In the late 80's the creator and producer of the Golden Girls, Susan
Harris introduced Empty Nest, a comedy featuring a father whose wife
recently passed, two adult daughters who moved back at home, and their
dog, Dreyfuss. While the dynamics of the sitcom Empty Nest does not
reflect the traditional setting couples and singles face all across
America, one thing holds true. All Empty Nester's are faced with a new
way of life.
In a few weeks some students will move off to college for the first time
and some parents will wake up with no one to hurry off to school for
the first time, that's quite a change for most. Rooms once occupied
with the noise of a phone conversation or favorite CD blasting is now
quiet. The constant reminder to turn out the lights upstairs will be no
more because the rooms aren't occupied.
What do you do with all of your free time? What do you with all of the
space? Some Empty Nester's choose to downsize by moving to a smaller
home. Others choose not to relocate and stay in the home and invite a
family member, friend or tenant to rent their unused space. Whatever the
case, a shift in the way things had been done is necessary. Let me help
you, don't become overwhelmed with making a decision immediately. Take
your time and weigh your options carefully. Downsizing to a smaller
home or condo could be a viable option for those looking to save money.
Or keeping your home and benefiting from rental income could be as
well. This is a time of transition, so selecting the option that works
best for your new life is paramount.
Do your research. Look at a few properties that you would consider
moving into. Survey the pros and cons of renting out a room or two of
your home. Find out the going rate of a room rental? Once you've done
your homework, choose the one you're most comfortable with and begin to
move toward that goal. You have a lot more life to live. Embrace your
new-found freedom and move on!
|