Has anyone downsized and is glad they did it? We have our house on the market, and I feel like I've put one of my children up for adoption. I'd get out of it, but we've already committed to buy this other house and put down a hefty downpayment. Please, if you've downsized and are happy you did, please write to me!

Hugs,
Meryl

Hi Meryl. We haven't but we have close friends in Nevada that when their kids were gone (one married and one off to college), they sold their 4 bedroom home and bought a condo right on the golf course. They absolutely love it and she said although it was a tough decision in the beginning, she is so happy they did. Hope this helps.

Hi Meryl;

As per my pm, Consider this a fresh slate. A new house to decorate. A new Garden to Landscape and design and plant. A new back yard for your yorkies to claim as their own. Once it's a done deal, you will not regret the move. Best of luck Meryl.

Linderful

Sorry, Westies, not Yorkies.

Linderful

Thank you both for responding. Linda, as you can see, I'm adding a post so I will no longer have the devil's number!

I could look forward to all of that Linda, but I'm not going to do anything to this house or yard as we are only planning on being there a few years until my husband retires. Just going to do with what I have and spend as much time as I can in Florida. I know -- I sound like a spoiled baby, don't I?

It will be nice to have fewer responsibilities, especially since this house is new and the one I'm living in now is starting to show some age (like its owner!)

Thanks again to you both for answering me. I feel better now.

Hugs,
M.

We made a move from being in one house for many years to another house of about the same size so it wasn't downsizing, but I remember having much remorse! It was an old (130+ years) brick house that we renovated while the kids were young and it sold within 24 hours of it's first showing. I felt "homeless" as we did not expect things to move that quickly and we had not looked at any other houses as a replacement at that point. We had it on the market during a big recession a few years earlier and barely showed it so we pulled the listing, finished off the last of the remodeling and tried again expecting it to take a while. We quickly found another (much newer) house with all the features we wanted and it had a "to-die-for" kitchen. The previous owner was a V.P. of a high-end kitchen cabinet company and they did a fanastic job, but althought it was just what I thought I was looking for I did not feel it was "my" house, and I wished I had my old house back with it's mediocre kitchen for quite a few years. It took until I had changed every last room exactly my way with different colored carpet, tile and wallborder throughout and replicated a few of the features from my old house into this house that I felt it was finally "my home." Now I can't believe I ever wanted that old house back!

It sounds gorgeous, Niteowl! Unfortunately this is a really big downsize for me! Don't know where I'm going to put anything! No one has come to see this house yet, although I've had several people express an interest. Keep your fingers crossed that this works out!

Hugs,
M.

Have you buried a Saint Joseph statue in the yard yet?

No, but it's worth a try!

Hi there NiteOwl.

Please tell me what burrying a Saint Joseph Statue would accomplish? I am married to a catholic and converted to catholicism myself, yet I am unfamiliar with this activity. My mother-in-law passed away on the Feast of St. Joseph, March 19th, 2001, and her husband, deceased more than 35 years, was named after St. Joseph. I am very, very, curious.

Thanks

Linderful

Me too I was baptised a Catholic and have never heard of this.

You're supposed to bury the statue in the ground upside down facing a certain direction that I don't remember, and it's supposed to assist in selling your house!

Thank you Meryl, I shall remember that for future reference But with 3 dogs in my garden I'm not sure poor St Joseph would appreciate it

Hi, being a lifelong Catholic, I have known dozens of people who have asked for St. Joseph's intercession when selling their houses, myself included...it is important to understand that this is not a superstitious act, but just an outward sign of faith...many non-Catholics believe that we actually pray TO the saints, which isn't exactly correct...when we pray, we are asking the saints (who we believe are already in heaven) to intercede for us (in effect, join their prayers with ours), and I have found that their help can be truly miraculous. The following excerpt explains this much better than I can...just keep in mind that the hype about "upside-down, backwards, etc.) is just hype--it's the person's faith that makes the difference, not the ritual itself.

P.S. Are all three of your dogs Westies? We have a Westie, too--keeps us laughing, and keeps me SANE, especially during all the meno blues...

*******************************************************

THE WAY OF SAINT JOSEPH.

Mission …

To displace … the current quick-fix "magic of burying a statue" with the age old "Miracle of asking and believing" … Inspires lasting hope!

#############


Recognise … Home Sellers must also price right.

Size … easy to bury, place, carry or hold.

To provide everyone … with the opportunity to personally experience the power of St. Joseph … The sad truth is that, simply because of the overemphasis on burying techniques, many good people are continuing to lose out on the tremendous benefits, which St. Joseph never fails to provide.

For, very simply … sale or no sale … asking St. Joseph, inspires hope and … hope brings about believing and … believing leads to faith and … lives are changed..!

Over the years, thousands have successfully followed the age-old practice of burying a statue of St. Joseph … w/the hope of selling or buying real estate …

The Way …

Ask … St. Joseph to help you sell your home and then …

Believe … and trust in St. Joseph to intercede in the granting of your request, and then …

Bury … or place St. Joseph's statue on the property, as an outward sign of your belief and trust in his power, and then …

Thank ..St. Joseph for having responded to your call … before, during and after the granting of your favour, and then …

Remove … his statue and finally …

Share … with others, your experiences … how St. Joseph helped you personally.

A Petition to St. Joseph.

Dear St. Joseph, head of the most perfect household, foster father of Jesus and guardian of His Mother Mary, I confidently place myself and all my concerns under your care and protection. I ask that, through your powerful intercession with God, you obtain for me all the help and graces that I need for my spiritual and temporal welfare and in particular, the special favour I now ask (here mention or think of your home sale or any other petition, especially family needs *).

Good St. Joseph, I know with confidence, that your prayers on my behalf will be heard by God and that He will grant my request, if it be for His glory and my greater good.

Thank you St. Joseph, for having responded to my call.

Amen

*****************************************************************

P.S. I've never removed the statue afterward...I've always left it, perhaps to be found by a later owner...again, I don't think the ritual itself is what matters...

Irish, thanks for posting all of that. It was very interesting! I'm not Catholic, but I still think it worked with my last house!

I have one Westie named Melvin, and he's my baby! Unruly little creatures, aren't they? Have a mind of their own!

Sorry, was gone to a funeral today, but it looks as though many provided answers! All I can add is that you do not need to be Catholic, you just have to believe it will work....and have your house in good repair with all fix-ups done, neat & tidy inside and out, and priced accurately for the market value!

We didn't downsize, but we did move, to a new house built on an acre we'd had for years. No remorse, no regret. This house has all the things I wanted in my house, actually it's bigger, 1604 sq. ft. compared to 1265 sq. ft. Although we lived in the last house for 20 years we had no qualms about leaving, we have it rented out now. We're 59 and have another acre about 15 miles away. We may build on that lot and move again unless we decide to just sell the land and stay here....Lynn