Downsizing Replace: Virtually 5 Years Later

In November of 2020, we revealed a publish referred to as “What’s It Like To Downsize” after dwelling in our smaller dwelling for six months. We lined a spread of experiences – like the great issues about transferring to a smaller dwelling (proudly owning much less stuff! saving cash!) and a few of its challenges, particularly within the preliminary levels of downsizing (paring down! determining storage!). We nonetheless agree with all the pieces in that publish, however 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 in regards to the long-haul downsizing expertise. Let’s get into it.

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

• We used to dwell in a 3,150 sq. ft. dwelling in suburban Richmond, Virginia
• Now we dwell in a 1,400 sq. ft. dwelling a couple of blocks from the Gulf of Mexico
• Now we have 6 rooms (together with simply 1 lavatory)
• Our present home’s lot is 1/tenth the scale 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 needed a home that’s “walkable” & can now stroll to retailers/eating places/the seaside
• Our household downsizing motto has been to “dwell with much less & be exterior extra” (various motto: “spend much less time cleansing & extra time within the pool”)

After 4.5 years, we are able to nonetheless confidently say that downsizing was an awesome resolution for us. We dedicate loads 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 helpful (we made an entire chart about saving $$$, as a result of though our home is in a hotter location, it’s loads 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 seaside home, or our duplex at this level (time is wild!). So our downsized way of life is hardly a “blip” and we actually would have modified issues by now if it wasn’t match.

Forgetting You Downsized

Most days it’s straightforward to neglect that we ever lived with (or believed we would have liked) extra space. We’ve lived on this home lengthy sufficient to totally regulate (each mentally and logistically) to having 1400 sq. ft. What as soon as felt like an “unconventional” or “totally different” way of life change feels regular and unremarkable. A lot in order that it’s a bit of troublesome to write down this publish. We’ve grow to be a bit of blind to what’s fascinating or distinctive about it!

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

1. Transitions Are Non permanent

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

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

• determine furnishings preparations in a couple of trickier areas
• absolutely implement enough 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, all the pieces has a spot to dwell, and it’s much more autopilot round right here. Actually, 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 bear in mind.

2. It Was The Proper Transfer For Us

Secondly (and extra personally), the “forgettableness” of our resolution 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 folks over (our pool & proximity to the seaside 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 whole (and just one lavatory) actually have a plethora of upsides.

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

To select an instance of a storage limitation, a couple of years in the past Sherry needed a couple of of these 6′ skeletons to hold from our second flooring deck every Halloween. She proposed storing them within the crawl area (which may have labored – though skeletons underneath the home is likely to be a bit of creepy if somebody ever came across them throughout an inspection or one thing). After some thought, Sherry ended up getting 4 smaller skeletons that fold on the waist and might 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 any scarcity of pleasure, and it hasn’t ever actually felt like a “sacrifice.” You regulate. You pivot. All is okay.

Really, 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 folks dwell with out 6-foot skeletons… which is kinda the purpose. The longer we dwell right here, the much less often we let our area limitations distract from the positives of downsizing. It’s only a reality of life that we’re blissful to dwell with in alternate for the opposite issues we’ve gained.

Being Reminded You Downsized

Like I mentioned earlier than, this subsequent part appears like a direct contradiction to all the pieces I simply mentioned. How can it’s straightforward to neglect we downsized… but additionally be usually reminded of that reality? This fascinating dichotomy simply appears to be part of downsizing, so I believed I’d try and put it into phrases for anybody who’s considering a downsizing journey.

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

Typically 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 folks have all this room! I ponder in the event that they suppose our home is bizarre, though 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 lots of you in bigger houses have envied somebody’s much more spacious home sooner or later. And you could even have felt a pang of craving for a smaller and extra easy dwelling, however don’t really wish to dwell in a single. It will probably simply be a bit of momentary feeling.

My most important level right here is that numerous little needs 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 in regards to the grass all the time being greener. So should you’re serious about downsizing, it could be good to take inventory of how these comparisons actually make you’re feeling over an extended time frame (fleeting needs apart).

If you happen to’re somebody who can say “that’s so cool for them, however I don’t suppose I’d wish 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 form of burning need (versus being a passing second of “woah, they’ve a theater room!”), possibly take a while to dive deeper and ponder if downsizing really feels best for you.

After we stroll into large open homes or showhomes, we’re very blissful to absorb all of the inspiration & respect each element after which fortunately return to our cozy little home. Touring these “larger and higher homes” is enjoyable for us, and it’s additionally an train that reaffirms our selection each time.

Once more, for us, dwelling with much less = needing much less cash = working/cleansing/sustaining/organizing much less = extra time for household/associates/hobbies/nature. There’s a large “why” behind our selection. So seeing somebody’s larger/nicer home usually turns into second to savor the readability we’ve round our objectives. Is it stunning? 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 big variety of houses round us. One distinctive factor about dwelling 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 may need a more recent 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, nonetheless, the vary is actually WILD. You will discover lavish & giant waterfront houses value eight figures only a quick stroll away. On daily basis we see all the pieces from little cottages like ours to towering multi-family trip houses. Fortunately that big selection doesn’t make us second-guess something about our resolution to downsize. However I think about it could 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’d not select a neighborhood like ours should you’re vulnerable to house-size envy or should you fear you’ll second-guess your resolution to downsize. Sherry and I really get pleasure from that our home “stands out” in our neighborhood as being one in every of simply round two dozen “authentic cottages” that have been constructed earlier on when our streets have been sleepy and gradual (it’s an awesome dialog starter!). However I believe a youthful me who was much less positive in my selections would possibly’ve most popular to mix in and sustain with the Joneses a bit of extra. I believe that may’ve made this course of tougher. So… know thyself.

Would We Nonetheless Select Downsizing?

If it isn’t already manifestly apparent, YES!

Within the virtually half a decade since making this selection, we’ve solely grown extra steadfast in our resolution. We have been so centered on the logistical and monetary facets of downsizing in our earlier downsizing recap, I don’t suppose we had actually digested these psychological facets sufficient to elucidate them. We have been additionally solely 6 months in, and really a lot loving our new dwelling, new location, and new way of life – however it could not have been straightforward to see it from as large of a lens as we are able to immediately.

And now, 4.5 years after downsizing, any type of honeymoon interval which 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 straightforward it’s to brush off any “temptations” round us. Sherry says that like getting tattoos, paring down and simplifying is addicting. Besides I assume in relation to the occasional jonesing for big skeletons. However even that may prove okay…

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