pivot #1: locale

I made the first SLSR pivot—moving from the rural property to an apartment in a small town—two months ago.  My life is very different already.  As I imagined when I chose this location, there’s a lot going on here.  For now, I’ve limited myself to a commitment just five days a week.  An introvert’s gotta pace herself. 

I’m attending yoga classes.  I’m joining group hikes and snowshoeing at least twice weekly.  Often we go out for coffee after and I’ve met like-minded and friendly folk.  I have more frequent visits with my dad and step-mom who live just a 30-minute drive away.  I’m only an hour’s drive from the city. 

It surprised me how immediately happy and relieved I was to be living in a building again with other people around.  I don’t mind hearing voices in the hall.  I like the ding of the elevator.  There are community rooms with movie nights, potlucks, games, and lending libraries.  Retired folk are the majority but I’d guess I am the only one who has upsized rather than downsized. 

The layout and materials in the one-bedroom unit suit my minimalist approach.  I even have my own laundry room (a big deal for me since I’d been doing laundry for over two years at the laundromat and while visiting friends and family). Compared to the tiny house, I’ve quadrupled my living space.  Compared to the old farmhouse, the place actually looks clean after I clean.  I feel like I’m living in a luxury hotel suite but without the bad art.  Oh, and there’s a parking garage. 

The apartment is a sweeter deal than I had expected finding or affording here.  I’d hoped to have a place lined up before my trip in early October but, as these things do, it all fell into place at the right time—starting with my brother hearing about the property when talking with an old friend. 

I was startled one evening recently when I looked out my window at a fireworks display for a celebration at a nearby winery.  I am not a fan of fireworks.  During my summers on the west coast, neighboUrhood yahoos would randomly set them off which terrified the cats (and me).  I thought it was more an American obsession but, no, they were a regular occurrence with campers and cottagers during my past three summers on the rural property.  I had to laugh that fireworks could be the thing I find to complain about here. 

The original retirement move in 2017 was drastic.  With hindsight, I think it was too much change to manage solo all at once.  Yeah, it’s made me stronger, blah, blah, blah, but if I had a do over I would not do it over.  Now to add back to my life, in this new neutral location, some of the important elements that still feel left behind.  It’s looking like this busy little town will give me opportunities to check all the boxes. 

References and related links:

• SLSR: simpler living semi-retirement.
• neutral (post #128)
• pivot (post #121)