Selling family home - Anyone been through that?

[heders]

I've lived in a fantastic house all my life, in an idyllic place, free from crime, lots of nature, friendly people, etc. Now however my parents are selling the house, and we've got until February to pack up our stuff.

Right now I'm 21-years-old, and I'm on my way to move out anyways (haven't been able to afford it earlier because of school), but it sucks never ever getting to come back here again. There will also be quite a contrast living in a very calm, quiet place, moving to the heart of the city. I'm not used to that pace at all.

Has anyone had any experience in this? It feels pretty ridiculous getting so nostalgic and crap, but it sure sucks.

[Premium Parrots]

I've lived in a fantastic house all my life, in an idyllic place, free from crime, lots of nature, friendly people, etc. Now however my parents are selling the house, and we've got until February to pack up our stuff.

Right now I'm 21-years-old, and I'm on my way to move out anyways (haven't been able to afford it earlier because of school), but it sucks never ever getting to come back here again. There will also be quite a contrast living in a very calm, quiet place, moving to the heart of the city. I'm not used to that pace at all.

Has anyone had any experience in this? It feels pretty ridiculous getting so nostalgic and crap, but it sure sucks.

I'll be going thru the same thing soon. I've been here for over 35 years, got married here and raised my kids in this house. I put my life into this property. It was so destroyed when I moved here about 3 weeks after I moved here the village called to remind me that I need to buy a demolition permit to tear this place down. Well, my plan wasn't to tear this house down it was to fix it up since that's all I could afford to do at the time. It took me 35 years but I made this place a really great home to raise a family in and the landscaping is likin to a park. As a matter of fact I've walked out to find people picnicking in my back yard....several times. Anyway, I'm ok with having it up for sale now but when the day comes that we have to hand over the keys it will be an extremely emotional time. We already bought the next house and I will be starting to move stuff in about a week but we can't leave this property until it sells.

Like they say mate.....when one door closes another opens. Look forward to the happy times in the new place. Forever keep the good memories of the old place. They will be with you forever......unless of course you come down with alzheimers.

I feel your pain.

[Frosted]

Well, I grew up mainly in the countryside in Ireland. Even Belfast city is the size of a village so it's not that hectic. Moving to London at 19 was a major culture shock. It took a long time to get used to the pace but now I hate going back to Ireland. It took quite a few years to get to that stage though. The only thing I miss about living in London is good country walks.

[heders]

I'll be going thru the same thing soon. I've been here for over 35 years, got married here and raised my kids in this house. I put my life into this property. It was so destroyed when I moved here about 3 weeks after I moved here the village called to remind me that I need to buy a demolition permit to tear this place down. Well, my plan wasn't to tear this house down it was to fix it up since that's all I could afford to do at the time. It took me 35 years but I made this place a really great home to raise a family in and the landscaping is likin to a park. As a matter of fact I've walked out to find people picnicking in my back yard....several times. Anyway, I'm ok with having it up for sale now but when the day comes that we have to hand over the keys it will be an extremely emotional time. We already bought the next house and I will be starting to move stuff in about a week but we can't leave this property until it sells.

Like they say mate.....when one door closes another opens. Look forward to the happy times in the new place. Forever keep the good memories of the old place. They will be with you forever......unless of course you come down with alzheimers.

I feel your pain.

Very nice story man, I can really understand how you feel... It's probably tough when you have built up a home yourself and put so much work in to it. I think my father will feel the same way (my mom is selling) - when they bought the house it was a wreck. Big, beautiful, but needed a lot of work. He worked pretty much 24/7, and the little time he got left he put in to the house. It's still not finished, but it's crazy how beautiful it is, and how beautiful it can be, making this completely renovated. It's sad not to know how it will look finished though... Thanks for your answer man, your quote is very true. I think it will be good with a change, but it feels crazy at the same time.

Well, I grew up mainly in the countryside in Ireland. Even Belfast city is the size of a village so it's not that hectic. Moving to London at 19 was a major culture shock. It took a long time to get used to the pace but now I hate going back to Ireland. It took quite a few years to get to that stage though. The only thing I miss about living in London is good country walks.

Sounds like pretty much the same story as me. I can imagine it will take quite a while for me as well getting to that stage... even occasional visits in the city leaves me a bit stressed out, haha. There will be a lot of positives of living there though. Where I live now, there's not a lot to do, it's a pain to get here (no connections here in the night for example), and there are not a lot of stores here, so yeah, lol. The social life suffers a bit here, so maybe it's a good thing for me to get out. Would love to have this as a retreat though, but oh well... I hope it will be alright.

Big thanks for your answers!

