My New Abode

Many who know me, know I have several serious and complicated lung issues.  They are not really "diseases" but conditions.  And to answer any potential questions -- I have never smoked.  So when my husband passed away suddenly six years ago, I realized then that I would need to move into "senior housing" sooner than other folks might need to do so.  When you share a home with your spouse, you can each help each other.  My home was large -- 2400 square feet - with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.  It became too much for me to care for two years ago and I hired a housekeeper to help me with all of this.  The main floor has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, living room, dining area, and laundry all on the same floor.  So basically I stayed on the same floor.  And the housekeeper only cleaned the main floor.  On some occasions when family came, I asked them to vacuum the lower level.  

Because of my lung conditions, I have wintered in Florida for several years.  It was just too cold even in south central Pennsylvania. I could not walk to get my mail during the winter without it bothering my lungs.  But even with wintering in Florida, things concerning my lungs only seem to get worse.  So I made the decision to sell my Florida home so that I had the same medical team caring for me.   And I would be closer to my children. 

I did NOT plan on selling my town house in Pennsylvania this summer when I left Florida in May.  I knew I would have to sell within 1-3 years because of my lungs.  This year I planted a garden as usual.  I have tomatoes, basil, parsley, cucumbers, and chives.  All in that little front corner next to my sidewalk! One nephew is amazed at how well that little garden produces things.

Buuutt, that is not what happened.   I knew from my Pennsylvania neighbors that house were selling quickly - very quickly.  What I did not realize (while still in Florida) was that houses were selling for MUCH higher prices than they were 6-8 months before. So I sought guidance from a realtor  and from my investment firm.  I even asked at the senior living residence if there were any apartments available where I had previously chosen.  The answer was no, and none anticipated for 6 months to a year.   I said ok.   My investment firm said to accept an apartment when they called to tell me one was available  IF and when the housing prices remained as high as they currently were.  

Oh my!  Well, OK then.  

The very next week, the senior living facility called me and said an apartment had become available.  That certainly put the wheels in motion very quickly.  My  children came and took  or claimed furniture they would find helpful in their homes.  I listed the town house for sale.  It sold in one day.   And I took a month off from designing for Technique Junkies to prepare for the move.  

I cannot forget to mention how God guided me over the past several years in getting rid of things - even ahead of the schedule my kids would have liked.  I just felt the pressure to do this inside my heart and mind – from God I know! There is no way I could have planned how my house value would be so much higher than it was in October!  Nor that after telling me there were no apartments available for probably six months to a year in the independent living area – and then they tell me an apartment was available only one week later.   I was #2 on the list for an apartment since I put my money down 3 years ago.  At that time 3 years ago, I thought maybe 5-8 years from then.  And the apartment was the exact floor plan I wanted in a wonderful location.  There was no way I could have guessed in 2018 that not only would I be able to sell this house in one day, but for a price so much higher than just a few months ago.  I wouldn’t even have thought when I left Florida in May that I would sell this summer. And I became very ill in the midst of this. I was in the hospital for 10 days.   Believe me, that only confirmed the hand of God in this move.    

I had drawn up a graph paper plan for furniture placement.  It is really reversed from the actual layout. But it will give you some idea of how this works.  

It took a few weeks for all of this to happen.  I had to pack, and move stuff over as quickly as possible.  Friends and family helped move stuff off and on for several days, and twice in the evening. But officially the move in day was July 31.  People have asked pictures of my new apartment.  It is NOT perfectly arranged yet and I am still putting some things away.   But here are pictures to show you of the progress I have made in one week.  

This first picture shows my door entrance, and as you enter my very small 615 square foot apartment.  A huge difference from 1200 square feet on the main level.   The picture on the left as you come into my apartment was painted by my aunt.  

This is my teeny tiny kitchen.   The cart at the end between the stove and washer is only temporary.  And I am still putting things away in  the kitchen. 

To the left as you walk into my apartment is my bedroom area.  Against the kitchen wall (and across from my bed)  is a shoe cabinet from IKEA.  The dresser belonged to my great-grandparents and was moved in a covered wagon from Illinois to Oklahoma after the Civil War. 

The bathroom with my own touches.  

And my craft room - arranged in a way that makes sense to me.  It is not large, and I had to get rid of a lot of stuff to make what I needed to have fit it in this space.  But I can craft here!!

Next to the craft area is my dining area and various storage across from it.    The large painting was painted by my grandmother.  It is of Puget Sound in Washington state near Seattle.

My desk  area and into the living room area.  The corner hutch was something I purchased many years ago with part of the money I received from my Dad as an inheritance.  

And the seating area in my "living room" area.  There are no doors except for the bathroom door.  

This is the dining room in the Independent Living area where I eat meals.  I am provided two meals a day - a Continental breakfast and the main meal of the day at 12:30. 

One of the general areas where activities happen. The view is from my window.  And finally  an outdoor seating area where residents frequently gather in the evening to chat.  

So I hope this helps you to see my new home and how it is arranged.

I can hardly wait to get stamping again!  I will be back designing for Technique Junkies for September.  I hope you are getting inky these days.