Despite our original plans to downsize, the home we recently purchased is about the same size as we had before and it came with a full-size basement to fill. Thurston went from a large pole barn to a mancave garage that has five bays and a car lift in it.

I managed to convince friends and family to take a few good items. I sold some things at my garage sale this spring. Surprisingly, we still have a lot of good stuff left that needs a home. 

Rather unexpectedly, Thurston’s daughter mentioned that a cottage just down from theirs was for sale. It was move-in ready; unlike the fixer upper that they would need to sell to purchase the upgrade. The light went on for both of us. Could this be? A home for all our extra stuff!

But seriously, that bathroom countertop with that teeny, tiny gouge in it? Great for the cottage.  Those sturdy dark wood cabinets that are perfectly good but dated? Perfect for the cottage.   The stainless double sink and nice matching faucet with faux butcher block countertop? Apparently, adding “for the cottage” turns outdated back into something perfectly useful.

Then there are the dishes. When Thurston and I married, we moved into his house, complete with dishes from his first wedding registry. Years later, we’re still eating off those blue-flowered dishes. He offered to buy me new ones for my birthday several years ago. Somehow, it never happened.

I’ve finally decided I’m getting new dishes when the kitchen remodel is finished. But what would we do with the perfectly good old ones?

You guessed it. Cottage.

The fully functional black appliances we plan to replace during the kitchen remodel? Cottage.  The large kitchen table, great for kids with the bench on one side and chairs on the other.  The one that looks great but seems to only be a landing pad for purses, mail and a slew of other things looking for a temporary home? Cottage.

Some would say that we don’t need a cottage.  We’re barely home in the house we already own.  But we’ve convinced ourselves that the purchase makes perfect sense. If we don’t use it as much as we think we will, we’ll sell it.  Surely it will be worth considerably more after we’ve made the necessary repairs. 

And think of the added value.

We can sell it fully furnished. 

We’re all aging. 

Let’s do it out loud.

Nora

• As published in The County Journal on 8/29/26