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relocating

Nesting from Chapp to Tapp

August 25, 2022 by Beth Besen

At Stephen’s 50th birthday, all four of us in Chappaqua

When my kids were little, one of our favorite bedtime books was The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman. I can still recite much of it from memory, maybe they can too; I know my oldest could “read” it well before he could read. But I digress. Point is, that beloved story is foremost on my mind these days as Mr. Bird and I prepare to leave our empty nest and settle into a smaller coop. Or, in our case, condo.

It’s a daunting task, moving. And, perversely, it gets daunting-er the older you get. Dorm-moves? Mostly trash bags and buy the boys some beer. First apartment? Ikea flat packs and the boys still like their beer. New home? Ok, this time we call the professionals–but it’s one small truck and all kinds of excitement. And space, lots and lots of space. Space to grow a family, to buy adult furniture, to fill closets and fulfill dreams. Decades worth. So, at the end of nearly 27 years, the tangibles and intangibles are simply too numerous to name. You pack your real and virtual boxes and pack a huge emotional punch along the way.

Enjoying our New ‘Hood

That said, and unlike the Birds, this is really it. No deciding to stay after all. The house sold quickly and the new owners are…well, lol, they’re us, 30 years later. That old saying “the more things change, the more they stay the same”? Too true! They are perfect for our young neighborhood, and we wish them nothing but happiness in our/their home.

Today, they are coming by to re-see the house, to take measurements, to have me “walk them through” how everything works. I have prepared lists for them–HVAC to lawn maintenance to snow removal, all the nuts and bolts. For them, I suppose that, not the move, is the daunting thing. But I’d like to think they’re also coming to imagine themselves into their future lives here…

Which kid gets which kid-room? Will they have bath time rituals, and will those rituals include fish stories (fish tiles inspire fish stories, or so we always thought). Will they put in a swing set (do we still call them that!?) and will it go where ours was? Can they see the bus stop across the street? Every morning it’s packed with kids and cars, parents and pets. I still have my first-day photos for K-5; maybe they will do the same.

Will they love the smell of lilacs wafting into the kitchen, the lilacs I specifically planted there because they remind me of MY childhood summers. Do they have a dog, will they get a dog, should I mention the garbage truck guys carry dog biscuits for all the furbabies out walking in the ‘hood.

And for us? Well, the whole thing started even before this seller’s market. We knew we’d outgrown our neighborhood and, to be honest, also our home. While we built it, and still love it, we no longer need all this space and the upkeep it requires. So, we took a deep breath, extended our wings and jumped. We hope we’ve chosen a soft landing. We’ll be just down the road–nearby enough to see friends and frequent favorite places, but new enough to re-invent ourselves to some extent, to test our senior wings in a new lifestyle. The plan is to rent for a couple of years while winding down to final retirement and deciding whether to fully stick around or finally cut the NY area cord. Ultimately, we hope to tweet with Bird-like contentment that we’re well and truly best-nested.

Filed Under: Inside Thoughts Tagged With: downsizing, empty nest, Nesting, nostalgia, relocating

Moving Down Under…Discovering Australia

October 23, 2012 by The Inside Press

By Tyler Sherman

disc-australiaIn first grade, my vision of Australia was somewhat limited. I knew where it was on a map, that kangaroos and koalas lived there, and that it was known as the country “down under,” but basically, that was all. Thanks to my father who was relocated there for business, I have had the opportunity to broaden my perspective of the beautiful “land down under.” Initially, I was upset and scared when my parents broke the news to my brother, sister, and me that we would be relocating to Australia for two years. But quickly this far away country became my second home.

At first, I was frightened. Up to this point in my life, I had only lived in one house, in one small town in Westchester County, New York. It was the only town I had ever lived in, and it was all I had ever known. My house, school, friends, and family were always only a short commute away. By moving to Australia, I was forced to leave everything I knew behind and move halfway around the world to a country that was completely unfamiliar to me. I was moving to a place where I knew no one and no one knew me. A new house and a new school were only two of the many unknowns that awaited me. I was more than frightened, to say the least, but quicker than I could ever have imagined, these unknowns became knowns and Australia became my second home.

On my first day of school, I reluctantly put on a blue button-down shirt, a black and gold tie, gray khaki shorts and black leather dress shoes. Wearing a uniform, I couldn’t help but be leery of what other regulations lay ahead. To my surprise, I was welcomed into my new school by extraordinarily friendly classmates and teachers who were eager to help me feel comfortable. Far from uptight, my new school had a relaxed environment that mandated uniforms to remove the materialistic competition that often exists among youth and teenagers. My new mates came from a variety of nationalities and during classroom discussions, I had the chance to hear about some of their experiences in their native countries. Knowing them and hearing their stories and experiences gave me a perspective on the world that no textbook could ever teach.  This experience has greatly helped me to better connect with and understand people with backgrounds completely different from my own.

Throughout our two years in Australia, we tried to do and see as much as possible. My family and I got to experience and visit many amazing wonders, from the Great Ocean Road and the twelve apostles, to the Great Barrier Reef and the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House; sporting events like Australian Rules Football and the Australian Tennis Open; and of course, multiple visits to see the many indigenous animals of Australia.

My experience in Australia has been life changing for me. My life is now richer and fuller. I learned to became more independent, organized, and to improve my communication skills. While in Australia, I stayed in contact with my friends in New York so that I would feel connected when I moved back home and now, I remain in contact with my friends in Australia.

As a result of my move, I am eager to embrace new places, people and ideas. Australia taught me about accepting change, personal growth and welcoming cultural differences, all qualities that I believe lead to an enriched and fulfilling life.

Tyler Sherman is a freshman at Horace Greeley High School.

Filed Under: Local Goes Global Tagged With: Australia, relocating, school

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