Downsizing is a state of mind.

It’s hard to believe but we’ve been in our apartment for 6 weeks – April 2^nd was our move-in date, so 6 weeks is for real;. It doesn’t feel that long, sort of.

I shared how in those first days of week one we were inundated with invites to dinner and sit downs over wine, and were accosted in the hallways because everyone seemed to know we had arrived and even knew us by name. That tapered off into the second week, but we’re still greeted by name and still don’t know most everyone by their names.

Because of Covid-19 all our meals ae still delivered to our apartment, and eating in the dining hall or the bistro restaurant is by reservation only and in “groups” of two apartments. We had dinner with 4 people, a couple and 2 women in the dining hall, but that was before the threat level in Lane county was raised to a higher level. We had lunch in the bistro with a friend we knew from earlier contacts at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and that was nice. Otherwise, we’re comfortably enjoying meals in our apartment.

In our downsizing from Panorama drive to W 29^th Avenue we selected down to a smaller number of framed photographs to be hung on our new walls. We selected well, but have found that we could have brought a handful more as we’ve ended up with all the photos now up on the walls, and have some extra space left. Also, in the downsizing I unloaded a ton of photographic materials for framing photos that I could now use for photos I’ve had printed up to fill those spaces. So, I’m finding I now have to buy framing and mats for framing some photographs. I downsized too well it seems.

Downsizing is never a precise process, and who knows what we sold or gave to St. Vinnies’ that we could now use. Well, we do know that we sold too many of our bookcases, cuz we have a load of books that need a home. Ach…!

Everything is settling into more familiar patterns – We know pretty much where most things are. After having put things in drawers, then after using said things have found a need to move them to another drawer more logically convenient. And especially important, my mid-night trips to the bathroom come easier without wondering where the hell I am. That’s a relief, in two ways.

 By the end of next week, our whole family will have been fully vaccinated, and within a couple of weeks after that, everyone will be good to go for visits in our new home. Plans are in the offing for a celebratory gathering here when escrow closes on the sale of Panorama Drive home. Our extended family consists of 12 people – Barb and me, our daughter-in-law’s parents, Cathy and Keith, our son Paul and wife Tori, grandson Casey, and granddaughter Teiya; daughter Diana and husband Chris, granddaughter Venice, and grandson Xander. When we used to get together in the Panorama Drive house, it was nice and comfortable with a lot of space. It’s going to be tight here at 29^th Avenue, but welcome nevertheless because everyone has been vaccinated and we can safely gather as family and it’s been a very long 16 months under pandemic holds.

Panorama Drive went on the market three weeks ago, and last week we accepted on offer and are in the midst of the next stages of settling around the price. Closing of escrow is set for June 8th, and we’ve started thinking of when to hold a house-warming celebration here.

I started out saying downsizing is a state of mind – That state of mind has ridden the waves of change from one home to another, one space size to another, and from ownership to the status of renters. Big and milestone changes. We’ve weathered it all very well, and are settled in now for the long haul. Home Sweet Home, for sure…