I hate moving. No exceptions. Maybe this is the reason we
have been in our current home for nearly thirty years. Even when we lived in
Japan for three years, we were able to leave much of our “stuff” in the house. (This
photo is several years old.)
We owned our prior house for seventeen. We rented it furnished
to a friend for nearly a year while we lived in Denver, CO. (I don’t think I’d do
it again because of the amount of damage.) Larry’s cousin bought this house when
we moved to Dana Point, and she still owns it. Maybe long-term home ownership
runs in the family.
I keep saying we should downsize because “someday” we will
probably have to move to a one-story house. Larry says he’ll install a chair
lift or small elevator rather than move. I can’t say as I blame him since we
live in a wonderful neighborhood with the best neighbors in the world. However,
all the issues with my knee during the past two years has proved to me how
vulnerable I am. (Of course, aging has nothing to do with this…) I haven’t
convinced him, but periodically I purge excess “stuff.” I don’t look forward to
the day when we really have to get rid of our surplus—and we have far too much.
Our daughter, Kimberly, has lived in Texas for nearly twelve
years. She has been in three different apartments. Whenever she moved to a new
place, we visited to help her unpack, arrange furniture, and hang pictures. A week
ago, she purchased her first home, a condo in Plano. The timing of this major
life event couldn’t have been more difficult for her. Three days before escrow
closed, she started a new job. This was a promotion with an appreciated raise,
but making the change at this time was a challenge. In addition, she sings in
the choir at Prestonwood. The first two weeks of December, the church presents “The
Gift of Christmas,” an over-the-top production. She had to sing in thirteen performances
while trying to move in.
As always, new homes have issues, and she hasn’t been here to
address them. Fortunately, we are.
The major challenge is lack of storage space. Her last apartment
had huge closets throughout. This one has small closets and few of them. We
bought her a new queen-size bed for her guest room since we are sleeping there.
We chose a firm memory foam mattress with a metal platform. There is room under
the platform for several plastic bins for her linens and other items for which there
is no other room.
We are nearly finished, but we have worked harder this week
than we have for a several years. Our muscles are sore, and we’re very tired.
We look forward to returning home to get a rest.
Two days after we get back, Kim arrives for a couple of
weeks as she does each Christmas. We’ll probably all try to get lots of rest.
And I don’t plan to move for a LONG time.