
In November of 2020, we revealed a submit known as “What’s It Like To Downsize” after residing in our smaller residence for six months. We lined a variety of experiences – like the nice issues about transferring to a smaller residence (proudly owning much less stuff! saving cash!) and a few of its challenges, particularly within the preliminary phases of downsizing (paring down! determining storage!). We nonetheless agree with every part in that submit, however it had solely been six months… and because it has now been over 4.5 years (!!!), we really feel like we’ve just a few extra so as to add in regards to the long-haul downsizing expertise. Let’s get into it.
I gained’t recap our complete choice to downsize (you may see the total rationalization right here) however the highlights are:
- We used to stay in a 3,150 sq. ft. residence in suburban Richmond, Virginia
- Now we stay in a 1,400 sq. ft. residence just a few blocks from the Gulf of Mexico
- We’ve got 6 rooms (together with simply 1 toilet)
- Our present home’s lot is 1/tenth the dimensions of our final home’s lot
- We don’t have a storage, attic, or basement (however we do have a pool/sizzling tub/firepit)
- We needed a home that’s “walkable” & can now stroll to outlets/eating places/the seashore
- Our household downsizing motto has been to “stay with much less & be outdoors extra” (various motto: “spend much less time cleansing & extra time within the pool”)
After 4.5 years, we will nonetheless confidently say that downsizing was a terrific choice for us. We dedicate loads much less time, cash, and vitality into homeownership (upkeep, renovation, furnishing, cleansing) than ever earlier than – which has freed us as much as give attention to household, hobbies, nature, and a greater work-life stability. Financially it has additionally been helpful (we made an entire chart about saving $$$, as a result of though our home is in a hotter location, it’s loads simpler to warmth & cool). You may see that breakdown in our authentic downsizing recap.
We’ve additionally had our present residence longer than our first home, our second home, our seashore home, or our duplex at this level (time is wild!). So our downsized life-style is hardly a “blip” and we actually would have modified issues by now if it wasn’t a very good match.

So what new recommendation do we’ve after practically 5 years of downsized life? The 2 issues that come to thoughts are considerably contradictory ideas, so bear with me as I clarify.
- It’s simple to overlook you downsized
- It’s simple to be reminded you downsized
And sure, these are each extra in regards to the psychological facet of downsizing, however it’s a humorous phenomenon that others who’ve downsized have additionally appeared to expertise (we love speaking to neighbors & buddies who additionally moved from bigger properties to smaller ones by the seashore).
Forgetting You Downsized
Most days it’s simple to overlook that we ever lived with (or believed we wanted) more room. We’ve lived on this home lengthy sufficient to totally modify (each mentally and logistically) to having 1400 sq. toes. What as soon as felt like an “unconventional” or “completely different” life-style change feels regular and unremarkable. A lot in order that it’s a bit of troublesome to jot down this submit. We’ve develop into a bit of blind to what’s fascinating or distinctive about it!

So why will we draw consideration to the “forgettableness” of downsizing? Properly, for a few causes.
1. Transitions Are Short-term
First, we hope this reassures anybody dealing with an analogous transition, whether or not by selection or not. Downsizing can really feel difficult at occasions, however the challenges don’t final eternally. As a result of similar to any transition in life – going to varsity, beginning a job, having a child – the adjustment interval is usually the toughest half. So allow us to be an instance that, sooner or later, you’ll be on the opposite facet. You’ll modify.

That’s to not say the adjustment is all the time quick or simple. And completely different components could also be troublesome for various individuals. We loved paring down our belongings, in order that half wasn’t too tough for us (dare I say, thrilling?). However after transferring into our smaller residence, it took us 2-3 years to:
- determine furnishings preparations in just a few trickier areas
- absolutely implement ample storage options (like including closets)
So there was an preliminary “sticking level” to find one of the best ways to retailer sure issues (or a literal ready interval whereas we constructed the storage cupboards or closets that we wanted). However now that we’ve figured these issues out, every part has a spot to stay, and it’s much more autopilot round right here. In reality, if pressed to recall what we struggled with storing or what took the longest to determine, it would take a 10-minute brainstorming session to really keep in mind.
2. It Was The Proper Transfer For Us
Secondly (and extra personally), the “forgettableness” of our choice tells us we did the best factor. Downsizing isn’t for everybody, so the truth that it has develop into so normalized for our household is immensely reassuring. We nonetheless have individuals over (our pool & proximity to the seashore is an actual draw). We spend much more time outdoors as a household. We clear the home collectively each Sunday in about half-hour (all 4 of us have our fav jobs). Six rooms complete (and just one toilet) actually have a plethora of upsides.

That’s to not say we don’t generally really feel the restrictions of a smaller residence (right here is the place I might argue that limitations aren’t all the time dangerous – like do we would like a home with sufficient house to retailer actually *something* we’ve ever needed?).
To select an instance of a storage limitation, just a few years in the past Sherry needed just a few of these 6′ skeletons to hold from our second ground deck every Halloween. She proposed storing them within the crawl house (which might have labored – though skeletons underneath the home may be a bit of creepy if somebody ever stumbled on them throughout an inspection or one thing). After some thought, Sherry ended up getting 4 smaller skeletons that fold on the waist and may simply be saved in a basket inside. The youngsters get a kick out of repositioning them each October (rain chain Miley-Cyrus-In-Wreckingball scenes have been created) so there is no such thing as a scarcity of pleasure, and it hasn’t ever actually felt like a “sacrifice.” You modify. You pivot. All is okay.

