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I am relaxing in a very comfortable bed right in our hotel suite and surfing the web about seniors downsizing because for years now I have had the urge to move out of a larger home.


It’s really interesting though. I have read in one article that people between the ages of 51 to 70 have chosen to live in tiny homes. I will turn 65 in October.


Eh, not so sure that I could make the severe of a transition of a tiny home. Forget the loft bedroom. No way! LOL Cooking in a tiny home, is it claustrophobic? You get the idea.


I must say that I wanted a big kitchen and now I don’t like a huge kitchen. I’m exhausted after cleaning my kitchen. My friend who lives in a small condo cooks fabulous meals in her little kitchen and it’s a snap to clean up.


I know that some seniors live out of RV’s. Personally, I could easily live out of a nice hotel suite!


I do feel living in a larger home becomes a burden after the children are grown. The house seems so empty and is a lot of upkeep.


I keep thinking about if it is where I want to live out my remaining years.


I have another friend who recently lost her husband and she has decided to sell her large home. She says that she no longer wants to do repairs on her home. She is moving to a two bedroom condo.


I always wanted an adorable playhouse as a kid. They are so cute! My neighbor had one and it was so precious. Tiny houses kind of reminds me of a ‘grown up’ play house. Hahaha.


What do you all think of the she shed trend?


I do feel that there is so much dead space in our homes today. Look at RV designs, small apartments, boats, etc. These places utilize every inch!


Let me hear from you if you have downsized because you wanted to, not necessarily out of necessity.


If you like living in a large home with a big yard, tell me why please. To each his own. Variety is the spice of life.


I don’t think a smaller home is inexpensive though. Some say that if they sold their home to buy a smaller place it would not be cheaper due to the rising cost of real estate. Gosh, look at the price of independent living facilities. They aren’t exactly cheap! Apartment rentals are very costly nowadays. Condos have expensive fees.


There are many things to consider. Plus the more room that we have the more we accumulate over the years. Both of my girls still have some stuff stored here too. Grrrrrr.


Be honest, do you use your garage for your car or storage?


I have felt like this for a long time and since my husband’s recent cancer diagnosis I know even more that a big house just doesn’t mean a whole lot to me. We do pay a gardener to do our yard since my husband’s shoulder surgery. He can’t do it anymore.


I’ve had cleaning services from time to time and that can help but can also be a pain and expensive too. I have seen maids do some strange things in my home! I walked in on one filling up her purse with the toiletries in my bathroom. I’ve seen others just not clean thoroughly like I do, etc.


Some must make a lot of money. They pull into the driveway driving a BMW. Good for them. It’s tough work.

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I am 54. I live alone with multiple pets in a free standing house 1900 sq/f on a city lot 60x120. My house is large to some people and small to others. It has 4-5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms a large laundry room and family room. Single car garage used for storage.

The location is perfect for me. Walking distance to grocery stores, downtown (I live in a small town), hospital and more.

I have lived here for 23 years and raised my family here.

I use the two basement bedrooms for quilting. My TV is in the basement family room, I do not like a TV in the living room, nor bedrooms.

Of the three upstairs bedrooms, one is set up for my grandson who is at my house 8-10 nights a month. The other is my son's room and he has been in and out of the house over the last 5 years.

I live in an area where I can put a legal basement suite in my house. It is one of the options I am keeping. I would put a 750 sq/f 2 bedroom suite downstairs and upstairs would be a 3 bedroom suite. I would live downstairs, it is level entry and well lit, and rent out upstairs. This would give me extra income when I retire.

Alternatively I may build a proper house where the cottage is, If I do that I will sell my current house. The house plan I have been looking at is about the same size as my current house, it has 2 main floor master bedrooms and 2 bedrooms upstairs. This would give lots of room for the kids and grand kids to visit.
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NeedHelpWithMom Sep 2020
Love the aspect of a legal basement to rent. I have always wanted a situation where I could rent out property. My husband wasn’t interested in being a landlord at all!

My aunt lived in a duplex and always had the other unit rented. She was fortunate to have great tenants. Otherwise, it can be a nightmare!

I love walkable areas. So nice not to have to drive and it’s great exercise.
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Alva,

I am going to check out that show on Netflix. Thanks for that information.

As far as organization goes. I love crafts and sewing. I’m the type that has to consider all of my options so I spread everything out! Then of course I have to put it all away later. grrrr.

