Downsizing Replace: Nearly 5 Years Later

In November of 2020, we printed a publish known as “What’s It Like To Downsize” after residing in our smaller dwelling for six months. We coated a spread of experiences – like the nice issues about shifting to a smaller dwelling (proudly owning much less stuff! saving cash!) and a few of its challenges, particularly within the preliminary phases of downsizing (paring down! determining storage!). We nonetheless agree with every little thing in that publish, nevertheless it had solely been six months… and because it has now been over 4.5 years (!!!), we really feel like we’ve a couple of extra so as to add concerning the long-haul downsizing expertise. Let’s get into it.

I gained’t recap our total choice to downsize (you’ll be able to see the complete rationalization right here) however the highlights are:

• We used to reside in a 3,150 sq. ft. dwelling in suburban Richmond, Virginia
• Now we reside in a 1,400 sq. ft. dwelling a couple of blocks from the Gulf of Mexico
• We have now 6 rooms (together with simply 1 lavatory)
• Our present home’s lot is 1/tenth the dimensions of our final home’s lot
• We don’t have a storage, attic, or basement (however we do have a pool/sizzling tub/firepit)
• We wished a home that’s “walkable” & can now stroll to outlets/eating places/the seashore
• Our household downsizing motto has been to “reside with much less & be exterior extra” (various motto: “spend much less time cleansing & extra time within the pool”)

After 4.5 years, we will nonetheless confidently say that downsizing was an ideal choice for us. We commit so much much less time, cash, and power into homeownership (upkeep, renovation, furnishing, cleansing) than ever earlier than – which has freed us as much as give attention to household, hobbies, nature, and a greater work-life steadiness. Financially it has additionally been useful (we made a complete chart about saving $$$, as a result of though our home is in a hotter location, it’s so much simpler to warmth & cool). You may see that breakdown in our authentic downsizing recap.

We’ve additionally had our present dwelling longer than our first home, our second home, our seashore home, or our duplex at this level (time is wild!). So our downsized life-style is hardly a “blip” and we actually would have modified issues by now if it wasn’t an excellent match.

Forgetting You Downsized

Most days it’s simple to overlook that we ever lived with (or believed we would have liked) extra space. We’ve lived on this home lengthy sufficient to completely alter (each mentally and logistically) to having 1400 sq. ft. What as soon as felt like an “unconventional” or “completely different” life-style change feels regular and unremarkable. A lot in order that it’s a bit troublesome to put in writing this publish. We’ve grow to be a bit blind to what’s attention-grabbing or distinctive about it!

So why will we draw consideration to the “forgettableness” of downsizing? Properly, for a few causes.

1. Transitions Are Short-term

First, we hope this reassures anybody going through an identical transition, whether or not by selection or not. Downsizing can really feel difficult at occasions, however the challenges don’t final eternally. As a result of similar to any transition in life – going to school, beginning a job, having a child – the adjustment interval is usually the toughest half. So allow us to be an instance that, sooner or later, you’ll be on the opposite facet. You’ll alter.

That’s to not say the adjustment is all the time quick or simple. And completely different elements could also be troublesome for various individuals. We loved paring down our belongings, in order that half wasn’t too tough for us (dare I say, thrilling?). However after shifting into our smaller dwelling, it took us 2-3 years to:

• determine furnishings preparations in a couple of trickier areas
• absolutely implement adequate storage options (like including closets)

So there was an preliminary “sticking level” find one of the best ways to retailer sure issues (or a literal ready interval whereas we constructed the storage cupboards or closets that we would have liked). However now that we’ve figured these issues out, every little thing has a spot to reside, and it’s much more autopilot round right here. In actual fact, if pressed to recall what we struggled with storing or what took the longest to determine, it’d take a 10-minute brainstorming session to really keep in mind.

2. It Was The Proper Transfer For Us

Secondly (and extra personally), the “forgettableness” of our choice tells us we did the best factor. Downsizing isn’t for everybody, so the truth that it has grow to be so normalized for our household is immensely reassuring. We nonetheless have individuals over (our pool & proximity to the seashore is an actual draw). We spend much more time exterior as a household. We clear the home collectively each Sunday in about half-hour (all 4 of us have our fav jobs). Six rooms complete (and just one lavatory) actually have a plethora of upsides.

That’s to not say we don’t generally really feel the constraints of a smaller dwelling (right here is the place I might argue that limitations aren’t all the time dangerous – like do we would like a home with sufficient house to retailer actually *something* we’ve ever wished?).

To select an instance of a storage limitation, a couple of years in the past Sherry wished a couple of of these 6′ skeletons to hold from our second flooring deck every Halloween. She proposed storing them within the crawl house (which may have labored – though skeletons beneath the home may be a bit creepy if somebody ever stumbled on them throughout an inspection or one thing). After some thought, Sherry ended up getting 4 smaller skeletons that fold on the waist and may simply be saved in a basket inside. The youngsters get a kick out of repositioning them each October (rain chain Miley-Cyrus-In-Wreckingball scenes have been created) so there isn’t a scarcity of pleasure, and it hasn’t ever actually felt like a “sacrifice.” You alter. You pivot. All is okay.

