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Moving

4/4/2019

29 Comments

 
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​We’re leaving California, and heading to Oregon.

This Very Big Thing has been made neither lightly nor in haste.  

In fact, the Hubster and I started talking about it right after our daughter graduated from high school, nearly three years ago. 

Relocating is also the reason we’ve completed many home improvements, most of them sizable, in the last couple of years.  These include exterior and interior paint jobs; sprucing up old flooring and where needed, installing new, and updating both bathrooms.  Just prior to officially going on the market, less than a week ago, I also had 200 feet of backyard fence painted; watched a trio of workers do a top-to-bottom deep cleaning that took five hours, and hired a college senior to spread angel hair mulch around the rose bushes by the front door. 

Some friends thought we’d change our minds after our light and bright home makeover. 

They’re wrong.

But I get why they might think so. 

We’re lucky to live in one of the most beautiful communities in this country, a laid-back beach town on the coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco.  Second, it’s an easy commute to San Luis Obispo, the town where the Hubster works, and according to National Geographic, comes in at fifth place as the happiest city in all of the 50 states.
 
Our corner also reflects the pride of home ownership, with pebble driveways, tidy flowerbeds and decorative flagstones placed just so.   It’s a plus, too, that everyone around here loves their pets as much as we love Sadie and Hank, our two rescue dogs.  Did I mention that the ocean is just 12 blocks away?

However, other considerations far overshadow all of the above.

Happiest region aside, San Luis Obispo County is currently the sixth most unaffordable place to live in the United States.  This is why the Hubster—a music educator with a master's degree who has worked in his profession for nearly 50 years—still needs a second income to ensure that our bills are paid on time.  (In fact, with a median home price of $730,000, a young family can no longer afford to buy in SLO unless there’s bigly help from rich relatives.) 

When it comes to retiring here, the stats are even worse:  if you’re a senior, SLO County is the most expensive area in the entire country to live. 

The cost of living is much more favorable in Oregon, where after making a hefty down payment on a new house, we’ll have a we-can-breathe-now mortgage of about $600 per month.  Add on the fact that annual house taxes are half of what we pay here, and with no state sales tax, the reasons to skedaddle start looking pretty good, pretty quickly.   
 
Still, there are other details that have nothing to do with money.  

Next year is fast shaping up to be a contentious time politically.  The 2020 Presidential election is promising to be especially nasty, and key Senate seats are also up for grabs.  As my realtor says, buying a house is a huge commitment—and when people are feeling shaky about the future, they’re less likely to take this sort of plunge.

Finally, I’m ready for a shift.

I’ve lived here for 17 years, and now that our daughter has grown and flown, it’s time to change the channel. 
​
I already know that the library system where we’re moving to is great, and there’s an art house theatre a 30-minute drive away.  The weekly farmers’ market also boasts an astounding 70 booths, which is most appealing to the home cook and foodie that I am.  Of course, I’ll still need to find a new hairdresser, yoga studio and dentist.

But I also know this.
​
It will all fall into place, because it all feels right. 
29 Comments
Bev Praver
4/4/2019 04:07:20 pm

Wow!!! That is big news and even though I don't see you often I'll miss knowing you are right down the road. I have other friends who live in Oregon and you have hit many perfectly valid reasons for making the move. I think you will be happy there and wish you the best of everything.

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Hilary A Grant
4/4/2019 04:18:37 pm

The time is RIGHT. :)

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Carol Stern
4/4/2019 04:23:45 pm

Sounds like a very well thought out careful decision. I wish you both well. You will be missed.

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Hilary A Grant
4/4/2019 04:25:59 pm

Thank you! :)

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Larry Grant
4/4/2019 04:32:25 pm

The next great adventure. To quote the great entertainer, Jackie Gleason, "And away we go!"

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Hilary A Grant
4/4/2019 05:44:59 pm

I dreamt about Jackie Gleason LAST NIGHT.

I was interviewing him and then saw a fire had broken out behind us. He said it was no big deal but then I saw bright flames. We escaped. Interesting... :) xo

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Jim Nolt
4/4/2019 04:44:28 pm

Hilary, change is good and exciting. There will be small challenges along the way, for sure, but I'm also sure you will make of it a fun-filled adventure. Keep us posted, of course, as you go through the many steps involved. As a friend might say... Up, up, and away!

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Hilary A Grant
4/4/2019 05:46:58 pm

Getting the house ready for sale, finding the right realtor here (we already have the right realtor in Oregon), now having the house on the market... uh... we're ready for something a little more fun, Jim!

I *do* know that buying a house is more fun than selling one, though. And yes, UP UP and AWAY! :)

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Pam Thomas
4/4/2019 04:59:50 pm

Good for you, Hilary, I wish you guys all the best!

