Moving house and heart
We are moving in June, to a new city, Montreal, and new kind of housing, a condo about half the size of the house we've had for 25 years.
In less than a week I've experienced the euphoric thrill phase, the buyer's remorse phase (oh no, the table will not fit!) and, after five days, what I hope is the final state: reckoning with reality, which means timetables, checklists and enlistment of all the people who will help us.
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| Pie Guy, missed every day |
Just two days before the purchase, our sweet, reserved 15 year-old tabby had two days of sudden, irremediable decline, and we put him down after tender goodbyes and a last snack of his adored roast chicken.
Many of you know how it is: animals are full family members. We are bereft but grateful for his years of love.
Many of you know how it is: animals are full family members. We are bereft but grateful for his years of love.
The house, the cat: deep attachments divest; new experiences wink from around the corner. Heady excitement one moment, shaky the next.
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| Was the heart of the house |
But Le Duc and I wanted to make a change, and, empty-nested and able-bodied, it's time. There are bolder moves for couples to risk, though this 500km hop to the northeast with a noticeably different culture, will stretch me plenty.
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| Moving here in spring |
We'll live in a vast, graceful (deconsecrated) church converted to condos, close to commenter lagatta's home; she has already provided me with neighbourhood tips.
My brain refuses to acknowledge letting go of the treasured and familiar, but it will get there. Might take extra chocolate.
And yes, cats are allowed.
Comments
I am so excited about your bold move! And the repurposed church is just lovely. I hope when you get all settled, you will share more photos.
You have some wonderful adventures ahead!
I'm very excited about your move to Montreal - I think it will give your posts that little extra 'je ne sais pas'! We will move back to Canada this summer after 4 years in Budapest - we'll be sorry to leave, but glad to be back, not too far from Toronto this time (Barrie). For us it will (hopefully) be a move to a bigger house - I've had enough of the postage-stamp-sized sink and fridge!! :0)
Good luck with your new home. One chapter ends and another begins, so wistful...
At the same time, loss of a pet is so hard. However, the move would have been traumatic (cats so hate to have anything change) and kitty's time had apparently come in any case. I'm sorry, though - they are members of the family.
Both cats were actually euthanised, but no, neither of these cat people would ever dream of doing so for reasons of convenience. I was supposed to be taking in at least one of the cats.
My own darling Renzo is the love of my life (see previous post, though not "sexless marriage", "long-distance relationship" with few conjugal visits). He is the same age as Pie Guy and I'll be very sad when he gives up the ghost, though I treasure every day with him as he went missing for 5 weeks 2 years ago.
As for move: What Duchesse's photo cannot show is that the Holy Condo (also known as "Les Condos du Bon Dieu") is opposite le Parc de la Petite Italie; a square with mature trees, a gazebo, benches and this time of year, a very small skating rink mostly for children and their parents.
Pity about the AGA! It couldn't be moved? Though quite possibly the condos already have built in appliances, to save space?
I'm not really a chocolate person, but there is good chocolate at Jean-Talon Market (Marché Jean-Talon) and in nearby Mile-End and Outremont. Here is one of many write-ups, in English:
http://www.montrealfood.com/jtalon.html This is not quite up to date - Sami Fruits (cheap but not the best produce) has moved a bit eastwards to the St-Michel district and there are various new boutiques along that row.
And one wee edit: 500km east, or more precisely, northeast...
So many changes all at once! It sounds as though you're being realistic about the inevitable mixed feelings: excitement, loss, anxiety, anticipation.
Your new building looks lovely!
I will be interested to follow your move to Montreal. I am starting to think about retirement in a few years, and the decision about staying put or moving to a smaller town. The work that would be involved is daunting; I wish you all the best with your relocation. Hope it goes very smoothly.
And I'm glad to hear you say cats will be allowed in your new place. There are too many abandoned cats in North America, nice to think that one more might find a good home.
And yet your move sounds so exciting. I can well imagine the combination of thrill, dread, and sadness that will come with packing up and moving. I am going through a bit of that, although in comparatively slow motion, as I move my house into half the space but the same house and anticipate moving within the year or two. Where is variable depending on various factors, especially my husband's health, which also makes it likely that we will be moving to be near his children in a place considerably less au courant even than our current location, which does not thrill me, but I've come to accept that little is permanent in life.
