I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
The good part is that I won't have to put up with critical strangers tramping through my house every weekend, complaining about the lack of A/C, and what? No central vac? And no powder room on the main floor?? Well, what do they expect in an 115 year old house?
I've lived here for more than 30 years. My children grew up here. I have a lot of both happy and sad memories tucked into these four walls.
I have delightful neighbours, and we live on a pleasant tree-lined street where everyone knows everyone else, and I am very sad to leave this lovely old neighbourhood.
But the house is too big now, and it needs a young family to move in and look after it, which is exactly what is going to happen.
So now comes the hard work of getting ready to move.First priority.... find somewhere to move to! I've been looking at houses, both resales and new but haven't found anything that really grabs me yet. I'll keep looking. A tent in YoungerSon's back yard might be a bit chilly during a Canadian winter.
Second priority.... Clear out the garage and workshop. There are 30 years worth of "man stuff" stored here. Tools. Spare parts for cars we haven't owned for years. Tires. Lumber. Poles for a tent we don't have any more. Scrap metal. Paint. Motor oil. Bricks. Garden equipment. Nuts. Bolts. Nails. Electric wire.
A lot of the stuff has been tossed into a rented bin in the driveway.I had a garage sale back in July and we'll have another in September.
I've taken 6 boxes full of paint, motor oil, various automotive liquids and polishes etc to the Hazardous Waste Depot.
The local charity shop has been given boxes of kitchen equipment.
The Diabetes Association Clothesline truck has picked up 5 bags of gently used clothing.
I gave numerous boxes of books to the Library Sale last spring. And there's more destined for the sale in 2011.
I bought a new shredder and have filled 4 bags with shredded paperwork so far. I love shredding!
The scrap metal man is picking up next week.
It's really liberating to be getting rid of all this stuff.
I hope you find somewhere lovely to start the next chapter of your life.
ReplyDeleteBut one question, "no central vac?"
(I would be so disappointed if I only knew what a central vac was).
Congratulations! Isn't it funny how once again we find ourselves in similar situations though we are clear across the continent from each other? Remember a couple or 3 years ago when we both had trees removed from our street?
ReplyDeleteIt does feel liberating getting rid of all that stuff, isn't it? I wish I could force myself to get rid of more stuff, but oh, the attachments to 'stuff'. it's a bad habit.
and we both drove Volvo station wagons.... remember?
ReplyDeleteThe next part of your life will be just as wonderful as those stored memories. I wish I was moving into a home with a big porch and lots of land....not in the forest so much but in the country. I want a porch to grow older on. good luck and I know the right place is waiting for you.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on selling the house, and good luck with the house-hunting.
ReplyDeleteYou are bound to have mixed emotions after being in the house for 30 years and raising your family there.
Sometimes it's good to take stock of your life, then move on to pastures new (speaking from my own experience).
You involve your self so much with your local community, that wherever you move to I am sure it won't take long for you to settle in.
It's a shame I live too far away to attend your house warming!
Good for you, and good luck in cleaning out the garage and everything else. My daughter has been livingwith me since last October, and she is now planning to move up to Virginia where her brother is. I have a tug in my heart to go too, but I have so many ties, having lived in the same city for 65 years...
ReplyDeleteI suppose someday I will, but for now I'm able to go to Virginia to visit whenever I want to. My house is big too, and I think of selling. If I bought something smaller, my taxes would probably be more because there is a cap on taxes when you've been in one place for so long.
I guess in a way it is a good thing to sell to be rid of all the "stuff." My daughter is super organized, and she has helped me get rid of some of mine already. There is a lot to do though. I don't want to leave it all for them to do.
Good one! I love cleaning out garages so invite me over.
ReplyDeleteI'd invite you to stay here while you look for a house, but alas, you'd need a boat!
Well it sounds to me like you've skimmed right over the crying part and into the laughing. Good for you. So where will you look.. B'ville? ;) Yes, I'm kidding. :)
ReplyDeleteBIG BIG JOB, my dear! I know it must feel really wonderful to divest yourself of all this "stuff" as George Carlin used to say...But it is sure a lot of work, too...And I don't envy you that, at all.
ReplyDeleteMay your next abode be truly special and wonderful and filled with NEW "Stuff"...(lol)
Hi,
ReplyDeleteWhat great news about selling your house!!!
I have lived in older homes much of my life (especially in St. John's ... there are loads)with little nooks and crannies.
But moving on sometimes is so freeing in many ways and you know our garage looks just like yours ... swore that would never happen. (I am still not sure exactly how it did happen !!!)
Very best wishes,
Barbara
Fran had me shredding over the weekend too, but we are not moving, fare as I know!
ReplyDeleteHappy to see you have finely done the deal on the house, look forward to reading the details on new house hunting, good luck with it.torngats2
CONGRATULATIONS, Sham. I am so happy for you. I don't envy you all the work you'll have to do, but I can tell you this: when you look back on it, it will seem much faster and easier than it was while you were in the midst of it. And it really WILL be liberating! GO FOR IT!
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you Sham! It's a lot of work, I know. Just went through it myself, plus the move back home. I'm now busy settling in again.
ReplyDeleteI hope to get back to blogging soon. Even my facebook page is not really getting updated all that often.
Anyway, happy house hunting. I'm sure you'll find just what you're looking for :)
What a job this moving must be. I just don’t know how we would do it here, we have been in this house since 1976 ! imagine all the stuff….
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I expect you'll find, as I did after living in the same house for 37 years, that certain sounds have become such an ingrained part of your subconscious that they are almost part of your physicality. A creak of a stair, a heating system firing up, knobs on radios or TVs, a drawer in the kitchen being opened or shut, and many more, will live with you wherever you go. Such recall is a good thing to have, if a bit melancholy on occasion :-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
ReplyDeleteMan, that's one helluva mess - my shed is getting like that! I feel guilt - must get out there and do a clean up! LOL!
ReplyDeletewow. I don't envy you the clear out. But - exciting!?
ReplyDeleteyes, you definately need to avoid that tent option
A giant step forward to a new daily life has been taken.
ReplyDeleteIknow how it is, when the Kids are out of the Nest, and the lack of the kids voices and noise has left the Home... it's about time to find at more practical Home. Less time spent on maintenance, more time for other activities...
Good luck finding a new home..
I remember all too well doing all of that 3 years ago. I'm glad this is my Forever house now.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on selling your home. Its a bittersweet thing but will be so liberating to you. I know there is the perfect home just waiting for you Shammie. Hope it grabs you quickly.
So very pleased to hear your house has sold, I'm not sure I would want to move, but think it may happen in the not so distant future! The problem I have is I'm not ready to leave here yet.
ReplyDeleteGood luck in your search for a new home.
(hug) You have been so busy!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the sale. Bolingbrook is a great place to live, and we have a nice, outdoor stage with lots of community activities. Callum and Isaac would love it.
The only drawback is that you have already moved to a new country once before, and I know that learning a new language can be difficult. ;-)
Congratulations on the sale of the house.
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope you find a place soon before the winter arrives. Although camping in YoungerSon's backyard should be fun. :)
I hope you have someplace to live by now! You are describing and taking photos of my place! I especially can relate to the "to a car we haven't owned in years!" what a hoot......congratulations and wow...what a lot of work. I could start now as we have lived here 35 years and we have a hard time letting go of stuff that finds its way to our basement!!
ReplyDeleteDennis hopes you find the home of your dreams!
ReplyDelete