This week I am writing about “milestones.” Another important milestone is approaching in my life with my beloved, and it prompted me to explore the topic a bit. The actual definition of “milestone” is very different from the manner in which I use it. A milestone is a marker on a road or highway designating that a mile has been traveled. It comes from the Romans, noted for building roads and marking their distances. The Latin word milliarium means milestone.
Is contemporary usage so different? A milestone, in common verbiage, is an important marker in time rather than distance…a marker which designates something important to the individual.
Our new milestone has to do with real estate. As many of you know, Susan and I sold our home in 2001 and moved into an RV. Actually, we lived in a non-mobile RV…a park model…for half the year, and traveled in a motor home for half the year. Then we discovered Tucson, sold the motor home, and have lived full time in the park model since July, 2004.
It is a bit cramped! Park models are 400 square feet, and we have an additional 160 in an Arizona room, used for our office space. We found a condo development we fell in love with, found a condo with two bedrooms, two baths, and 1400 square feet that we could manage financially, and will close on September 15. Then painting, carpeting, some new furniture and window treatments. Hopefully, we’ll move by around the end of September, then get the park model ready for sale.
Although we have lived full time in Tucson for five years now, moving into Central Tucson into a condo has the sense for me that we have made the final commitment that this is home now. Living in the RV Resort, beautiful and well taken care of as it is, has always felt a bit temporary.
The fascinating thing about this is that we both feel like kids again with a new toy! We talk about it all the time, compare ideas about paint colors, place furniture hither and yon, and generally just have a ball thinking about our new home and neighborhood: a couple of block walk from the Rincon Market, a long-time neighborhood market with great stuff. A short drive to many nice restaurants, a couple more supermarkets (Whole Foods and Safeway), movies, shopping, and a city park. Great sidewalks and areas for evening or morning walks. The University a few blocks West of us, with all the excitement that brings.
In some ways, this is the kind of city living we have lost in our society, with our suburbs and exurbs, with the automobile carrying us everywhere. We feel like we are getting back to a lifestyle that will be very satisfying, healthy, and engaging.
Another milestone traversed, to be sure! See you next week.
How exciting for you. I didn’t know you were in that small a place. Guess that would certainly be an exercise in de-cluttering your lifestyle.
As to having lots of shops and nice things close…I could LIVE in a Whole Foods market. Just lay me down near the salad bar & bulk mixes and I’d be good to go !
Enjoy reading about your changes.
Thanks, Diana. We’re sure looking forward to getting moved!
David