Downsizing:

Many people have gone through a phase of life revolving around family responsibilities, career challenges and personal activities.  These were balanced against social and cultural desires.  Such factors melded into the phenomenon generally referred to as "life style".  Significant financial decisions were based on housing and transportation needs, which in turn influenced the location and the type of housing that became "home". 

We might refer to this as the career and family development phase.  Proximity to the workplace was important, which usually meant being within commuting range on a daily basis. Outdoor space for youngsters to play may have been considered.  With children the quality of schools and their location came into the picture.  The community itself was a factor, an opportunity to socialize with the type of folks you liked.  Then the home, a space into which the family grew, with a living room, family room, large kitchen, dining area, rooms for the children, extra bathrooms, and a master suite.  Additionally there might have been a garage for two or three cars, lawnmowers, wheelbarrows, snow blowers, bicycles, toys, and a shop that was hardly ever put to use.  For the more affluent add the boat, the four wheelers, the motorcycles, the snow machines, the trailers, the campers and other toys.   The perfect home - well almost perfect!  There were a few things you might have added, but put them off until you could afford them.

Nevertheless, in due time things changed.  Children grew up and set off on their own paths in life.  More interesting job opportunities became available.  Homemakers saw new options and re-entered the job market, or started a business. That perfect home became an echo chamber for the maid's vacuum cleaner and the landscape guy's lawnmower.  The expense of maintaining it grew as you had less time to deal with it.  Sooner or later you began to wonder about this situation.  The question arose "what is the point of all this?"

If there is not a good answer to this, why not consider downsizing.  That is to stop, re-group your thoughts, re-evaluate your direction, and plan your life style to suit the reality of who you are, where you are and where you are going.  Then you will be able to purge yourself of affluenza by considering what you need, what you love and what you actually use.  Perhaps you might also think about buying an elegant downsized home.

Sooner or later the questions arise, what, where, and when?  Does a place with minimal traffic and an easy walk to the store, services, the library and entertainment sound appealing?  Would a compact home with daylight and fresh air available to each room suit your needs?  Can you use a little extra space to store the few heirlooms you are saving to pass onto your heirs?  Are you willing to make an investment up-front to enjoy lower cost energy bills over the long term?  Does less involvement in maintenance because durable materials were used have any appeal?  Are you feeling that you have worked diligently through life to this point, and now wish to enjoy the very best?  If so please take a closer look, Clark Homestead may be the place to do so.

Clark Homestead is a thoughtfully designed concept of downsized living just for you.