Do you fly down to visit them often, Brat? If so, I can see how there would be significant savings in airfare and other travel expenses. Also, Portland is an attractive city with lots of nature preserves and a vibrant, youthful, active air about it. Moving in retirement seems to me like an exciting and adventurous thing to do, and you would get to see your grandchildren grow up and be a part of their lives. And as you grow older, a easily maintained condo in an eminently walkable city like Portland sounds like an excellent option.
Of course, there are always some potential negative aspects - - I do think that Ha makes a good point, in that it might be really easy for a grandparent to feel unneeded and even lonely after such a move if one's children are used to living without a grandparent there to help out. Your contact with your family might be less frequent than you imagine, and you might miss your present friends. Plus, from everything I have heard, Bainbridge Island is one of the most beautiful locations imaginable and you might miss it, as well as your present magical house and view.
Still, somehow I feel absolutely confident that you have considered all of the various plusses and minuses and have made the right decision for you. So I am hoping that your house sells quickly, and for more than you anticipate. And when it does, enjoy those grandkids!
Mostly, what I wanted to say is that I LOVE your attitude about putting your house on the market!
Brat said:
If it doesn’t sell then all we will have expended is a couple hundred for a home inspection and a lot of effort cleaning - getting rid of stuff that should have gone years ago.
I am going to try to emulate that attitude when we put our houses on the market, hopefully next year.