This week we closed on the sale of our condo. It was time to sell in anticipation of our retirement home being finished at the end of this year.  In the afternoon of our final day, I walked up the stairs for the last time. In stocking feet, as to not leave footprints after all the cleaning, I left our keys, gate controllers and garage door openers.  I looked around at the completely empty rooms and a flood of memories poured in.  We knew this was never going to be our “forever” home, but the memories made in our eight-year “temporary” home will never be forgotten.

We had some family and friends visit throughout those years. I remembered the excitement I felt and the laughter we all shared. There was the blowup bed incident and random “fake” snowball fights at Christmas. I’ll never forget cocktails while gazing at the views. 

One of our greatest joys was sharing the view of the Disneyland fireworks from our balcony at night.

I remembered the heartbreak both of our children went through while we lived there. But now I smiled at the love they each have in their lives.  We experienced the joy of our daughter starting her own business and our son getting married in the time of Covid. Finding our retirement site after two years was definitely one of the big highlights.  But there were also a few lows: the death of good friends, a torn hamstring (frisbee), a replacement ACL (bicycle) and some intense skin cancer removals.

Four years ago we left the condo, thinking it might be the last time we did. It was during the wildfire evacuation and at the time we said goodbye to everything we could not carry. I quickly learned that our joy is in us, not in the things that surround us.

Our beloved Golden passed away while we were there. Afterwards our daughter’s cat came to visit and never left.

I smiled how the ‘rona brought the neighbors out of their homes to meet on the driveway for our “Covid Cantina.” This has been going on every weekend for nearly a year. 

Their stories, birthdays, weddings and births made a group of strangers into a family.

Standing there in the void made me review a few of the lessons I had been taught during our eight-year stay. We were so far away from family and friends. I learned that my desire to have them come and visit caused me to live a life of “wanting” not a life of “having.” The “wanting” made me into a person I wasn’t very happy with; one I had to change. Changing also taught me what type of relationships I need and want in my life.

I thought back to the beginning of 2020 and how we were so excited to leave the condo, December of that year. We were to begin our “retirement.”  But Covid had other plans…  I was once again given a lesson – that of tempered excitement. I now plan on putting only a few eggs in my “excitement” basket. The rest will be reserved, just in case a meteorite visits the earth in the next ten months.

The condo we left was not only made of wood and nails, drywall and stucco, it was also made of laughter and tears, hugs and love, plus lots and lots of alcohol! 

Dear condo,

I will forever be grateful for the views, the experiences, and the people you brought into our lives.  Thank you for your lessons…

Grateful for you from our 840 sq ft “temporary” apartment home,

Sheree