This week’s Five Minute Friday prompt is “relief.”
I was talking with my neighbor/friend last night about how I feel about leaving our neighborhood after living here 15 years.
I discussed how — several years ago — I would be running in Hawk’s Landing, which is laid out perfectly for running workouts, and thinking, “I could never leave this.” That’s silly of course because I *could* leave.
From the moment we bought here, I knew we had bitten off more than we could chew financially, but that definitely needs to be in the “what’s done is done” category at this point.
All those running mornings (and afternoons … and evenings), though, were really the common thread that had me processing what it would mean to leave. Even then I think I realized I was pre-grieving the fact that we would have to leave eventually.
And now that it’s down to just Wayne and me, the decision has been made. The new family of six moves in Friday.
Despite the grieving, it’s also a relief.
A relief from the debt of being in a house that has always been more than we could afford.
A relief for me, fairly housekeeping incompetent, to stop having to worry about 2500+ square feet. (From the beginning, the thought was that we would be able to eventually afford a housekeeper. That was quaint LOL.)
A relief for Wayne, who has grown tired of the commute (I realize our Tallahassee commutes are *nothing* compared to an Atlanta or NYC situation, but still — I respect his feelings on the topic. I work from home, so it doesn’t matter to me.
It’s a relief, yet it’s also a bittersweet goodbye.
Welcome to this week’s Five Minute Friday. Our instructions, via creator Kate Motaung: “Write for five minutes on the word of the week. This is meant to be a free write, which means: no editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation.” (But I can’t resist spell checking, as you can imagine.)
Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
So true that you can always live in both words, relief and sadness. Good luck on your move!
Thanks, Sabrina. It’s very much a “both worlds” situation. But I’m so excited for the family moving in. <3
So your house sold and you’re on to better digs. Where are you going? Did you buy another place? Congratulations!! That’s a big win!!
Hi Jane. We’re in the process of buying something else. We’ll be in a rental for a month. The new place is 3 bedrooms instead of five and less than a half acre instead of 2.6. It’s significantly closer to Wayne’s work (important to him) and significantly lower mortgage (important to both of us).
It was such a great relief
to leave St. Petersburg,
but it is beyond belief
what my old house is worth.
I bought it for its tropic charms,
and because the streets were pink,
but soon grew tired of car alarms,
and boy, does red tide stink!
And so I sold it at a loss,
and was glad to find a buyer,
for its waterside maintaining cost
surely would go higher.
But if I stayed, I’d be chillin’,
for it recently sold for ’bout a million.
Hi Andrew! I’ve missed you (my fault because I’ve missed so many FMFs). I’m not sure I knew you lived in Florida at one point. You’re right about red tide and property values. Thanks so much for dropping in.
I would be very sorry to leave our home of 30 plus years but, over the years, our neighbors have died or moved away and the stairs to the second floor are steep. Congratulations on your new house. You’ve learned to move on, something I still need to do.
I hear you! Our neighorhood has kind of flipped (or is in the process). Kids who ran around and played nonstop are now away at college and houses feel so much bigger and quieter. It’s a bittersweet move, but the new family has a whole history to build here and I hope it’s perfect for them.
All my best to you as you manage the pragmatics and the emotions of moving.
Thank you!
I think I can’t leave my home either, but someday I will. And like you, I’ll probably feel relief. A chapter has ended. Another one begins. Exciting.
Yes, exactly. It’s odd because I always say, “I could be happy anywhere.” I still believe that to be true, but I also am a creature of habit so any change is a bit disconcerting.