new home and continuing great health 😊 ❤️
As I'm reading, I hear Marie Kondo in the background asking "does this give me pleasure?"
But you're not wrong. We have stuff in this house that we never seem to use, though we have unpacked everything :)
Absolutely Francis....time for a bit of a cull possibly 😉
Oh yes! The feeling of HOME is not a house! I've had to learn this & now I embrace it .. and share that notion with you! Snap! Again! Xx
Isn't it amazing how much we're learning about ourselves and life in our later years Denyse. I always thought I'd have everything sorted at this age, but it's what makes life interesting 🙂😘
We downsized the house and left the adult kids in that while we traveled. Due to illness, glad we kept a small house to come back to for hospital appointments
Lucky coincidence that we kept somewhere though and fully understand those that don't as it was our original plan
None of us know what's around the corner healthwise and thank goodness you had a backup plan. We're healthy and well at the moment and really hope we stay that way for a long time 🙏🙂