As the kids continue to get older, I find myself thinking more and more about what we're going to do once they're all gone. More specifically, I find myself asking what we're going to do with this big house once they're gone.
This house has been great over the past 11 years. It's bright, airy, and plenty big. In fact, it has entire rooms that I barely have time to visit. The yard is large and private. The only thing it's lacking is an outside shower. And, it's got great neighbors who like to have a good time and have plenty of patience with barking dogs.
The problem I see with this house once the kids are gone is precisely that -- the kids will be gone. I'm certain we're not going to need five bedrooms for just the two of us. I know we're not going to want to be out in the boondocks. The boondocks were fine for the schools and long weekend runs. But, as I get older, I realize that being in the boondocks means I'm too far away from the things that my nearly AARP-eligible self really wants:
- Sidewalks. My knees are going to have to transition to walking pretty soon. That's not really a great option out here where there's no such thing as a road with shoulders. I need an old-fashioned neighborhood, with a grid layout, and plenty of options for my old-person exploring.
- Good restaurants. Over the past few years, we've seen a couple of options open up within 15 minutes. But, when I'm starting to include Ruby Tuesday in that group, I get worried.
- Cozy rooms. All these new houses out in the boondocks are plenty nice, with all the latest features. But, they're not cozy. When I'm old, I want a house with small rooms, plenty of built-in's, a couple of fireplaces, and floors that creak (I'm going to need something to complain about, right?).