Truly, there’s a peace that comes with a resolute “nope, it gained’t slot in our home” that helps us stroll away from numerous issues with out a lot inside debate (and with cash remaining in our pocket). Additionally, numerous individuals reside with out 6-foot skeletons… which is kinda the purpose. The longer we reside right here, the much less incessantly we let our house limitations distract from the positives of downsizing. It’s only a truth of life that we’re completely satisfied to reside with in trade for the opposite issues we’ve gained.

Being Reminded You Downsized

Like I stated earlier than, this subsequent part seems like a direct contradiction to every little thing I simply stated. How can or not it’s simple to overlook we downsized… but additionally be usually reminded of that truth? This attention-grabbing dichotomy simply appears to be part of downsizing, so I assumed I’d try to put it into phrases for anybody who’s considering a downsizing journey.

Because the day-to-day of residing in a smaller dwelling over the past 4.5 years has grow to be so normalized to us, there are humorous little moments once we’re reminded that our choice isn’t everybody’s norm. A kind of humorous reminders may be when one other individual asks us about downsizing and says they might by no means reside with out their visitor room & their double storage (we normally chat about how downsizing positively isn’t for everybody – and every individual has various things they couldn’t reside with out).

Generally it’s simply this second of being in a bigger dwelling whereas visiting a good friend and noticing they’ve 12 closets or a large laundry room. It’s not a foul sensation – it’s only a noticeable second of “oh yeah, some individuals have all this room! I’m wondering in the event that they assume our home is bizarre, despite the fact that we’re so used to it.”

To take this one step additional, comparability is a near-universal reality of homeownership, whether or not you’re evaluating your house to a home throughout the road or a house that’s featured on the web or in {a magazine}. This isn’t particular to downsizing AT ALL. I’m positive a lot of you in bigger houses have envied somebody’s much more spacious home sooner or later. And you might even have felt a pang of craving for a smaller and extra easy dwelling, however don’t really need to reside in a single. It could simply be a bit momentary feeling.

My fundamental level right here is that numerous little wishes or yearnings can exist without delay in your thoughts, and people momentary pangs don’t imply you hate what you have already got or should change issues. Insert that quote concerning the grass all the time being greener. So in case you’re excited about downsizing, it will be sensible to take inventory of how these comparisons actually make you are feeling over an extended time frame (fleeting wishes apart).

When you’re somebody who can say “that’s so cool for them, however I don’t assume I’d need to clear these 4 further rooms” – you would possibly actually be prepared (and excited!) to downsize. But when seeing these grander houses stirs up some sort of burning want (versus being a passing second of “woah, they’ve a theater room!”), perhaps take a while to dive deeper and ponder if downsizing really feels best for you.

Once we stroll into big open homes or showhomes, we’re very completely satisfied to take in all of the inspiration & admire each element after which fortunately return to our cozy little home. Touring these “greater and higher homes” is enjoyable for us, and it’s additionally an train that reaffirms our selection each time.

Once more, for us, residing with much less = needing much less cash = working/cleansing/sustaining/organizing much less = extra time for household/buddies/hobbies/nature. There’s a large “why” behind our selection. So seeing somebody’s greater/nicer home typically turns into an excellent second to savor the readability we’ve round our targets. Is it lovely? Sure. Is it value spending extra time sustaining it and dealing longer hours to afford it? Not for us.

I’m particularly grateful for that readability given the wide range of houses round us. One distinctive factor about residing right here is the big selection of home sizes (and, shall we embrace, fancy-factor?). The houses in all of our earlier neighborhoods have been comparatively the identical. Some might need a more moderen kitchen or lavatory, a completed attic, or an addition on the again, however the variations normally weren’t greater than a renovation away from the home subsequent door.

In our present space, nevertheless, the vary is really WILD. You’ll find lavish & massive waterfront houses value eight figures only a quick stroll away. Every single day we see every little thing from little cottages like ours to towering multi-family trip houses. Fortunately that big selection doesn’t make us second-guess something about our choice to downsize. However I think about it will be more durable to deal with if we felt like our home actually was too small and we have been squeezed in there like sardines whereas these round us had all that room after which some.

All this to say, I might not select a neighborhood like ours in case you’re susceptible to house-size envy or in case you fear you’ll second-guess your choice to downsize. Sherry and I really take pleasure in that our home “stands out” in our neighborhood as being one in all simply round two dozen “authentic cottages” that have been constructed earlier on when our streets have been sleepy and gradual (it’s an ideal dialog starter!). However I believe a youthful me who was much less positive in my selections would possibly’ve most well-liked to mix in and sustain with the Joneses a bit extra. I believe that may’ve made this course of tougher. So… know thyself.

Would We Nonetheless Select Downsizing?

If it isn’t already obviously apparent, YES!

Within the virtually half a decade since making this selection, we’ve solely grown extra steadfast in our choice. We have been so centered on the logistical and monetary facets of downsizing in our earlier downsizing recap, I don’t assume we had actually digested these psychological facets sufficient to clarify them. We have been additionally solely 6 months in, and really a lot loving our new dwelling, new location, and new life-style – however it will not have been simple to see it from as large of a lens as we will as we speak.

And now, 4.5 years after downsizing, any type of honeymoon interval that will have occurred is over and we’re nonetheless very fortunately married to it. We’re amazed by how normalized it has grow to be to us, and the way simple it’s to brush off any “temptations” round us. Sherry says that like getting tattoos, paring down and simplifying is addicting. Besides I assume relating to the occasional jonesing for big skeletons. However even that may end up okay…

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