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Hilary A Grant
4/4/2019 05:47:29 pm

It's All Good. xo

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Mary Catt
4/4/2019 06:29:08 pm

You are do matter of fact -- love it! It makes me want to fix up my house and maybe change the channel!

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Hilary A Grant
4/4/2019 07:02:07 pm

Yes, you can. xo

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Laura Patterson
4/4/2019 06:55:06 pm

Sounds like a wise decision. Cheers to your new adventure!

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Hilary A Grant
4/4/2019 07:02:56 pm

Thank goodness for social media. :)

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leslie spoon
4/4/2019 08:21:03 pm

Hilary I think that you will be happy there. Everything will work out BUT I will miss you!!!

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Hilary A Grant
4/4/2019 09:29:14 pm

OH, but we'll ALWAYS have those sweet memories of chasing Hank! :)

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Jamie Lewis link
4/5/2019 12:01:35 am

I wish you and Larry the best of luck in your new adventures. Oregon will be lucky to have you :) And as you said, thank goodness for social media. Bon Voyage!

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Hilary A Grant
4/5/2019 08:33:13 am

Thanks, Jamie! If the house sells quickly (we hope!) we'll do a rent-back deal for a few months, because, of course, Larry's school year doesn't end until June. Then, we're headed north to Grants Pass! This option was never around a few years back, but I'm glad it is now. :)

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Melany
4/5/2019 08:43:45 am

Wow -- what an exciting adventure! Oregon is beautiful. We have family in McMinnville and Portland and we always enjoy visiting. Looking forward to reading all about it! :)

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Kerri Ann Fisher
4/5/2019 04:01:33 pm

I miss you already :(

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Hilary A Grant
4/5/2019 06:27:44 pm

Well, you'll just have to come up and visit, girlfriend! :) xo

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Susan J.
4/5/2019 04:59:15 pm

I spent the summer of my last year of adolescence just outside Grants Pass, and had the time of my life. I had visited SLO-town a year earlier and knew I wanted to attend Cal Poly (which I actually managed to do!). Both Los Osos, SLO, SLO County, Grants Pass, and Southern Oregon are special places in my own heart and mind, and I think you're making a really good decision. One thing I remember best about that summer so long ago what all those TREES! Not to mention lakes and rivers and a small-town atmosphere. I hope you find a place you love up there, and that the transition is a smooth one. Onward!!

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Hilary A Grant
4/5/2019 06:30:03 pm

Yes... there are areas we looked at last time just outside Grants Pass that are a 10-minute drive from downtown... and suddenly, there are rivers and forests. This is the area Larry likes best. We are actively praying for the best house w/ the best fit. We have an AWESOME real estate agent who was born and raised in the Rogue Valley who, I'm sure, will get us into the perfect house. Not looking forward to the hot summers, but I'm trading the beach in for a nest egg. Which, frankly, feels a whole lot better. :)

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Laura Shaker
4/8/2019 08:31:34 am

It actually sounds quite lovely. I wish you the best of luck. I’m going to miss seeing all of the fun stuff that you post for sale on Nextdoor (hahaha), I guess that was in preparation for this moment. I know that you will be missed my many, but praying for lots of new friends and exciting adventures in your new home.
Best of luck!

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Hilary A Grant
4/8/2019 11:58:40 am

Thank your for the prayers, they are much appreciated! I can't imagine that Grants Pass doesn't have its own Next Door community, so you can bet I'll be posting there as well. BTW, the earliest we'll be leaving is mid-June so I'll still be posting on Next Door for a while, LOL!

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Gorgi Ruis
4/8/2019 08:37:26 am

Hilary, I have you covered with plenty of suggestions for hairdressers, dentists and yoga/ Pilates studios, plus vets for your babies... I am excited to see you both again and our community will be lucky to have you!!!

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Hilary A Grant
4/8/2019 12:01:04 pm

Hi, Gorgi! Thank you SO MUCH! Having these suggestions will make the transition that much easier... Grants Pass is where we'll be, so I will need a yoga studio there, but if you have awesome dentist recommendations and hairdressers in Medford, pretty sure that's doable. We are looking forward to our new life!

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Carole Glines Laux
4/8/2019 09:22:57 am

Best of luck to you and Larry, Hilary! Is Katie staying in California?

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Hilary A Grant
4/8/2019 12:06:08 pm

Thank you! Katie and her boyfriend Chris are in Year Three of togetherness and have a very separate life than ours. She is working full-time in Atascadero; he is working full-time in Paso, plus going to school full-time. They just moved into their own place together... a luxe two-bedroom apartment in Paso, and are busy nesting with their dog Sandy. I expect they'll be staying in this area for a while. :)

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    Hilary Roberts Grant

    Journalist, editor, filmmaker, foodie--and a clown! 
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