If you asked me even a year ago, I would have told you that this is my forever house. A house where my kids grow up, then move out and come back later for dinner and soak up the childhood memories. A house where my grandkids come over for a sleepover. I really liked my house and was going to stay in it until I was ready to downsize.
So, what happened?
Our Current House
It is 14 years old typical new built house in suburbs of Vancouver. It is 3,500 sq.ft. 2 storey with basement house. Yes, it’s huge! It is located in a complex with other houses very close to each other.
Our house is a typical North American new construction that you can see on a drive from California to Alaska at any point. Just wrapped up differently either in stucco or vinyl siding. It has a kitchen with island and pantry. Small yard. A double car garage that doesn’t fit 2 cars. Big windows. Main floor powder room. And houses everywhere around us. A typical middle class “American dream house”.
When, How and Why We Bought Our Current House
We purchased this house 10 years ago. Wow, I can’t believe we have lived here for exactly 10 years. Time flies! Many of you might not know but before Vancouver we used to live in Calgary. And this is the house we bought when we moved. We sold our same typical new built house in Calgary, came out to Vancouver for 2 days with back then 1 year old Kyle, looked at 50 houses and bought our current house.
I was not going to buy it but Alex has convinced me otherwise. At the end of the day, it’s all we could afford back then when it came to spacious new built. It grew on me and eventually I fell in love with the layout. It became “my house”.
Why I Changed My Mind
As we age our perspective changes. We mature and earn life experience. Alex is bit older than me, so from the start he had a different view on this house than me. Less than a year ago, he started nagging me about moving. I was 100% against it. But Alex wouldn’t be Alex, he is crazy (in a good but crazy way) and persistent. He kept pointing out reasons why we need to sell “your forever house”. Trust me, we talked many-many hours and I spent many sleepless nights thinking if it’s what I want and if it’s the right decision for our family. Especially kids, we have kids!
3 Reasons We Sold Our House
- I love you, people, but I would like privacy. I don’t want to be a part of so many people’s lives. I will share in my next post more details after we move.
- iFOODreal needs new space. We have outgrown this kitchen and need to define a line between work and play. 2 people working from home under the same roof is completely different animal. And it’s feisty, roar.
- Life is too short not to live your dream. Like I said in my Instagram announcement, if you don’t live your dream, someone else will.
How Do I Feel
I thought I would be crying for sure when I sign the contract. Surprisingly, I didn’t. I can tell you for sure I will be balling my eyes out as I drive the car loaded with last boxes and kids off of our driveway. I’m very sentimental like that but most women are, am I right?! And there are good reasons for that. I brought my second baby home and raised my kids here. I started iFOODreal in this house. I learnt many lessons and grew into a woman I’m today in this house. We hosted many friends and family in this house, some of whom have already passed away. I spent a lot of time in this house working from home.
So, What’s Next?
I have a sign on the wall that says “Home is wherever my bunch of crazies are”. “So true” I think every time I pass it. I’m taking my home with me to a new house, to make a new home. You make any place your home. At last, I have moved 14 times, twice between the continents. By age of 36 I have a solid ability to make any place THE home. Plus I have all my crazies with me, so true.:)
We bought a new house. It’s a surprise! You would have to wait for the reveal on Instagram September 1st. That’s our moving date, actually August 31st. I’m not thinking of packing and moving until August 1st. There is no point. I might be MIA on and off in August though.
We couldn’t be more excited about what future holds for our family and iFOODreal. I will be doing new house tour on the blog, so stay tuned. You will LOVE it and would want to be my friend even more than now!
Olena:
As long as you and your family are happy that is all that matters. Of course, i hope you continue to blog!
Thank you! Of course I will continue to blog! I’m not going anywhere.:)
Congratulations and I am so excited for you and for us to see your new home. I am in, what I thought to be, my forever home but things change. Houses are just buildings and home is where the family is. I also want to have land and not have a house 50ft from my front door. Looking forward to your future posts and good luck on the move 🙂
Sorry your comment ended up in spam. Thank you so much! Exactly, that’s how I look at it now. As long as we are happy. It always amazes me looking back 10 years ago I never thought I would be where I am now. And I suspect that’s how it’s gonna be until the last day. That’s life, it’s fun!:)
Congrats! So excited for you and can hardly wait for the big reveal!!
Thank you so much, Judy! I can hardly wait myself to move in. I still can’t believe I bought THAT!!! Lol.