When I taught school or in other jobs, I was super organized but at home I kick back and relaxed and am not nearly as orderly! I wonder how common that is. You sound like you have control with organization in managing your belongings.
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At the age of 56, I retired early and relocated back to my hometown in the country where my mother came to live with me. It took less than 1 year to get down to my basics and then thinned that out more but, it's taken 9 years to get my mothers' baggage down to a reasonable amount. She's paying for storage but not one trip in these 9 years to look at anything. It's just stuff!!! Went from an 1,800 sq ft, 2 story, 2 garage to about 900 sq ft, 1 story with a car port. Would have been so much easier without her "stuff" but, it takes time for those that aren't keen on the idea rather they use this stuff or not. It's all in the mindset. I miss my home and get a little tearful every now and then but, wouldn't take anything back. So much easier caring for a smaller house and storage must be for the things we use. It's always work in progress but, I have so much leisure time and that's what I want!
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NeedHelpWithMom Sep 2020
Cat,

Storage facilities have become a lucrative business opportunity. They make a profit storing people’s excess stuff! It’s crazy, isn’t it?
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I wish this was in "Discussion", NeedsHelp. It is a fabulous fabulous subject for me. I have the mind of a Victorian Clutterer in the genes of a Germanic Control Freak. This means I love junking, love collecting but MUST have a neat clean house. My downsizing has come of necessity by moving to smaller places. I am now in one flat of a two flat, not a huge apartment, about 900 square feet. Moving here meant that about 1/4 of my life went into a garage sale. Started in a.m. on Saturday with promise that everything after 10 a.m. Sunday was 1/2 price, and after 12 noon Sunday was free. It all went. I put it out by "What do I not love or use for a year". What is a twin of something else. I kept two collections; I sold the other two. I have in my library several books I will never let go of. One is Mess, and the other more recent is Clutter, an Untidy History, about a woman cleaning out her Mom's hoarded house. I love Hoarders.
If you watch Netflix watch Marie Kondo and see how she helps people unclutter. But the best thing is understanding all we save we don't need, don't use, and let drown us in stuff.
As to Tiny House. Love to look at them. My bro's last home a historic trailer in a historic trailer park, a single wide 1970 trailer in Palm springs, so sweet. But that small is kind of two people and you cannot move, and as you said, THE LOFT!!!! nope. I don't even do stepladders much any more. My daughter and I fantasize me in a tiny house on her land, but that is fantasy, pure and simple. I wouldn't live with kids.
Good luck. What a great subject. Again, I wish it was in discussion where it could stay longer relevant and I could read more responses. And no, nothing is in my basement other than one crock pot and a dog travel kennel.
We own four big towels, two used, two in drawers. Two sets of sheets for each of two beds. We are spare and uncluttered, but I do have the book shelves and the two collections.
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NeedHelpWithMom Sep 2020
Alva, we think alike on this topic! Have to say that when I was single (in the 70’s) I rented a renovated attic apartment that I loved. It was in a fantastic neighborhood.

My landlady was the sweetest woman ever. When I asked her why was the rent so reasonable she said that she got top dollar for the main house and she knew that the attic apartment being smaller would rent to a single person and did not want to charge them a lot a money.

Ready to hear the price for it? $75 a month! Plus it was furnished with turn of the century antiques. It was awesome for a single gal like me.

Oh, I bet that you had great stuff at your garage sale! I love watching Antiques Road Show seeing the great finds that people find at yard sales and thrift shops.

We did the show while they were in New Orleans with my husband’s vintage guitar. It was so much fun. Hubby’s friend did the show previously with a gothic chess table that he inherited from his grandfather that ended up being worth a fortune!

Hidden treasures are special. I love to watch the divers on documentaries that find the sunken ships with their treasures aboard.
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I know of several couples who have lived for years in a hotel room. Free utilities, cable and internet, housekeeping services, pool and maybe exercise equipment, security and free breakfasts. Can be cheaper than some alternatives if you don't need special care. Something to consider.
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cwillie Sep 2020
When I was at a resort in Jamaica there was an American couple who seemed to live there - tropical climate, meals and housekeeping provided, free wifi, I think there might even have been a doctor on staff.
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I sort of started downsizing after cleaning out Moms house. Sort of meaning still a lot of stuff. We own a 4 bedroom split level. Have gotten rid of stuff I hadn't used in years. My husband loves his books so lots of them. We have a vinyl collection he is not ready to part with, VCR and cassetts he isn't ready to get rid of. The girls are 35 and 43 don't think they want their disney tapes. They get brittle over time and break. I am down to what I can't part with yet.

Taxes are so high here in NJ. And things will be getting worse. Not ready to sell yet, actually can't get what house is worth. Live in a depressed County. We have talked about when we downsize it will be to an apt. I could live in a nice trailer park but my husband not keen on that. We have a 55 and up here. In NJ you do not pay property taxes on trailers.

