Moving to Simplicity Update: October 2015

So, we haven’t had to move out of this big house yet. Which is kind of a relief!

Though we long for a smaller, simpler space, having to move twice in one year did not sound like a good plan. In the mean time, we’ve found, through friends, a wonderful, young couple to share this big house with, and who can help with the matching big rent. So, here we stay for now – at least until June of next year. Our son will graduate from high school then, and we’ll have the opportunity to send him packing to college, and send ourselves packing… somewhere? See, this is the crazy part. We really don’t know yet!

One possibility is to move into the newly built, 600 square foot, one bedroom apartment our neighbors just built above their old garage/new micro brewery. Coolness oozes from this option. Though, with both kids three hours and one mountain pass away, this doesn’t give us or them very good access to family. It would also cost about $1,000 a month rent/utilities – a bargain in Bend, Oregon for sure, but still a sizable expense.

Another possibility is to move to my parent’s house, which is only an hour away from, and directly in the middle of where our kids will be. Better access to family for sure. Bonus points for being able to help my parents take care of their five acres, and not having to pay rent. Extra bonus points for trying out multi-generational co-housing!

We could move back to Portland, too. Maybe find a small apartment in the city with a great walk-score.

?

What we do know is we’ve begun our last year in this phase of life. Our last fall and Thanksgiving and Christmas in this house. Sam’s last year of band concerts and high school dances. Graduation. Our last year with our kids in our house full time. It’s really, really weird, and hard to even imagine. Never before has becoming mobile, liquid, and light seemed so important. We’re going to need that agility to keep up with this life!