Truly, there’s a peace that comes with a resolute “nope, it gained’t slot in our home” that helps us stroll away from plenty of issues with out a lot inner debate (and with cash remaining in our pocket). Additionally, plenty of individuals stay with out 6-foot skeletons… which is kinda the purpose. The longer we stay right here, the much less regularly we let our house limitations distract from the positives of downsizing. It’s only a reality of life that we’re pleased to stay with in alternate for the opposite issues we’ve gained.
Being Reminded You Downsized
Like I mentioned earlier than, this subsequent part seems like a direct contradiction to every part I simply mentioned. How can it’s simple to overlook we downsized… but additionally be often reminded of that reality? This fascinating dichotomy simply appears to be part of downsizing, so I assumed I’d try to put it into phrases for anybody who’s considering a downsizing journey.

Because the day-to-day of residing in a smaller residence during the last 4.5 years has develop into so normalized to us, there are humorous little moments after we’re reminded that our choice isn’t everybody’s norm. A type of humorous reminders may be when one other particular person asks us about downsizing and says they may by no means stay with out their visitor room & their double storage (we often chat about how downsizing undoubtedly isn’t for everybody – and every particular person has various things they couldn’t stay with out).

Generally it’s simply this second of being in a bigger residence whereas visiting a pal and noticing they’ve 12 closets or a large laundry room. It’s not a foul sensation – it’s only a noticeable second of “oh yeah, some individuals have all this room! I ponder in the event that they suppose our home is bizarre, although we’re so used to it.”

To take this one step additional, comparability is a near-universal fact of homeownership, whether or not you’re evaluating your house to a home throughout the road or a house that’s featured on the web or in {a magazine}. This isn’t particular to downsizing AT ALL. I’m positive a lot of you in bigger properties have envied somebody’s much more spacious home sooner or later. And chances are you’ll even have felt a pang of craving for a smaller and extra easy residence, however don’t truly need to stay in a single. It may simply be a bit of momentary feeling.
My principal level right here is that plenty of little needs or yearnings can exist without delay in your thoughts, and people momentary pangs don’t imply you hate what you have already got or should change issues. Insert that quote in regards to the grass all the time being greener. So if you happen to’re occupied with downsizing, it will be good to take inventory of how these comparisons actually make you are feeling over an extended time frame (fleeting needs apart).

If you happen to’re somebody who can say “that’s so cool for them, however I don’t suppose I’d need to clear these 4 additional rooms” – you would possibly actually be prepared (and excited!) to downsize. But when seeing these grander properties stirs up some form of burning want (versus being a passing second of “woah, they’ve a theater room!”), possibly take a while to dive deeper and ponder if downsizing truly feels best for you.
After we stroll into large open homes or showhomes, we’re very pleased to take in all of the inspiration & admire each element after which fortunately return to our cozy little home. Touring these “greater and higher homes” is enjoyable for us, and it’s additionally an train that reaffirms our selection each time.

Once more, for us, residing with much less = needing much less cash = working/cleansing/sustaining/organizing much less = extra time for household/buddies/hobbies/nature. There’s a huge “why” behind our selection. So seeing somebody’s greater/nicer home typically turns into a very good second to savor the readability we’ve round our objectives. Is it stunning? Sure. Is it price spending extra time sustaining it and dealing longer hours to afford it? Not for us.

I’m particularly grateful for that readability given the big variety of properties round us. One distinctive factor about residing right here is the wide selection of home sizes (and, let’s consider, fancy-factor?). The properties in all of our earlier neighborhoods had been comparatively the identical. Some might need a more recent kitchen or toilet, a completed attic, or an addition on the again, however the variations often weren’t greater than a renovation away from the home subsequent door.
In our present space, nonetheless, the vary is really WILD. You’ll find lavish & giant waterfront properties price eight figures only a quick stroll away. On daily basis we see every part from little cottages like ours to towering multi-family trip properties. Fortunately that wide selection doesn’t make us second-guess something about our choice to downsize. However I think about it will be more durable to deal with if we felt like our home actually was too small and we had been squeezed in there like sardines whereas these round us had all that room after which some.

All this to say, I might not select a neighborhood like ours if you happen to’re liable to house-size envy or if you happen to fear you’ll second-guess your choice to downsize. Sherry and I truly get pleasure from that our home “stands out” in our neighborhood as being one in every of simply round two dozen “authentic cottages” that had been constructed earlier on when our streets had been sleepy and sluggish (it’s a terrific dialog starter!). However I believe a youthful me who was much less positive in my selections would possibly’ve most popular to mix in and sustain with the Joneses a bit of extra. I believe that will’ve made this course of tougher. So… know thyself.
Would We Nonetheless Select Downsizing?
If it isn’t already obviously apparent, YES!
Within the nearly half a decade since making this selection, we’ve solely grown extra steadfast in our choice. We had been so centered on the logistical and monetary elements of downsizing in our earlier downsizing recap, I don’t suppose we had actually digested these psychological elements sufficient to clarify them. We had been additionally solely 6 months in, and really a lot loving our new residence, new location, and new life-style – however it will not have been simple to see it from as broad of a lens as we will at present.
And now, 4.5 years after downsizing, any kind of honeymoon interval that will have occurred is over and we’re nonetheless very fortunately married to it. We’re amazed by how normalized it has develop into to us, and the way simple it’s to brush off any “temptations” round us. Sherry says that like getting tattoos, paring down and simplifying is addicting. Besides I suppose on the subject of the occasional jonesing for giant skeletons. However even that may end up okay…
Extra Posts About Downsizing

Wish to learn extra about our expertise downsizing to a smaller residence?