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by Hope

Note: I am writing this post before the post about my decision to sell my home and move next spring is published. I’m already foreseeing alot of commentary about what a terrible financial decision this is. And I get that. But in the end, this was not a financial decision, it was one made based prioritizing my emotional and mental health. And it was not made quickly or lightly, although I know that post makes it seems like it. But this was YEARS in the making.

That being said, I found it awfully telling that some reader found a very old post about my housing debacle from what 9 years ago here. And of course, their comment was spot on.

Thankfully, I have grown a lot and am in a very different place financially and just life, I guess. The kids are grown and gone. (Well, except Beauty, but I anticipate hearing from her within a month or two that she is making a move.)

Summary the Past

For those that don’t want to dig into that old post. It is a lot. Here’s a very high level summary. My dad purchased a house for me and my then two children, when I was at a crossroads and considering moving away from where we lived at the time.

I paid all the bills, the mortgage, utilities, improvements, etc. It just wasn’t in my name. Fast forward several years, and several adopted children later, and my dad decided that he wanted to sell the house. He gave me 30 days notice to move.

Me and my then 4 children moved to a 900 square foot apartment within the month.

(There is ALOT more to this on both sides. But that is the summary of what happened.)

The Now

You’ve all seen my current home. We’ve lived here since we moved to Georgia. First as a rental. And then I was able to purchase it from our landlord. It has been the most peace time of my life. And over the years, I have been able to remodel it exactly as I wanted.

The Future

Any one who has been around for a few years, knows that I have toyed with the idea of being more nomadic, maybe having a tiny home, or even car camping. Obviously, not something I would consider as an option while the kids were still dependent and home. But now…

Over the last couple of years, I have gotten more and more enamored with the idea of being nomadic for a while. While having a home base is important, now that it’s just me, I am very open to that home base not actually being a home. Maybe a storage unit with the few items I want to keep but not take with me. Perhaps one of my siblings homes where I can receive mail. Maybe even my parents’ house for longer stays.

I have no idea what direction I will go come next summer/fall after Princess graduates. I’ve begun researching – AirBnB stays in different cities, using a site like Overlander. Again, just research, no actual plans.

But again, I am truly just leaving it open ended and see what comes my way. This is what happened with my stay at Princess next summer. As soon as I told her I was planning to sell the house and possibly leave the state, she asked what would she do with Jake (Gymnast’ dog who is living with her) when she had to go out of state for her new job onboarding. And that became my first planned stop should I go completely nomadic. So we will see what’s next?! And I’m pretty excited about it.

Hope

Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.

But life has a way of rewriting your plans.

A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.

Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.

Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.

She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.