Transitioning

Making the decision was hard. Moving forward isn't.

As I mentioned in my last post, I decided to sell my place in Ohio and move full time to Key West. The decision took me a while to process. I kept going back and forth between keeping the property to rent out versus selling. I ruminated about it a lot during my trip to Italy and frankly, drove my new friends there a little batty with my indecision. But once I got back to Ohio I finally understood that, as much as I loved my house on the edge of a state park, I didn’t need it anymore. It’s too much house, too much maintenance and too far from where my heart is longing to be…Key West.

Once I made my decision, things have moved so fast and so smoothly that I know it’s meant to be. The listing went live on Friday, June 13 (yikes!) and by the end of the next day I had four competing offers. I chose the winner then began to clear things out with gusto. I sold a bunch of stuff on Facebook Marketplace and hired an estate sale company to take care of the rest. Family members helped me to clean out the two garage attics during one of the hottest weeks on record. I sorted through six large totes of pictures and memories and whittled it down to one box that will fit under my bed. Sue graciously invited me to move the antique furniture I inherited from our great Aunt Marie to her house, so I’d feel more at home when I visit (which I plan to do often). I found a reliable transport company to ship my car to the Keys. So basically, in less than a month, I’ve narrowed down 25 years of stuff into what will fit in my SUV. You’d think that would be hard. But it’s been remarkably easy to let go.

I don’t know why I’m being so driven to take this drastic step at the ripe old age of 71, but I’m sure I’ll find out. All my life, I’ve made big decisions by listening to my gut and it’s never steered me wrong. So, I’m trusting my intuition and taking a giant leap.

When my divorce was finalized in 2023, I wasn’t ready to let the house go. I felt it was my anchor in a turbulent sea of change. Now, I realize an anchor can keep you safe, but it also holds you in place. I’m choosing to pull up anchor, set my sails and navigate a new course into my future.