To say that we’ve had a lot going on the last few months would be a huge understatement. And while Land of Marvels continues to run in the background, I’ve had many things happening in the foreground recently in my day to day life. On top of work, running a business and teaching part time, in November we decided to start looking for a new place to live since our 500 square foot apartment, as much as we adored it, was just getting a little crammed particularly with me working from home. We just needed a little bit more space. So we started looking (in this crazy Portland market) and found a townhouse in NW Portland that we just fell in love with only 5 days into looking with our realtors. We had only seen 4 other properties, but I just knew the minute I walked through it, this was it. Long story short, Nick came to see it for a second showing, we made an offer immediately and it was accepted. Today we’ll be closing on that townhouse after a bunch of issues that came up on the seller’s side during our time in contract as well as selling our current apartment throughout this process as well.
I have such mixed emotions on the whole thing. On one hand, we’re so excited to move into our new townhouse, get new furniture, design it to our tastes and explore a new neighborhood. On the other, we’re saying goodbye to a home we’ve lived in for 9 years. Our old apartment was the first home Nick and I bought, it was the apartment we have redone and changed over and over, it’s the place that has been a part of our lives since college. To say goodbye is hard and even then, I’m not entirely sure what emotions will play a part. I think honestly, we won’t be able to process it all until a few months down the road when we look back fondly on it or drive by it and remember our lives there.
But such is life I guess. People move, things change and we just go from there. New apartments come into our lives, townhouses become our new homes, we move neighborhoods, etc., and that’s all part of this game we call life. I guess when I look back at the past couple of months since we made that offer in early November, it seemed like a blur most of the time. We were crazy with work, holiday stuff, travel and then add all the stuff that comes with buying a home in there as well and at the time I remember thinking, “I can’t wait to just sell our place and be in our new place.” But perhaps we need that time, we need the time of dealing with mortgages and titles and real estate people. We need that time of cleaning out and organizing our lives, because that’s our processing time. Then later, we can look back and know that we can feel all the emotions we need to because those things are out of the way.
So as we start a new year in a new home in a new neighborhood, I know that this is a new era ahead. An era where it’s ok to feel all the emotions of leaving our first home together behind, a new era where I might every once in a while drive by our old building, but also a new era of love and pride at where we’re headed.
Isabel @ TheSunnySideofThis says
So exciting!! I bet you feel nostalgic but looking forward a brighter future is just pure bliss!
Casey says
Thank you!!! It is a little nostalgic but so exciting! 🙂
Brittany says
Congrats on your new place! May you make many wonderful memories there as well!
Casey says
Thank you! I really appreciate that!
Kristin | Eat. Fly. Love. says
Congratulations on the new place! I have a feeling I’ll be in the same mix of bittersweet nostalgia when we sell our townhouse here – even though we’ve moved back and forth and rented it out a few times, we keep coming back to it. I’ve owned it for ten years now. It’ll be weird NOT having it.
Casey says
Thanks Kristin! It’s weird, isn’t it? Leaving behind a place you’ve had for so many years.
Emily of Em Busy Living says
I really love this post. I love how you’ve perfectly explained the way we all need the time you’re in, and how we deal with it later after such a blur. You will drive by with fond memories and a little bit of sad nostalgia, but your new place will be equally filled with new memories and milestones. Congratulations on your new home!
Casey says
Thank you! And yes, we’ll drive by and remember all the amazing times but we’re so excited with our new place! 🙂
Christine Everyday says
Moving is so hard but so fun. I hope you enjoy it! You will have lots of fun new memories in your new place before long. 🙂
Casey says
Thank you! And yes, I keep saying I’ve never moving again… not fun at all! But we’re finally feeling settled! 🙂
Rachel @ STCL says
So excited for you on your new adventure! I bet you’re going to love it once you’re able to get all settled in!
Casey says
Thank you Rachel! We’re finally feeling settled and it feels good! 🙂
Jess McGuire says
Best wishes on the start of your new adventure! http://www.everydayadventure365.blogspot.com
Casey says
Thank you!
Val Anderson says
Happy Home Happy life is wished for you. May it bring you joy in the growth of new memories to come. I wish you peace and enjoyment for many years to come.
Moving from our family home which meant so much to me for the memories made their to the other side of the world has been a difficult journey for me, but one has to adjust and make it work. I really do miss my home in South Africa and my home in Chile terribly, so I can honestly say I am with you on this journey.The difference is that I leave my family behind two daughters and three teen grandchildren and that is the hardest.
I so enjoy reading your blog, thank you for sharing
Casey says
Thank you so much for your kind words! And yes, I can imagine how hard that would be to leave family! I wish you all the best of luck! 🙂
Bailey K. says
9 years?! That’s amazing! In 7 years of marriage, we’ve moved 9 times, and have yet to ever own our own place. I hope that when we do, it’s a forever home (or at least as long-term as possible). I’m so tired of moving. Haha. Anyway, I’m so excited for you guys! Townhouses are so cute! Is the above picture a photo of your new neighborhood?
Casey says
Wow that’s a lot of moving! And thank you… yes that is a photo of our new neighborhood from out front of our place 🙂