Since I am not into yard work DH asks me what will I do if he goes first. Told him I would then sell.
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NeedHelpWithMom Sep 2020
JoAnn, don’t you feel men can be harder to convince? It’s the same with my husband. When I bring up the subject he says, “I don’t want to live in a matchbox!” LOL

Ooooh, I wish that I still had my vinyls like your husband 😊. I gave the VCR collection away years ago to my local thrift shop. It’s amazing how much room kids stuff accumulate! All those Disney movies!!!
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My husband and I both in our mid 60’s started downsizing last spring. Attic is now vacant and clean. Moved down to the 3rd floor. Old clothes, books, my sons old toys (sold most of those on eBay). Had a yard sale and got rid of most things. Made $900.00 after I paid a junk guy to haul some off. Now have two floors and the basement left. My husband is working on the basement - mostly his junk.

We’re mostly retired now. Still work at the assisted living/nursing home we own. I work in the office. My husband is the doctor.

I sold mine and mother’s Hummel collection on eBay. We had over 150 figurines. Next up is our depression glass collection. I guess we’ll get it all downsized someday. When we built the assisted living we built two larger spaces. Mom and Dad have moved in theirs. I guess we’ll end up there someday. We’re looking for a younger doctor to take my husband’s place.
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NeedHelpWithMom Sep 2020
Wow...good job! I haven’t done any selling on eBay. I know someone that I call the Ebay Queen! Hahaha, she is a great salesperson.

I start on clearing out then I fall into the trap of reminiscing of when my children were small, get sentimental about some items and end up keeping them.

I have given away several things to the Disabled Vets organization and I used to donate regularly to the church’s rummage sale.
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I downsized as a result of the fire. Lost lots of stuff, but too much remained. Got rid of loads and loads of books, clothing, cookware that I had doubles and triples of. But not enough. To live in a desirable neighborhood in rural america I had to buy larger than I would have liked with a nearly one acre lot with about 10,000 square feet of it landscaped. It is too much but will probably stay here for a few more years and continue to fight weeds and a dictator of a declarant in a master planned community, which has become very, very ugly lately. Short part, declarant wants to build ATV trails through mapped Nature Preserve of 200 acres of wildlife area. Most other residents feel the same as I do. Then the declarant decides to have yearly meeting over FB instead of Zoom as he was in jail for beating his wife when the Zoom meeting was scheduled.

DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD? Does make one wonder.
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NeedHelpWithMom Sep 2020
Geeez, Glad you are maintaining a lot of ground.

So sorry about your fire. I can’t imagine seeing things go up in smoke.
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I think that sometimes staying put can be more cost effective than moving once you have the mortgage paid off, especially if the home hasn't been upgraded over the years and would need extensive work to make it saleable. I could easily do with less space but that would inevitably mean I would be closer to my neighbours, I feel crowded enough now and I shudder when I think of apartment or townhouse living, I think it would be bearable though if there were ample parks and public places to spend time in.
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NeedHelpWithMom Sep 2020
Yeah, my house has been paid off for many years but I am tired of keeping up with it.
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I made myself do it, exactly a year ago. Moved from a three bedroomed family house to a one-up, one-down rabbit hutch. It has a kitchen, separated from the living room by a kind of counter thingy; and upstairs there is a bathroom and a bedroom. There is a tiny outdoor storage cupboard. There is a loft, but it is not properly boarded (yet).

I miss my books. I miss my knitting and crafts hoard. I miss quite a lot of what, let's be honest though, was just familiar background junk. I miss the working space of a large utility room. I do miss my garden (I still have a pocket handkerchief sized patch in front but there's hardly space for a daffodil). I do miss my late dog, but I'm working full-time and I can't look after a dog now anyway so it's a good thing I don't have enough house to rescue another.

I don't mind the tiny kitchen because when you're cooking for one it's actually easier to have everything just a step or two away than to roam around. But the big advantage is that I am not paying for the unused space which just sustained my fantasy that the kids/grandkids would be frequent visitors for whom I would cook large, leisurely meals. It was time to move forward and find other concepts of fulfilment, ones that had a realistic chance of happening.

And, I'm not relying on objects for my sense of self or my memories. Yes I admit I regret letting go my tiger, with its makeshift repaired tail and unravelled ear. But it's still true that my Dad bought me a toy tiger for eight Deutschmarks in 1970, and I don't need a piece of fabric stuffed with sawdust to remember that day.

[I think I might be in denial about the tiger. I really wish I hadn't done that. Moral: in downsizing, don't attempt to be more unsentimental than you really are.]
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NeedHelpWithMom Sep 2020
Yes! That’s what my grandma always said. We can make do with what we have. Too many of us have excess. I certainly am not a hoarder but I have my craft supplies too!
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