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.

@artscaping

Oh yes it did. And that is why I had to add it to my post. What else is difficult for me is to know that 3 out of 3 of the recent fires in my village were set by arsonists. The last arsonist launched flame throwers from his car all the way up the mountain, leaving five separate fires that plummed all the way to the top. He was apprehended and tried in court at the age of 26. Found guilty, he only had to serve 6 years and was out of jail just as the "me-toos" were getting started. Another arsonist set 3 fires, one at each exit off the mountain during the Jazz in the Pines weekend when thousands of guests were on the mountain. The last one was even caught practicing setting the fire. Released, he went right back and set the final one on a windy day. Five young firefighters were trapped and perished. Way too frightening for me.
Chris

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@migizii….given the long standing drought in California, these were menacing actions that could have destroyed many more people’s lives…..so very scary! You were very fortunate to never experience your home on fire, but those experiences had to be terrorizing. I’m so glad to hear your family stayed safe💕

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@davej

So what city in Minnesota did you move to? From your description my gut feeling is somewhere on the north shore but it will be fun finding out what city you decided on thanks dave

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Hi there Dave......I think you are a bit off. I am actually going to the north shore with the family in two weeks. This will be my first time going north to a resort. We needed to be close enough to Mayo Clinic for Jay. I had already lived in San Diego, LA, and San Francisco so big cities had worn me out. I wanted to know the city and be comfortable getting around. We preferred easy access to public gardens like Munsinger Clements. We wanted to be able to meet other folks and participate in group activities. And most of all we wanted a view that was uninterrupted. So, given those requirements, we chose to stay right in St. Cloud. We considered trading the CA mountain home for one on the MN north shore but decided that no matter how you looked at it, you still have to maintain two domiciles.

This community feels right for us. Health services are available. We have privacy, lots of room to roam, and great neighbors who participate in our "Count on me, group" which simply means if a tree falls across the driveway, all the neighbors turn out to help clear it away.

Here are a few photos for you............so you can get to know Adam's Landing in St. Cloud. And the little guy is Javier......our chippee group leader.
Enjoy.

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@artscaping

Hi there Dave......I think you are a bit off. I am actually going to the north shore with the family in two weeks. This will be my first time going north to a resort. We needed to be close enough to Mayo Clinic for Jay. I had already lived in San Diego, LA, and San Francisco so big cities had worn me out. I wanted to know the city and be comfortable getting around. We preferred easy access to public gardens like Munsinger Clements. We wanted to be able to meet other folks and participate in group activities. And most of all we wanted a view that was uninterrupted. So, given those requirements, we chose to stay right in St. Cloud. We considered trading the CA mountain home for one on the MN north shore but decided that no matter how you looked at it, you still have to maintain two domiciles.

This community feels right for us. Health services are available. We have privacy, lots of room to roam, and great neighbors who participate in our "Count on me, group" which simply means if a tree falls across the driveway, all the neighbors turn out to help clear it away.

Here are a few photos for you............so you can get to know Adam's Landing in St. Cloud. And the little guy is Javier......our chippee group leader.
Enjoy.

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Great photos, @artscaping Thanks for the trip 'north'

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@becsbuddy

@rosemarya Sometimes downsizing means a lot more than physically moving. What I have trouble with, is where do all the family heirlooms go? I have oil paintings from Norway that my husbands family brought over in the 1800s and a trousseau box from 1737 (also from Norway.) The younger generation doesn’t want them, so, what to do? I’m really open to suggestion!

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Do you have Norwegian relatives and can send them back. I had a friend who did that.
I am lucky, my children are keen and are planning where to put very large family oils. I think it helps if they have a story which they do.
Failing that, ask a museum.

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@artscaping

Hi there Dave......I think you are a bit off. I am actually going to the north shore with the family in two weeks. This will be my first time going north to a resort. We needed to be close enough to Mayo Clinic for Jay. I had already lived in San Diego, LA, and San Francisco so big cities had worn me out. I wanted to know the city and be comfortable getting around. We preferred easy access to public gardens like Munsinger Clements. We wanted to be able to meet other folks and participate in group activities. And most of all we wanted a view that was uninterrupted. So, given those requirements, we chose to stay right in St. Cloud. We considered trading the CA mountain home for one on the MN north shore but decided that no matter how you looked at it, you still have to maintain two domiciles.

This community feels right for us. Health services are available. We have privacy, lots of room to roam, and great neighbors who participate in our "Count on me, group" which simply means if a tree falls across the driveway, all the neighbors turn out to help clear it away.

Here are a few photos for you............so you can get to know Adam's Landing in St. Cloud. And the little guy is Javier......our chippee group leader.
Enjoy.

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Oh god, this brings back memories, I used to have a pet squirrel, he was such a terrific, cute little guy. I would never have one again though in spite of his very big cage, and in spite of him really greeting me every morning 💖

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@artscaping

Hi there Dave......I think you are a bit off. I am actually going to the north shore with the family in two weeks. This will be my first time going north to a resort. We needed to be close enough to Mayo Clinic for Jay. I had already lived in San Diego, LA, and San Francisco so big cities had worn me out. I wanted to know the city and be comfortable getting around. We preferred easy access to public gardens like Munsinger Clements. We wanted to be able to meet other folks and participate in group activities. And most of all we wanted a view that was uninterrupted. So, given those requirements, we chose to stay right in St. Cloud. We considered trading the CA mountain home for one on the MN north shore but decided that no matter how you looked at it, you still have to maintain two domiciles.

