Downsizing (Rightsizing)

I grew up in an affluent community. We were fortunate to live in a beautiful five-bedroom home with a built-in swimming pool.

As a young child, I remember feeling afraid of the animal print wallpaper in our nursery. Years later, my sister and I shared a bedroom and our nursery became our playroom. The animal wallpaper remained on the walls and it always creeped me out. I somehow imagined the lions and giraffes coming to life and attacking me.
During storms, my sisters and I would run into our parent’s bedroom and climb under their blankets for safety. In some way, that large home always provoked anxiety.

After my parents divorced, we moved. There was a certain comfort in our new small home. I recognized I was more comfortable living in a smaller space.

Once I obtained my Master’s Degree, I bought my own home. My dad had a fit, “Two bedrooms, no basement, no garage!” I explained basements are scary, I didn’t need three bedrooms and the shed was enough in place of a garage. He was concerned regarding resale value. I told him there will always be a single woman who desires a small home.

I married a man with two small children. He lived in a very large home. My single girl's house was too small for us. I recall looking at all of his stuff thinking, who needs all of this?!

We moved to a home on a canal. Although the canal home was larger than my single girl's house, it wasn’t nearly as large as my husband’s home. I loved our house on the canal. It was built in the 1920s and we had seasonal family fun boating, fishing, and ice skating.

A few years later we moved to the affluent community in which I grew up. The public school system appealed to us. My husband took his oldest son to Italy for his senior trip! He wanted him to appreciate their culture and to have a life-changing experience. When they returned, my husband began purging items from the basement and garage. He said, “Let’s rightsize!”

He explained, “In Italy, everyone lives in an apartment. My son is graduating. Let’s sell everything, become minimalists and travel.”

I was blown away! So excited as I often felt claustrophobic in the midst of my husband’s stuff. I gathered everything we no longer needed and we had a moving sale! We put our house up for sale and sold it quickly. We decided to sell our cottage, which sold a few weeks later. We bought a beautiful condominium with two bedrooms, two baths, and a finished basement.

We purged so much clutter! I was elated as there literally wasn’t any additional space to bring more in! We thanked each item and visualized the smiles of those who receive it! Paying it forward to those in need warmed our hearts! I took photos as keepsakes of, especially sentimental items.
I was all in for the “Rightsizing”.

The condominium complex had a pool. I felt like We moved to a resort! It reminded me of my teenage years at our family condo in Jupiter, Florida! It felt so freeing and fun!

SIMPLICITY!

I noticed I was sleeping better. I had more free time as there was less to clean. My husband had more free time for his hobbies, (the condominium association handled maintenance). We had more time for one another, and to be fully present as a family.

Everyone asked, “What about the boys?”

My youngest stepson wanted to live with his mom. The oldest wanted the basement for privacy. “What about your dog?”

None of our dogs ever liked being in our backyards without us!

Our dog loves walking to the field or lake to fetch with us. Walking him several times each day is good for our health and marriage too.

I’ve learned, people will always have something to say, no matter what you do. Often, they’re projecting their own discomfort or fear of change on you.

There is no need to explain yourself.

Follow your heart!

I’m grateful to live in a small space! I love the minimalistic mindset!

Simplify...It’s good for your Soul!