Tuesday, November 07, 2017

Downsizing 101


You know, all the books you read, the plans you draw up, the discard piles, the maybe piles, the WTF piles, the definitely moving with me piles? Garbage. At least for this downsizer.

To give you an idea: 5 bedroom house (granted, small wee rooms), 3 very large halls (I know, ironic), kitchen, dining room, family room, office, bathroom and oh yes, the Tigeen, garage, barn and shed. All to be condensed down to a 1 bedroom apartment with its own largish locker en suite.

First of all I should mention I am ecstatic that I moved. It took me approximately 2 minutes to adjust to city living. The location helps, overlooking lake and ocean and Signal Hill in the distance, plonked right in the middle of my living room window. Cars drive up here at night and park to drink in the night lights.

So that went well.

But stuff.

I took my largish sofa but left the over sized chair that went with it. I took my hand-painted decorative but functional small round table and its adorable chair from the craft room. Mistake.

I took my small antique lady's desk with needlepoint chair - desk fine but hello chair, what was I thinking?

What shocks me is that I carefully measured a space where one of the kitchen arches opens to the living room and realize my custom-made 90" long dining room table from the house will fit lengthwise across the space providing multiple uses: a craft table, design table, a sitting baking table and an eating, reading table and entertain a few in a pinch. Daughter rolls her eyes at this. But I know in my bones it will work. For me. I like to spread my wools and graph paper and my finished creations and my writing projects all about me.

My worries remain and ebb and flow. The house remains unsold, the Cathedral looms over it, unfinished, with garbage tossed all around it. The For Sale sign keeps being kicked and smashed. Potential purchasers still visit and bolt for the hills once they see the Cathedral even though forewarned and shown pictures.

I've been looking for a wee job. I hate to do this, feeling ill about it actually, but needs must. As long as it doesn't involve standing for any length of time, I'll be OK.

My retirement fund in the shape of the good equity in my home has evaporated like smoke. A friend's son said yesterday he's never seen elder abuse like this. And it stopped me in my tracks. Of course it's elder abuse. An elderly infirm woman being victimized deliberately by the wealthiest landowner in the town so he can pick up her property for a song. Like he's done many times before. But it's an old story, time and time again, being repeated everywhere. I'm powerless to do anything as he's within his rights, I couldn't get zoning laws put in place for the town because his family members are on council.

But I try not to brood on the downside of all of this.

Just do the next right thing.

And try desperately not to look backwards.

21 comments:

  1. Love reading this and have thoughts. My situation similar to yours and keep thinking if I stay here it is less expensive then unloading everything and starting over in a location I do not like.
    Love my woods, but now do a lot of thinking and who knows what will happen. Love the way you describe your set up, on the long table - I have one and had the same thoughts as you
    would fill a wall and provide many needs :)

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    1. Ah I'm not alone in that then. I was so shocked when I measured the space and realized it would fit with a new purpose. I'm highly visual and would have all open cupboards (shelving) if I could. I will post pics of the spaces when I'm finished. Yes, there comes a time, Ernestine, and so far you've had a longer stretch than I.

      XO
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  2. I too love a large table for a workspace. Even if you have to give up other furniture, keep the large table. You will be glad in the long term. A couch, a chair, a table, a bed, a dresser. You really need little else in the way of furnishings.

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    1. So true DKZ, it's extraordinary how simple life can get. Yes the large table will come, I just never thought it would fit this space. Amd I'm openly displaying my wools for the first time. I love this.

      XO
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  3. It sounds like a nice set up, and your table sounds like a good choice...It is funny how we spend so much of our lives acquiring things only to leave them behind in the end...That kind of puts stuff in perspective.

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    1. Totally E. All that silver and crystal and linen and china and and. Meaningless filler. Art on the walls, work for the hands, baking bread smells. Simplicity. I do hope you're finished with your reno and are happy with it.

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  4. Hey WWW, you should look into maybe some antiquated laws and see if you can tie up this jackass in the courts for awhile, maybe find a lawyer that works gratis for the elderly. You said the structure is unfinished perhaps the possibilty of the ass ache of having to deal with that will have him ante up a fair deal with you for your home....couldn't hurt to try;)

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  5. Surely, there must be some way that you can seek legal redress? Have you consulted a lawyer?

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    1. No it would be a waste of time. Everyone is connected here and any lawsuits previously launched against them have been thrown out. They are very powerfully connected.

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  6. We were worried about moving into town -- too much noise, too much exposure? -- but like you, it took us about 2 minutes to adjust to city living. Glad you're happy.

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    1. I love being back in the Smoke too, Tom. I love living here.

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  7. Looking forward to those photos and hearing all about your new life. Wish I could think of some way to make a silk purse out of the sow's-ear situation the jerk has put you in, but am sure you've considered every possibility. -Kate

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    1. Slowly getting there. Door and wall decor OUTSIDE the apartment is big here and I was creating something with wool and knitting needles, LOL along with some of my framed photos (priority!)

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  8. Reading you again
    is this a senior development
    condo or what.
    Still seriously thinking
    my thoughts are yours.

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  9. Hello from England Uk Love reading your blog and so identify with your move. We had to move quickly into a tiny 1 bed and boy has it taken some adjusting to. We are desperately trying to find a 2 bed just to have some storage space for crafts etc and room for a dining table.

    There is no way I can eat sat on a sofa so the dining table has to stay in our tiny lounge with hardly any room to walk around Grrrr Claustraphobia is a big problem!!

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    1. Oh that would be challenging for 2 people indeed. I do hope you get your 2 bed. I was going to go on a waiting list for a 2 bed here but changed my mind in order to more efficiently downsize.
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  10. I also wonder if there's any legal action you could take against Mr Cathedral. But if he's the wealthiest landowner in town, presumably with some crafty lawyers in tow, you'd probably be on a hiding to nothing. Anyway, it's good that you're happy in your new home.

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    1. Got it in one Nick. Impossible. He is absolutely without conscience and front row Christian.

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  11. Glad your new digs are so pleasing to you — they do sound nice. View you present conjures a lovely image in my mind. Your house situation description gives me food for thought. Also, I need to be much more aggressive with my “stuff”. Now if you could just be rid of that criminally constructed monstrosity immorally erected without reasonable decent consideration for another landowner’s house and property. If only your city government was more responsible protecting every citizen’s best interests.

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    1. I wish they were too Joared but they are equally corrupt when it comes to the dealings of the wealthy and powerful. There is very little outrage here, citizens are quite repressed. And like someone wrote: the problem is the province is run like a family business for the betterment of only the family.

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