Originally we had a custom built a home back in 1999 while we were still working raising our family 5.5 acres, 3800 sqft home, with a 40x80 Toy Shed/Man Cave.
2009 Kids are all moved out, we had purchased a 2 bedroom 2 bath condo 850 sqft at Lake of the Ozarks and used this during the summers on weekends.
2011 We decided it was time to make plans to downsize and retire within 3 to 5 years. Sold our large home and purchased a 1400 sqft home in town, thinking our son would purchase this house once we did finally retire.... (He changed his mind and did not want the house after 18 months)
2013 sold the 1500 sqft home in town, moved full time to the lake in the 850 sqft condo. DW retired in 11/13.
Quickly realized living at the lake in a 850 sqft condo was just to small. Purchased a 1550 sqft Condo in May of 2014, sold the smaller Condo in June of 2015, I retired in January of 2015
After spending one winter at the lake, we decided nothing was keeping us from SW Florida, so we purchased a retirement PM home in a 55+ community in Fort Myers
We had planned the down sizing and it took us 5 years to accomplish this, we found 1500 sqft to work well for our condo at the lake, 3 bedroom, 2 baths, garage..... room for the kids and friends when they visit ........
Our Fort Myers home is now our primary residence due to taxes, sun, and it is just so much nicer during the winter. We have 800 sqft, 1 bed, 1.5 baths......it is great for the two of us, we have a pull out bed and futon for the kids and guests
It was amazing how much "STUFF" we had accumulated over 40 years, it took a bit to down size, but we did it over 5 years and 5 moves .....
It has been an adventure the past couple of years ......