Jrzygrl
Senior member
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2017
- Messages
- 751
- Reason
- Lost a loved one
- Diagnosis
- 08/2014
- Country
- US
- State
- NJ
- City
- X
10 days from now, I will be in my new home. I never expected things to play out the way they did, but here we are.
Even before my husband died, we had discussed what I would do "after". We had always talked about moving somewhere warmer when we were ready to retire. When faced with the reality that I would be alone, we talked about how that changed things. I am 100% a Jersey girl - never lived anywhere else. But, I have never liked the cold weather. Still, the prospect of moving somewhere else, alone, was not something I was thrilled about either. He knew my thoughts and said he supported whatever decision I made.
I am blessed to have a very strong support system where I live now. In my mind, that outweighs the weather situation. So, once things settled down a little after his death, I started looking, mostly online. Then came COVID. So, I basically locked down, as things were bad in NJ. Spring rolled into summer, and then quite unexpectedly, my Mom passed away after a rollercoaster 12 days in the ICU. Yet another curveball. She lived in the same town as I do - she had moved down here 13 years ago to be closer to me any my family after my Dad passed. Her house is the size I was looking for, so long story short - I'm buying her house.
I am very comfortable with my decision. I will miss my current house. This is where we lived most of our married life. We raised our kids here - it's the only home they remember. Over the years, we had remodeled inside and out to make it a place we loved. But I also realize it's time for me to move on. This house is FAR too big now. Just me and my dog. After the remodel to accommodate my husband, it's 5 bedrooms/3.5 baths with a little over a half acre of ground. My kids are not going to be living here. DD1 has been out of the house for a little over 3 years. DD2 is at Pitt pursuing her PhD for the next 4 years. DS will graduate from college in the spring. He may be home temporarily, but it's pretty rural and there's not much for a 20 something around here unless you're into agriculture. I know he would like to live somewhere more urban.
It's been a long few months getting everything done. My house sold quickly and I did get a good price. The family moving in will use the downstairs BR/BA to move an elderly parent in, so I am happy about that. I'm getting estimates to remodel Mom's to make it my own. (Meaning I will be living in a construction zone AGAIN. Ugh.) One of these days, I'll have to stop referring to it as "Mom's House" and call it MY house.
I've told people, I feel like I've been juggling balls since my husband died. It's time to put the balls all down. I pray that COVID will be contained soon so we can all find some balance again.
So wish me luck! It's been quite a ride so far.
Even before my husband died, we had discussed what I would do "after". We had always talked about moving somewhere warmer when we were ready to retire. When faced with the reality that I would be alone, we talked about how that changed things. I am 100% a Jersey girl - never lived anywhere else. But, I have never liked the cold weather. Still, the prospect of moving somewhere else, alone, was not something I was thrilled about either. He knew my thoughts and said he supported whatever decision I made.
I am blessed to have a very strong support system where I live now. In my mind, that outweighs the weather situation. So, once things settled down a little after his death, I started looking, mostly online. Then came COVID. So, I basically locked down, as things were bad in NJ. Spring rolled into summer, and then quite unexpectedly, my Mom passed away after a rollercoaster 12 days in the ICU. Yet another curveball. She lived in the same town as I do - she had moved down here 13 years ago to be closer to me any my family after my Dad passed. Her house is the size I was looking for, so long story short - I'm buying her house.
I am very comfortable with my decision. I will miss my current house. This is where we lived most of our married life. We raised our kids here - it's the only home they remember. Over the years, we had remodeled inside and out to make it a place we loved. But I also realize it's time for me to move on. This house is FAR too big now. Just me and my dog. After the remodel to accommodate my husband, it's 5 bedrooms/3.5 baths with a little over a half acre of ground. My kids are not going to be living here. DD1 has been out of the house for a little over 3 years. DD2 is at Pitt pursuing her PhD for the next 4 years. DS will graduate from college in the spring. He may be home temporarily, but it's pretty rural and there's not much for a 20 something around here unless you're into agriculture. I know he would like to live somewhere more urban.
It's been a long few months getting everything done. My house sold quickly and I did get a good price. The family moving in will use the downstairs BR/BA to move an elderly parent in, so I am happy about that. I'm getting estimates to remodel Mom's to make it my own. (Meaning I will be living in a construction zone AGAIN. Ugh.) One of these days, I'll have to stop referring to it as "Mom's House" and call it MY house.
I've told people, I feel like I've been juggling balls since my husband died. It's time to put the balls all down. I pray that COVID will be contained soon so we can all find some balance again.
So wish me luck! It's been quite a ride so far.