Ronni
Well-known Member
- Location
- Nashville TN
Because of my dysfunctional history with my abusive ex-husband, I've never lived one place too terribly long. Apart from his wanderlust, he was also always losing or quitting jobs, so we were on the move a lot. I've moved completely across the country, alone, with 3 - 5 children, 3 different times, while he went on ahead to his new job, or to secure a place for us to live (which btw he never managed to do so I'd get there and have to scramble to find something...but that's another story,) plus we'd move around frequently even apart from that. We lived in Huntsville alabama for 3-4 years at one point, and we moved every 6 months! And this with 3 children, pregnant, and then a newborn! I got to the point where I just didn't bother to unpack any but the most necessary boxes! We'd get evicted. Or he'd stop working a job and we'd have to move to a smaller, less costly place. Or he'd get a wonderful job and we'd move to a better place. All I ever wanted to do was stay put and put down roots. Nope. Wasn't to be.
I am envious of those people who have lived in the same place for a long time. When I was little, we only ever lived in two places the entire time I was growing up, both in the same area. My Dad worked hard, and eventually could afford a better place after he'd fully paid off the current house so we moved when I was 12. I have such fond memories of those two homes.
My kids refer to the various houses we lived in by street/location, or occasionally by landlord's name. I have no idea why some got one name, and some the other. The Chadney house. Reza's house. The house in the country etc.
I feel like I did my kids such a disservice. They don't have a family home. They don't have fond memories of just one place (well..they don't have a lot of fond memories of their upbringing period, because of their Dad.) It's one of the few deep regrets I have, that there isn't that place that's a touchstone, a base, the place that in their hearts they just call "home."
So many of my friends have that, for themselves and/or for their children/grandchildren. A few have downsized, moved to a senior community or a smaller home, or in a couple cases to Florida, but many are still living in the homes in which their kids grew up, and they have no intention of moving. I'd love that. Perhaps I'm idealizing it too much, but it seems like it would be such an amazing thing.
How many of you have that? How long have you lived where you are?
I am envious of those people who have lived in the same place for a long time. When I was little, we only ever lived in two places the entire time I was growing up, both in the same area. My Dad worked hard, and eventually could afford a better place after he'd fully paid off the current house so we moved when I was 12. I have such fond memories of those two homes.
My kids refer to the various houses we lived in by street/location, or occasionally by landlord's name. I have no idea why some got one name, and some the other. The Chadney house. Reza's house. The house in the country etc.
I feel like I did my kids such a disservice. They don't have a family home. They don't have fond memories of just one place (well..they don't have a lot of fond memories of their upbringing period, because of their Dad.) It's one of the few deep regrets I have, that there isn't that place that's a touchstone, a base, the place that in their hearts they just call "home."
So many of my friends have that, for themselves and/or for their children/grandchildren. A few have downsized, moved to a senior community or a smaller home, or in a couple cases to Florida, but many are still living in the homes in which their kids grew up, and they have no intention of moving. I'd love that. Perhaps I'm idealizing it too much, but it seems like it would be such an amazing thing.
How many of you have that? How long have you lived where you are?
