Downsizing takes Tenacity, Humour and Optimism

We reduced our footprint and relocated to a two-bedroom unit in a lifestyle village that has half the floor space of our previous home. A tiny home would have been a step too far.

After multiple moves over decades, moving from one city to another, one island to another, and one country to another, you might think moving a short distance would be a breeze. 

Not so! 

Despite it taking less than an hour to drive from our previous home to our new home, this relocation feels harder.  Maybe it's because I am taking care of my partner’s needs as well as my own, and saying goodbye to possessions with happy memories, to squeeze our belongings into a much smaller space. 

We have kept reminders of shared adventures and treasured keepsakes of loved ones, yet we still had to make tough decisions about what to keep and what to let go. For example, an antique cabinet of crockery, glasses and silverware that we no longer use has found a new home.

I admire Steve’s ability to float above the mundane aspects of moving into a new home, like organising computer access to the internet and printers, setting up TV and audio systems, and installing a fridge freezer and a dishwasher that were not designed for the space.

Our moving company did a great job with no breakages along the way. However, the relocation was not without incident. 

A beautiful rimu table, delivered separately, was damaged during entry through a narrow door frame. Fortunately, the replacement table was delivered without incident. 

Because the pantry unit was out of alignment, a fridge freezer did not fit the kitchen space. After removing a side panel, it fits snugly into the space.

I run the risk of being known as the Bosch burglar after I wrongly intercepted the same brand of dishwasher being delivered to my absent neighbour in the opposite unit the same afternoon. It’s just as well my new neighbour could see the funny side of the situation!  

We are learning to tango in a tight kitchen space to the tune of a kitchen extractor fan that sounds like a B52 bomber with added rocket propulsion.  

On the positive side, the sunny location of Motueka is matched by the sunny dispositions of people in our new community. 

Moving location creates opportunities for new connections, and we know it will take time to build new friendships and get acquainted with our new neighbours.

Motueka is a peaceful and quiet haven oven the winter months. Not so over the summer months. We have figured out an alternative route to avoid main street traffic over the holiday season. 

After three weeks in our new home, the pile of boxes has reduced. Our garage will be full of excess baggage for a while longer as we continue to sort through what to keep and what to let go. 

It is going to take a while to settle into our new abode, yet I am confident we have made the right decision at the right time.