[wa3zrm]

There will also be quite a contrast living in a very calm, quiet place, moving to the heart of the city. I'm not used to that pace at all.
Has anyone had any experience in this? It feels pretty ridiculous getting so nostalgic and crap, but it sure sucks.

It is not nostalgic crap; but rather, a large part of who you are! When I was young, I faced the same decisions you are going through. And, because I was young, I was able to tolerate the "pace" as you call it. When I hit my mid 30's, I had enough of big city life and returned to a more peaceful place. Now that I am retired, I look back on my time in the major metro life and wonder how I was able to do it!

The only advice I can give you is to think long term. Will you be able to live a lifetime in the "Rat Race?;" or, thirst for a need to return to an idyllic place, free from crime, lots of nature, friendly people? When you can answer that question, you will discover the meaning of Thoreau's Walden.

Do a quick read of this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walden

Good luck on the great adventure you are about to undertake.

[Skell18]

I was the other way around, lived all my life in the city etc. When we bought our current house, it was slap bang in the middle of nowhere, the countryside idly! It took me a long time to adjust, still working in the city meant I hung onto a lot of what I was used to and I think, made it harder to let go. Now I am used to it (it only took me about 6 years lol). However I did seek out the bits that made me feel at peace, such as walking the dog on a crisp autumn morning, uninterrupted sunrises and sunsets etc.

I only found this stuff easier as I knew where to look in the city when I lived there, you will seek out your own tranquil parts, the bits that will remind you of what you're used to, then with the ease of being able to just grab a coffee and a snus, or something to eat without having to drive for miles to find it!! At 21 you will adjust easily, just think of the ease with which you can go out and grab a beer, go and see bands play, see a film, all the great restaurants on your doorstep, but with full knowledge of where you can escape to when you need to just to chill out in your own world.

Its scary at first, but, embrace it for what it is, a new chapter in your life, when you have the means, you can always go back

[lxskllr]

I'm living in the house I grew up in, but the development has ruined this county. I'll probably die here, but if I had any sense I'd move to the northeast, or Pacific northwest. I don't like change, and I wouldn't like knowing someone was living in MY house, whether I lived here or not. I can deal with town life, but the city would get on my nerves. Here, I get the worst of both worlds. Lots of people and traffic, and very little I can walk to. I just wish everyone would go away :^D

Anyway, I know what you're saying. Like Skell said, you might be able to go back some day, or even do it better.

[Premium Parrots]

I'm living in the house I grew up in, but the development has ruined this county. I'll probably die here, but if I had any sense I'd move to the northeast, or Pacific northwest. I don't like change, and I wouldn't like knowing someone was living in MY house, whether I lived here or not. I can deal with town life, but the city would get on my nerves. Here, I get the worst of both worlds. Lots of people and traffic, and very little I can walk to. I just wish everyone would go away :^D

Anyway, I know what you're saying. Like Skell said, you might be able to go back some day, or even do it better.

spoken like the LX we all know and love.

[Snusdog]

One thing I have learned that I wish I knew earlier.........home is easy to leave............but hell to get back to.

Make sure the move/money/job/chick is worth it..........Stay where you love and with who you love if at all possible...........life only comes around once........live what you love

[wa3zrm]

Make sure the move/money/job/chick is worth it..........

Dog... I love how you get straight to the point

[Thunder_Snus]

Moving sucks. My parent's moved to the east coast when i was 16 and i went with them. The only problem is that particular area of the east coast likes to think its "the dirty south" despite being slightly below the mason-dixon. It is all an act but they all play a role in keeping that false image alive. So I moved back home when I was 17. Moved to a decently sized city compared to where I'm from for college. It's not bad. Take the opportunity to do things you couldn't do in more rural society. I go rock climbing all the time, I never had that opportunity before. There is also a nice little bar I go to on Thursdays where a local German club meets, they help me with my efforts to learn German and it is a great experience, they even have a lot of micro-brews that are supposed to mimic german beers and according to the German natives it does a good job.

Moving is very stressful especially the first few nights you wake up in the dark thinking you are in your old house and run into that wall where your bathroom should be. But a bigger city is a bigger opportunity. I work at a fortune 50 company that can let me do anything I want as soon as I am done with school. I can go live in washington, arizona, texas, virginia, new york, florida, and if that doesn't work they can help me find a place I'd like to go and put in a good word for me. I never would have had that with my part time job in a metal fabrication shop back home.

[heders]

Thank you so much everyone for your great replies. It feels good knowing you also have been going through stuff like this.

Right now I have to start packing stuff in to boxes and throwing stuff I will not need for my apartment away. I have not even started yet as I know when I start it, the moving will be reality. As of now it doesn't feel like it's going to happen.

I can't wait to be moving to my own apartment, but first I have to find myself a job. It's crazy times right now. Time to be a man and just do it.