I'm glad you are seizing this opportunity.
Patricia: Thank you and LOL, I hope you mean "je ne sais quoi" b/c "je ne sais pas" mean "I don't know".
Fuji: Wistful is a perfect word for it.
Julianne: When I first broached the topic over two years ago, Le Duc said "no!" but he gradually warmed up and now seems to think it was his idea.
Artful: Bold is relative, we have friends retiring to the Philippines so we feel kind of conventional.
Jane W/ Thank you. We opened the NYT Dining section this morning to see a cat who looks just like him, which was bittersweet.
lagatta: If we could move AGA, we would! The setting is one of the things I liked best.
And thanks for edit, I was thinking backwards, there to here!
Pseu: That Wardrobe Challenge was serendipitious, now I have to apply the same paring down to the "stuff".
Northmoon: Yes, will be adopting an unwanted cat. While cost of living would be less in small town, we knew we wanted to live in a city. I will maintain some clients and Le Duc simply moves his business; he can work from anywhere.
Mardel: Hope this move will accommodate aging in place, though we are both able-bodied now. That's why I picked a bldg with elevator (only 5 floors) rather than buy one of the many, many walkups (traditional in Montreal) that I looked at. You have some window on the future; these considerations are ones many in our age group are just beginning to come to grips with.
And good luck with the move. The building is beautiful and I'm sure you will enjoy setting up your new home, even if there are bittersweet moments.
Also, on what basis did you and Le Duc decide you wanted a new adventure? I have to say I'm a bit envious.
http://www.racheljulien.com/realisations/show.php?id=3
The building won design awards. The edifice is old, the interior modern. No of units: 62. There is an addition to the back of the church; we have a unit in the original building. Floor to ceiling windows and big balconies; beautiful finishes.
Only public area is lobby and heated, inside garage. There is a charming small square directly across from the condos. Location is very urban.
We decided when we realized, here we are with a big house, now empty-nested. Do we want to tie up so much equity in a house and maintain the place?
Le Duc can work from anywhere, and I'm semi-retired. He's francophone and would like to live in French again. I can get by in French and will improve. His family lives 1.5 hrs from Mtl instead of 6 from here.
And we wanted to live in "the most European city in North America".
As for your move --
Congratulations! This looks to be a wonderful new spot that you will soon nestle your way into. I've never lived in one home for 25 years, so I can't imagine the tugs yours will exert as you pack up -- oh! that Aga! -- but I can easily fantasize about moving to Montreal. And, selfishly, I'm quite sure your blogging will benefit -- you will have even more of that certain flair . . .
Congrats on the move. So hard, but yet, so exciting. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about Montreal!
All the best with your move, and the necessary downsizing. Remember whatever you dispose of is just "stuff" -- you won't miss it once it is gone.
I am currently clearing my mother's house; she died a few months ago. I have been re-gifting and recycling belongings collected over 50+ years. It is better to do this oneself.
Your new condo looks wonderful. Very wise to chose one where you can age in place. I hope you settle in easily and make friends quickly.
When you are exploring downtown Montreal try Boris Bistro (named for the owner's dog). Its courtard is a lovely space behind an old building facade - open to the sky - delightful in summer.
Clearing one's mother's house- such a profound activity. Handling the things she treasured as well as the day to day. I have some objects given by friend's children, things I remember from their homes when growing up.
Yes, you have to do it yourself and it is a spiritual exercise. For me, it was a deep excursion into the family's essence.
The building you are moving to looks wonderful; I hope any sadness at leaving your memories behind is alleviated by the excitement of exploring your new city and settling into your new home. I am intending to move in about 18 months when my youngest finishes school and I am already thinking about clearing out some of my clutter. 6 months is short notice!
Also congrats on moving, the church - condo looks picturesque, it will be a treat to live in such a romantic looking building. Best of luck with the move.
le Duc said that when he saw the vet examine our cat and begin to cry, he knew it was time.
By the way, I know how devoted you Aga owners are to your hearth/stoves, and that it's more than just the cheery enamels you love, but wanted to tell you that Viking makes a condo-sized gas range in that gorgeous deep cobalt finish. Not the same, but maybe a small consolation? Best of luck, Duchesse--
C.
Zanetra from Austr
alia
Very sorry to read of Pie Guy's passing.