A Natural Transition

I honestly never thought I would be able to tear myself away from the area I lived in for just over half a century. It was wonderful, but it was time to move on and close that chapter!
While I still find myself pecking away the tears, ~~will they ever stop?~~ it's good to start a brand new chapter. The bad part is that I am starting out alone, not 'the two of us' who were going to make the big move. I will now start on my own terms for the very first time in my life! Kind of freeing, although my hubby and I allowed each other freedom of expression, and we sometimes had to agree to disagree. However, he was the unselfish one and often allowed me to have my own way. A man like no other!
Life in the old house was wonderful while there were more than just me in it, but the emptiness after more than three years got to me in the end, and I am beginning to enjoy the freedom of this new life.

I can drop everything and go out on a whim; lock-up-and-go, the sales pitch estate agents love to use. I could not do that in the old life when there was no staff on the premises: Were any guests arriving or departing? Windows and indoor security gates had to be locked; spare keys securely locked away (I had many exterior doors), and it was essential to ensure Poe was outside, as he'd set the alarms off if left inside. The list was long with the threat of burglary in a free-standing house. I was never paranoid, and it became second nature, but now that I've been gone for nearly three months, I realize why my family and close friends kept on nagging me to sell and move. I wasn't ready, though, and the time eventually came!
I was tired of being on my own, knowing neighbours are all either at work or out doing the things families do. The old house and the B&B kind of kept me prisoner. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy alone time, but too much of it is not good.

So now when a friend invites me out, I just drop what I'm doing, lock up, and go, literally.
It's time I start to play hard and slow down with chores! No more, 'work hard, play hard'!

Even though I'm not running a business and a big house any longer, there is still a lot to be done. I have three large boxes filled with memories that need to be sorted: photos, letters, and cards. I would like to pass them on to the people who will appreciate them, and not that they don't get lost one day. I still have to hang paintings, and am waiting for my lounge suite, which is finally ready but will only arrive on Friday!
Yes, the walls are still bare, and I also could not find the wooden headboard I wanted, so my brother is going to build one for me. My desk is up, and I can lay my head down when it's time to sleep. That's good enough for me, way more than many other people in the world can say!

I thought it fitting to end with a couple of tunes for Three Tune Tuesday, so I'm throwing in four very different songs about goodbyes and new beginnings. For those who don't know yet, @ablaze started this sharing of music on Hive 233 weeks ago. Take a peek at his selection of songs Tom Waits (Heart Attack and Vine) for Three Tune Tuesday - Week 233 - win some HBI and share your music with us.