How do YOU feel about downsizing and moving away from your country estate?

[MossRoad]

Thanks. I'll never forget that day. I just wish I could've been at my actual Grandmas side when they both died.

The one that lived close to us when she died at age 70 I was 8 going on 9.

I walked in my with mom and I knew right off that she was dead and at peace.

My dad had just left her house about 30 minutes before to come home and she wasn't feeling good at that time.

He asked her if she wanted an ambulance but she refused and told dad that she didn't want an ambulance and that she'd be okay that he could go on home to us.

My dad felt guilty for leaving and not getting some help for her. Not long after he got home he had a feeling that he should go back over to her house. Me and my mom went with him and that's when we found her dead in her chair.

My mom called 911 and when they got there they had pronounced her dead.

Here the police were trying to sugar coat it for me that she had just went to the sleep. And I told them yeah she went to sleep for good. And she's at peace.

I had known she was dead. And she died at home where she wanted to be.

A few years ago my oldest sisters friend had died in a car crash and my sister was trying to sugar coat it as well to my sisters friends 4 year old daughter
about her mothers death.

She was real smart about it and told my sister that it's okay I know she died and hopefully one day I'll see her again.

She even held her moms hand in her coffin during the funeral.

It surprised my sister how good the girl took it about her moms death and at the funeral.

Some kids may not understand but some really do understand about death.

Yeah, I've told this story before about my 6 year old nephew, so here goes again...

At my grandmother's funeral (my nephew's great grandma), he was up at the casket with his grandmother. His grandma says "Well, I guess you could just say she's sleeping". To which he replied in all sincerity, "Or you could just say she's dead, grandma." He knew the difference.

 

[sodamo]

Been some interesting thoughts shared on this thread.

We built smack in the middle of 20 acres. We built with the intention of this being our last house. Recent travels have served to confirm we have no desire to move.
The house was designed (by us) to be mindful of the future:
Single level, very wheel chair friendly
The master suite is very self contained in that the exercise room has everything short of a stove to make it easier on a future caregiver. There is plenty of room in that a caregiver could actually move into a separate suite with own privacy yet be available if needed.
But aside from the house layout, I am concerned about my own and wife's ability as to future maintenance. Being completely off grid that comes with its own set of challenges. I do have a smallish printout for house sitters so we can travel, but it should be expanded to encompass all our systems.
We are not wealthy by any stretch, but comfortable because we are frugal. I do worry that if we live long enough (we are 69/62), inflation is a major concern, both in terms of increases of taxes etc and decreased purchasing power of our smallish pensions - which got zero COLA increase this year. My plan is to be totally debt free in 4 years and am adding an onsite rental for some additional income.
To address the issue of ongoing yard work and simple maintenance I plan this coming year to add what I call a caretaker studio in hopes I can find the appropriate person to live there in exchange for work. I think the challenge may be finding the right persons over a period of time. We had very good friends, a bit senior to us that gave up last year, sold out and moved to less demanding situation.

 

[Zerk]

My dad has a nice big house. I asked him if he thought it was to big. He likes it, about your age. Nice if company comes by for Chritmas.

The issue to me would be can you afford to heat it. You can close a bedroom door and forget about it for months, which also requires less heat. Closing ducts, or boiler zones too.

I am only in my 40s, but the last thing I would want to do is move to town. I realize some time you do that because you worry about ambulance getting to your place if you are real rural or the time it takes to get to doc appoints.

Myself, I would mow what I could with the tractor or rider, and do the rest as you feel like it. You can downsize your chores.

What is really smaller about a smaller house? Is that back bedroom making a difference? Maybe you pay snow removal service for driveway, splurge.

 

[Zerk]

A corollary to this thread might be "How many of you are really financially prepared for retirement ?" .

I work for a big company, high paying union jobs. It funny/scary the number they say are not putting money into 401k, not even to get company match.

I have started to follow Dave Ramsey, and besides retirement want cash on hand, so an emergency really isn't really an emergency. Though I did buy a tractor with my emergency fund. Next time I will be better.

 

[ultrarunner]

I look at setting up income stream outside of pension since I don't have one and outside of 401k since there is no match and the choice limited...

When I was about 15 an older gentleman told me he had 5 rental units and no debts... his social security and income from the 5 units funded his lifestyle... he traveled and tinkered...

Always remember that as the magic number... 5

Currently 5 rent homes around here would gross anywhere from 7500 to $12,500 per month...

If it were to be too much... selling outright or selling and carrying the paper are options.

Tried hard to make the changes to secure a pension and later a nice 401k match with stock...

They must have seen me coming because just after getting settled in and eligible they were gone...

 

[newbury]

<snip>cash on hand, so an emergency really isn't really an emergency. Though I did buy a tractor with my emergency fund. Next time I will be better.

That is extremely important. My son's Corgi, a very loved member of the family, is presently in emergency HOPEFULLY recovering from encephalitis. $10K in bills so far. Got to rebuild the rainy day fund. Kiss the grapple goodbye for a while.

 

[rgr33]

Misery loves company Newberry. Just payed $10,000 to get 2 knee operations for Zeke, my 4 year old Newfoundland. Tips the scale at 205 lbs, and he looks skinny. We are retired, and that money was not in the budget. Say goodbye to our Caribbean vacation, hello to our staycation.

 

[2ndhalf]

We downsized from 2300 two story with full basement to a 1600 single story no basement a couple years ago. We love the smaller house. I hate not having a basement. We are trying to make it as old age friendly as we can with things we do to it. We plan to die here but I know plans change with life.

One thing we were both amazed by was how much junk we had stuffed places in our big house that we hadn't touched in years. Most went to salvation army. We are trying to live a much leaner, simpler and budget conscience life style. Trying to be happy with what we have and make use of what we have rather than buy everything new.

Hoping that this will keep us in the country a little longer if not forever.

 

[ultrarunner]

The thing about downsizing is getting rid of stuff you may be attached...

I know if I got rid of my collector cars they will not be coming back and therein is my dilemma.

Maybe a cottage with a big barn would be the best of both worlds?

 

[MossRoad]

The thing about downsizing is getting rid of stuff you may be attached...

I know if I got rid of my collector cars they will not be coming back and therein is my dilemma.

Maybe a cottage with a big barn would be the best of both worlds?

That's what I told my wife. I have tons of stuff. She'd like to have none. Have you seen the tiny house movement? I told her I could live in one easily if I had a 20x80 pole barn! :laughing: