By GAY MARSH
Real Estate Broker/Salesman
St. Augustine, Florida

(ST. AUGUSTINE) - What do you do when your life no longer needs the space you live in? You look for alternatives such as a smaller home, or a Condo . . . and isn't it easy . . . or so we think!

A move to smaller space doesn't mean you have to give up your dreams. Think of downsizing as an opportunity to accomplish at least three things:

(1) Live in a more stimulating or scenic place, such as around the water or in an historic old district;

(2) Getting rid of the clutter, including some furnishings and the things on your daily to-do list (have that garage sale you've been thinking about doing!);

(3) Enhancing your satisfaction with your surroundings. Nurture yourself, and don't be obsessed with size. Your home can be small, beautiful, and richly detailed. These qualities that are much more rewarding to the spirit than mere size.

DOWNSIZING ISN'T EASY!

PROJECT! What will you have to give up? Is it important to you and can you adapt? You may love backyard gardening but can you handle container gardening on the condo deck or growing herbs in the kitchen?

GIVE IT UP! Don't shock yourself by getting rid of everything at one time. Be reflective and do it over a period of time. If you have to, put some of your stuff in storage and take your time, but have a plan and just do it!

RECOGNIZE you've outgrown some habits and that those old habits have now become a chore . . . and let go!

PRIVATE SPACE remains vital! The smaller the space, the more important it is for each of you to have some private quiet space. This can be done even if you just place a screen between some private designated space.

VISUAL STRATEGY makes small spaces seem larger. Can you mirror a wall? Open flow from one room to another? Create variations of lighting? Build bigger windows to open views. How about expanding to outdoor living space?

CONFINING SPACE? Think of it as an investment in time, and not in place. The more clutter you eliminate, the more time you gain. And remember, "time" is a NONRENEWABLE resource. We all can use more time to do what we enjoy!

There are two fabulous books written by Architect Sarah Susanka which say that your home can be small, beautiful, and richly detailed, and that these qualities are much more rewarding to the spirit than mere size. Sarah Susanka has written The Not So Big House and just recently Creating the Not So Big House. These books are available at Barnes and Noble and they make very interesting reading. There are plenty of ideas, pictures, and house plans available. If you're planning on downsizing, these would be good reading and would guide you in your planning. Today and tomorrow's homes would do well to follow Susanka's ideas along with good planning incorporated into energy features.

I recently went to Phoenix where I attended the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Symposium on Senior Housing. The NAHB took us to several subdivisions including Sun City. These homes were all open-flowing floor plans which, because of the extreme hot weather, had utilized higher R factors in insulating the side walls, garages, and ceilings plus had one-inch insulated windows and all-metal doors to the exterior. What was so amazing was the fact they had signage stating "We Guarantee Your Power Bills Will Not Exceed $45 per month or We Pay The Difference." Wow! It's about time we take an active part in the construction plans of our homes to see that we conserve energy. Energy conservation can be planned and we should participate with the architect and builder to see that we get energy efficient homes.

There is a philosopher and designer named William Morris, who 120 some odd-years-ago wrote, "Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." What great advice then and now!

<Gay Marsh, Realtor/Broker, is with Premier Property Realty Group in St. Augustine.