Making Decisions 3

The third major decision in moving to a new job in a new city has been where to live. Should we buy or rent. Having been pastors for most of our married life we didn't live in our own home until 8 years ago when we moved to the Twin Cities. It has been great to call our own place "home." But what do we do now? After all we are both AARP-aged Baby Boomers; empty-nesters. Maybe this is the time to make that first big downsizing move.

So we looked at both apartments (larger ones, of course) and houses. We were fairly sure that at least for the moment we were going to rent. Three weeks is not enough time to truly find a place to buy, especially in this buyer's market. But what about the size question?

Well, we looked at a house about 15 miles from town. And we looked at a nice 3-bedroom "luxury" apartment minutes from work (with a shuttle van.) As we drove to the house I realized that I don't like commuting. I have never enjoyed commuting because I never had to do it until I took my current job a little over two years ago. Even my first job outside the church was a couple minute drive to three of the local schools.

I think if the house had been in town we would have taken it. It was not a significant downsize and we would have had time to decide what to get rid of and what not to- which is dangerous considering the number of boxes currently stored in our basement that have not been opened in the 8 years we have lived there.

The apartment had the local convenience and, as we described it, the ability to "unburden" ourselves from some of the physical baggage we have been toting around. It actually feels good to think in those terms. It is time to help make life a little less cluttered. Why do we keep all those papers from seminary or college? What about those books that have some sentimental value but I know I will never read them again? (Jack Newfield's biography of Robert Kennedy for example. How old is that book anyway?)

This has been an interesting process, far beyond the decision process. The aging and moving and downsizing has been a significant element of it which I still need some time to reflect on. But for now we have made the decision for the apartment. We lose about 1000 square feet of living space, but it is all on one floor. The rooms are roomy and comfortable. The location and services are truly unbeatable. Only time will tell whether we can go back to living in such small quarters 33 years after we left an apartment for a parsonage.

But hey, it's an adventure.