I’m an empty nester with a zest to explore all the life I haven’t yet lived.
Solo by choice, mother of three grown children, and soon to be a great-grandmother. Tiny, yet intrepid. Or so I’m told.
My home in northern Michigan was a beautiful hobby farm tucked away on the banks of the Little Betsie River, near Traverse City. From my nest, I would write, create jewelry and solar art, and sell vintage items I picked from the local second hand shops. I had a small photography business which kept me in touch with the events in my community. I worked a full-time job in a wonderful and inspiring arts environment. It was a pretty great life.
But honestly, none of it was really mine. After raising three children on my own, in the little dream world I’d built, it seemed I owed money to everyone. More than I actually made, though I worked nearly every waking hour.
Peeking into the future I could see how much more difficult it would be to maintain each year, and the picture wasn’t pretty. The heavier stuff got heavier, the utilities more costly, and the amount I could make each month kept going down. At 56 years old, I couldn’t see it getting any better.
So, I sold my nest to pay off all the bills, quit my job, and downsized my world into a 10 foot camper. My skills, necessities, and my personal treasures went with me.
In reality, I upsized my world into a never-ending array of beautiful vistas, new friends, and a rolling bucket list of what I want to see next.
My only regret is not doing it sooner.
I’m hoping this blog will inspire many others who are caught on the hamster wheel of “working to pay the bills”. Those who work their days, and sometimes nights, away on the endless struggle of trying to make enough to pay the bills at the end of the month. The empty nesters who don’t really want the rest of their days to hold nothing more than old memories.
Because our nests are full of these memories, we hang onto them. As we age, we tuck into our nests, giving up our desire to fly. Maintaining our nests becomes our primary goal. That’s just fine if your nest is your only dream. If you can afford more to pay someone else to maintain it, when your age no longer allows you to do it yourself. If your nest is the only thing you want out of life.
But, here’s the secret.
You can take the threads and trinkets woven into that nest with you, leaving the sticks and twigs behind. The memories, the friendships you’ve made, the skills you’ve acquired, and your well-earned wisdoms. Tiny pieces of memorabilia go into your camper, those things which always bring a smile and a good memory. Larger pieces you don’t want to let go of, get new lives with your friends and family. You can visit them all later.
I promise you…the feeling of freedom, options, and peace you will feel, will fill all of those spaces.
The only things you really lose are the bills, all the stuff you didn’t need, the big chores, and the hours you worked just to make the payments each month.
When you are standing at the top of a mountain, realizing everything in the world is now yours, your heart will come alive again.
I hope these tips, lessons learned, and experiences from my journey will help you find your way to your next life.
Recent Comments