This community feels right for us. Health services are available. We have privacy, lots of room to roam, and great neighbors who participate in our "Count on me, group" which simply means if a tree falls across the driveway, all the neighbors turn out to help clear it away.

Here are a few photos for you............so you can get to know Adam's Landing in St. Cloud. And the little guy is Javier......our chippee group leader.
Enjoy.

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@artscaping Your pictures look beautiful. Is that all your own land or common land? I would hate to keep that much land up so beautifully, it would be quite a lot of work.

It sounds as if you thought long and hard on this decision and finally did reach the best one. We have talked about moving but now my husband thinks we should stay put. The newer houses that are like single homes but actually detached condos (that just means some services are provided like plowing) cost as much as our larger home and in our home we can accommodate our kids when they visit. We do hire people for most of the services like landscaping and plowing so I think we will stay put, although I would like to be on one floor. I wouldn't mind moving to a neighborhood too with more empty nesters. Our neighborhood has many young families now.
JK

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@contentandwell

@artscaping Your pictures look beautiful. Is that all your own land or common land? I would hate to keep that much land up so beautifully, it would be quite a lot of work.

It sounds as if you thought long and hard on this decision and finally did reach the best one. We have talked about moving but now my husband thinks we should stay put. The newer houses that are like single homes but actually detached condos (that just means some services are provided like plowing) cost as much as our larger home and in our home we can accommodate our kids when they visit. We do hire people for most of the services like landscaping and plowing so I think we will stay put, although I would like to be on one floor. I wouldn't mind moving to a neighborhood too with more empty nesters. Our neighborhood has many young families now.
JK

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This is all our land. About 7 1/2 acres. We are still working on the front entrance. We found steps…..18 inches wide and 4 feet long, They have little crystals embedded so they light up at night. Beautiful. We still have a long lane in from the street and wanted folks to know when they have reached Adam’s Landing. Yes, it is a lot of work and it is Jay’s passion, I feed the chipmunks and work on the lighting,, Right now I am trying to find small boulders for the sign letters and the right font.

Be safe and happy.
Chris

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@artscaping

This is all our land. About 7 1/2 acres. We are still working on the front entrance. We found steps…..18 inches wide and 4 feet long, They have little crystals embedded so they light up at night. Beautiful. We still have a long lane in from the street and wanted folks to know when they have reached Adam’s Landing. Yes, it is a lot of work and it is Jay’s passion, I feed the chipmunks and work on the lighting,, Right now I am trying to find small boulders for the sign letters and the right font.

Be safe and happy.
Chris

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@artscaping It really is a gorgeous piece of property with those beautiful little bridges and that area with the escalating retaining walls and patio. What a huge amount of work. Our friend who died last spring did beautiful stonework with fountains and all. It was his passion.

It must be so nice to just sit out and look over that beautiful property on a nice day. It really is incredible for a private property.
JK

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@contentandwell

@artscaping Your pictures look beautiful. Is that all your own land or common land? I would hate to keep that much land up so beautifully, it would be quite a lot of work.

It sounds as if you thought long and hard on this decision and finally did reach the best one. We have talked about moving but now my husband thinks we should stay put. The newer houses that are like single homes but actually detached condos (that just means some services are provided like plowing) cost as much as our larger home and in our home we can accommodate our kids when they visit. We do hire people for most of the services like landscaping and plowing so I think we will stay put, although I would like to be on one floor. I wouldn't mind moving to a neighborhood too with more empty nesters. Our neighborhood has many young families now.
JK

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Well I’ve given in. Yesterday I put my house on the market. I am going into a retirement village if the house sells. I am very sad but the stairs and the quiet have defeated me. The fact that everyone appproves doesn’t help. I feel like screaming this is a head decision not a heart decision. Been here for 25 years. Never thought of a bedroom downstairs then.

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@alison0

Well I’ve given in. Yesterday I put my house on the market. I am going into a retirement village if the house sells. I am very sad but the stairs and the quiet have defeated me. The fact that everyone appproves doesn’t help. I feel like screaming this is a head decision not a heart decision. Been here for 25 years. Never thought of a bedroom downstairs then.

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It is so difficult to even make the decision. We have been here nearly 40 years, only a few original neighbors left, but the same thing that drew us then is still here, but more so. The surroundings are lovely through the seasons and convenient. But the house and gardens are for someone younger, with stairs everywhere, and lots of outdoor tasks.

When we came home from our tiny house in the Spring, I was really ready for less - space, yard, work, stuff...
So we have begun to clear away, bit by bit - just seeing more cleared out space makes me rest easier. And each time we clear an area, it makes us look for the next one to do...
We put out the word that we are looking for the ideal property, but aren't in any hurry. I realize now that I need a small plot of land to have a few plants and a place to relax, so we know we need a townhome.
I have begun to locate people to help with tasks we no longer can or wish to do. Fortunately, the paid for house means we have a little to spend for those services.

Sue

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