AD| A few days ago on Twitter, I shared that my partner and I had come to a big decision together. We’ve made the decision because it feels sensible and an investment into our future. But it’s also been quite emotionally challenging. We’ve decided to leave our beautiful cottage and move in with family.
Although we’ve only lived here for 7 months, it was a breath of fresh air (quite literally) after living through the initial lockdown without any kind of garden. Our home sits in Snowdonia National Park and we are surrounded by so much wildlife and nature. Any of you who have followed me on Twitter will know just how much it has meant to me. I’ve been really open about how moving to the countryside has helped me.
Being surrounded by bird song and watching the seasons change around us has been so precious. I’ll honestly never forget how special this home has been for us. We spent all of our winter nights cosied up in front of the fires and our sunny mornings outside with our coffees and breath-taking views. It’s been magical in so many ways.
And it’s been our first little family home.
I’ve always been incredibly home focused. At least 20% of my personality is just fantasising about and planning my dream home, something I’ll share with you along the way. Through therapy I came to understand that a lot of this comes down to the loss of my childhood home and Mum within a couple of months of each other. I’ve craved that security and stability ever since.
In some ways, this cottage has been like a dream. I’ve been living the rural life I always wanted. And I have felt significantly safer because of that quietness. My partner is an absolute rock to me and I couldn’t feel more settled in that sense. But living here is expensive (for us) and we have no money left over to be able to have date nights or to be able to save money.
House prices are up! If we’re ever going to be able to afford to buy a house, we’re going to need to put away a little every month. And that’s just not possible at the moment. So we’re moving out.
And of course it’s been emotional. The moment we made our decision and committed to it, I felt a huge wave of relief and sadness at the same time. I was happy that we were prioritising our future but I felt immense amounts of sadness at the thought of leaving our animal friends behind.
Some blue tits have moved into the nest box we painted together in the garden and I can sometimes hear chicks chirping away in there and the trees and flowers have all transformed and grown. It’s going to be hard to leave when the whole valley is bursting into life.
But I have to keep reminding myself that this is a positive step towards a brighter future. And that, hopefully the next time we move will be into a home we can call our own. That’s a pretty big deal for someone who has checked Right Move at least once per week for as long as I can remember!
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So we’ve made a big and important decision that wasn’t the easiest but is going to improve our future prospects. And I’m proud of us! Of course, we’re very lucky to be able to rent from family, it’s going to mean our rent and bills are around 1/3 of what they are at the moment.
I’m going to be relying on you lot for cute pictures of little birdies in your garden in the meantime though.
If you’ve loved this post, might enjoy:
The best bird feeders for your outdoor space
10 Things I love about living in the country
and Cottagecore bedding ideas for your vintage dream space
I’ve loved reading your posts about your cottage. I moved into mine not long before you and so I felt as if we were going on the journey together. However, I’m so pleased and proud of you for making this brave decision.
I’m sure that attic room will be bursting with artistic delights which I’ll eagerly await to see in your new Etsy shop ……
The very best of luck and love.
Steph
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Sensible decisions are not always easy and I can imagine this was a really difficult conclusion to reach. I am sending you so much love. When I had to give up my London studio to move back into the family home I was heartbroken. It was the right decision but I still wish I didn’t have to make it. Like you I have helped myself cope by planning my future home. I also take lots of time to decorate my current bedroom.
Wishing you all the best in the next chapter as you move in with family and loved ones.
Never easy to leave a place which feels so right for many reasons. So I can empathise how difficult this decision must have been for you both.
I hope you are able to find solace on the next lily pad before you try and independently sprout when the finances are right. As someone single individual aged 32 and needing a leg up if I were to live on my own; I know your struggle.
I look forward to seeing the seeds I purchased you blossom and you can live fairly sustainably from many of them in due course. They deserve to make up a great part of your own garden.
I obviously echo your sentiments for the rural life and having the comfort of quietness and delights from flora and fauna.
Hopefully re-reading The Secret Garden and other tales will provide some inner peace and solitude if the world feels too noisy and overwhelming.
Please do not hesitate to reach out at any time if you want someone to talk to.
Sending love to you, your partner and Doug as always. I hope some day we may exchange opportunities to enjoy the splendour of local environments which feel homely to us.
Keep up being you. Grateful for what you provide the world.