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Downsizing, To Move or Not to Move? That is the Question

Posted by Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor @rosemarya, Apr 12, 2020

At some point as we age, we will have to make a decision about leaving our homes and downsizing. Maybe in our own town or to another town. Maybe to smaller home, condo, apartment, or assisted living/senior community.

When the time comes to downsize, seniors can struggle with a multitude of emotional, physical, and financial challenges.

How do you make an informed decision about when to downsize?
What tips do you have to share?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

marye2 | @marye2 | Mar 23 8:29pm
In reply to @rosewg "I really enjoyed reading about your very interesting life! Jim, my husband, and I first travelled..." + (show)
@rosewg

I really enjoyed reading about your very interesting life! Jim, my husband, and I first travelled to Ecuador in 2001 and fell in love with it. We returned three other times, most recently getting back just before shortly before COVID hit. We Air-BnB'd time in the beautiful city of Cuenca, met some wonderful expats and we intended to move there. But COVID sure changed things. And now with Jim's prostate cancer. our dream of living in Ecuador likely won't become our reality. And what felt like such a safe and welcoming country has become one with significantly more crime, which is very sad. I hope that the Research Triangle will be a good fit for you guys and that your health will not hinder you too much! All the Best to You!

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I visited Cuenca in the mid-1970s and it was gorgeous. My husband was working in Esmeraldas (refinery) and we took a trip with his parents. Ecuador was always on the edge politically, but the people and the land were beautiful. I was happy there. We are in the same boat but looks like we will be staying in our house in Tucson and downsizing belongings. Diabetes/kidney etc have to be tended to; I imagine a rental with a pool in five years or so. I am still doing the yard (xerioscape), but hire out the house cleaning once a month. Husband is 75 and I'm 71. Right now, it is less expensive to live in the house since we took care of the big ticket maintenance items a few years ago.

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Rose | @rosewg | Mar 23 8:54pm
In reply to @marye2 "I visited Cuenca in the mid-1970s and it was gorgeous. My husband was working in Esmeraldas..." + (show)
@marye2

I visited Cuenca in the mid-1970s and it was gorgeous. My husband was working in Esmeraldas (refinery) and we took a trip with his parents. Ecuador was always on the edge politically, but the people and the land were beautiful. I was happy there. We are in the same boat but looks like we will be staying in our house in Tucson and downsizing belongings. Diabetes/kidney etc have to be tended to; I imagine a rental with a pool in five years or so. I am still doing the yard (xerioscape), but hire out the house cleaning once a month. Husband is 75 and I'm 71. Right now, it is less expensive to live in the house since we took care of the big ticket maintenance items a few years ago.

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However long we stay in our home, completing our downsizing will always be a first priority. We want to accomplish this so that we enjoy our space more. And do the work so that when we do want to put the house on the market, the preparatory work will have pretty well been done.

Cuenca in the mid-1970s must have been amazing! Between when we were first there, around the turn of the century and last there, a few years ago, we saw so many changes. Yes, Esmeralda was always said to be a dangerous part of the country. Now, unfortunately, crime has become more of an issue in the entire country. Though we know many expats in Cuenca who still live there and love it. I do hope to see Cuenca, and other parts of Ecuador, again some day. There are many places we haven't been to, but we always are drawn to return to Cuenca! But, for now, we're staying pretty close to home and making health (and downsizing!) a priority. Wishing you well! Rose

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marye2 | @marye2 | Mar 23 9:13pm

We did the downsizing in place, too. I hired movers to move furniture so the purpose of the rooms matched better. Sent some furniture and tchotchkes to their next home.

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