Karen OConnor - The Upside of Downsizing: 50 Ways to Create a Cozy Life

The Upside of
DownSizing

KAREN OCONNOR

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Harvest House Publishers has made every effort to trace the ownership of all poems and quotes. In the event of a question arising from the use of a poem or quote, we regret any error made and will be pleased to make the necessary correction in future editions of this book.

Cover design by Dugan Design Group, Bloomington, Minnesota

Cover illustrationDugan Design Group, Bloomington, Minnesota

Published in association with the Books & Such Literary Agency, 52 Mission Circle, Suite 122, PMB 170, Santa Rosa, CA 95409-5370, www.booksandsuch.biz

THE UPSIDE OF DOWNSIZING
Copyright 2011 by Karen OConnor
Published by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97402
www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-2861-8

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 / BP-SK / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

To my parents, Phil and Eva OConnor,
masters of the cozy lifestyle,
which they shared generously throughout
their 60-plus years of marriage.

Thank you to the many friends who
participated in this conversation
about downsizing.

Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.

EDWIN WAY TEALE

S ome people dread downsizing, viewing it as a step back from life, the beginning of the end. They worry that younger people will overlook or neglect them. They wonder if they will matter as much as they once did. And theyre concerned that now that the active parenting days are over they no longer have purpose. How will we fill our days? they ask. Others embrace this new season with joy and expectation, eager to chuck their stuff, simplify their lives, relax, and focus on the importanttheir relationships with God and people. Theyre eager to continue to make contributions to the world in new and creative ways.

This time of transition can be the perfect opportunity to toss the junk we no longer need or want (and sometimes wonder why we bought in the first place). We can move into smaller, more intimate spaces, where well have more hours to read and rest and travel and garden and whatever else we discover we enjoy. Why not kick back or kick up a storm of new activitiesthe kind we never had the time or resources for before? We have less to handle, less to think about, less to clean. We have more time to explore, help others, and build stronger relationships.

Shut the door: Not that it lets in the cold, but that it lets out the coziness.

MARK TWAIN
NOTEBOOK, 1898

Downsizing can spell r-e-l-i-e-f instead of fear or sadness or regret. This can be a time with space to relax, to tuck in, to look out for ourselves, and to set positive examples for others on what it means to live fully. My husband, Charles, and I are in such a space now, and we love it. Our kids are grown and making lives of their own. Theyre now the ones with the packed basements and garages, big backyards, attics, and storage bins. More power to em! We had all thatbut no more. Were now all about living in the moment, no longer hemmed in by possessions we have to clean, fix, and maintain.

There is an upside to this season of life! A side that is all about peace and joy, rest and simplicity, order and comfort, warmth, and relaxation. A side that calls out for cozy, easy living free of clutter and chaos. Lets explore some downsizing options and discover the many upsides to entering this wonderful time of life. We can enjoy what weve already accomplished and look forward to many great experiences as we embrace life on the other side of 55.

Karen OConnor

I have enjoyed greatly the second bloomingsuddenly you find at the age of 50, say that a whole new life has opened before you.

AGATHA CHRISTIE

T hree years ago my husband, Charles, and I moved to a small community along the Central Coast of California. The homes in this neighborhood were built for people 55 and older. As Charles said, Were more than qualified. As we became acquainted with our neighbors we noticed that, like us, they had downsizednot only from larger homes but also from hectic lives. We all agree that it feels good to be close to beautiful farmland bordered by foothills alive with birds and giant redwood trees. Its so quiet at night I can hear the crickets even with the doors and windows closed. And the moon and stars decorate the sky in a way I didnt often see in the well-lit city we moved from.

Downsizing for me has more to do with atmosphere than square footage. I relish the peace and silence my new life offers. We also have a guest room for the first time. Now my adult children and grandchildren can visit for extended periods or come and go as their lives permit. Our home is a haven of love and hospitality for us and them now that they have moved on and created lives of their own. Charles and I are creating a cozy lifestyle that suits us perfectly at this stage of life.

A friend and I were recently discussing buying things for our homes. She said, I dont need another item. In fact, Im trying to get rid of the clutter, not add to it. For her thats the essence of downsizingliving a simple, spare life that opens up time and space for doing and being rather than accumulating and storing. Im with her!

Another upside to downsizing is discovering its okay to say yes to only those activities you really want to participate in and say no to those you dont. This is a learning process, and Im having some success already. I searched out a knitting class near my home and joined. Ive wanted to knit for more than 40 years! I also found a suitable hiking group through the Sierra Club that I thoroughly enjoy.

Why not

hunker down for one hour today and simply be?

Downsizing means different things to different people. What does it mean to you? What do you imagine a cozy life would look like? You now have more freedom to create the schedule and live in a location where you can flourish during these happy golden years. Why not jot down a list of the kinds of people, places, and things youd like to have in your life now that your kids have moved on?

The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.

PROVERBS 20:29