Apartment Life: Living in the In-Between as an Empty Nester

After weeks (okay, months) of followers asking me to write about apartment life, I finally feel ready.

Not because I didn’t have thoughts before, but because I’ve learned over the years that I write best after I’ve truly lived something. I like to experience life fully first, without narrating it in real time or worrying about how it will “perform” online. When I’m ready to write about a season, the words usually come easily. And now, they have.

LEAD IMAGE: Everyone’s Favorite Sweater (My exact one sold out. Linking to same in different color.)

This is our empty nest apartment chapter. And honestly? It’s been such a sweet surprise.

If you’ve been following along, this post is the next chapter in the downsizing and decluttering journey I’ve been sharing here on Empty Nest Blessed, starting with Why We’re Downsizing Our Family Home—And How We Knew It Was Time.

Saying Goodbye to Our Family Home

In early November 2025, Bob and I closed on the home where we raised our kids and lived so much of our family life. Letting go of that house was emotional in ways I can’t fully put into words. It wasn’t just walls and rooms. It was birthday parties, Christmas mornings, late-night talks, and a thousand ordinary moments that became sacred simply because they happened there.

That season of saying goodbye didn’t happen overnight. It was shaped by months of intentional decluttering and learning how to release things with gratitude instead of guilt, which I shared more about in the post Decluttering for Empty Nesters: How to Let Go with Love.

But God, in His kindness, gave us the most darling little family to pass our home on to. A family who delighted in all the special things we built into it. A working stage. A ballet barre. A pool. Play spaces everywhere. We had prayed specifically about who would buy our home, and the Lord answered that prayer so beautifully. We still keep in touch, and it brings me so much joy to see new life unfolding in a place that meant so much to us.

The Day We Actually Moved

Moving day felt surreal in the best and hardest ways. We had done a lot of the pre-packing ourselves, taking our time and packing up everything that wasn’t breakable. We sorted through what would go into storage, what would come to the apartment, and, to our surprise, continued purging even more along the way. Once we had to physically move things, some items that had felt sentimental or “necessary” no longer did.

We hired a moving company to handle the rest, and the process stretched over several days. On the first day, they moved enough into the apartment so we could sleep there. On the second day, they packed up what remained. On the third day, they moved everything else into storage. And on the fourth day, I had cleaners come through the house one final time.

It was during those days that the reality really set in. This is actually happening. There’s no going back now. And somehow, that feeling was softened by the fact that we had already met the sweet couple buying our home and walked them through it, watching their delight as they imagined their family life unfolding there.

Once everything was completely empty and clean, Bob and I walked through the house one last time. We went room by room, sharing a memory or two, shedding a few tears, and saying goodbye. We thanked God for His faithfulness in providing that home and for all the years we were blessed to raise our family within those walls.

What surprised me most was how long it took to stop thinking of that house as “home.” For weeks, whenever we were out, and it was time to go home, I had to consciously remind myself where we actually lived now. It’s amazing how deeply a place can live inside of you, even after you’ve left it behind.

And that first night, standing in our new apartment surrounded by boxes, Bob and I just looked at each other, shook our heads, and said, “It’s done. It’s really done. We’re finished. Now, let’s move forward. Here’s to the rest of our lives.” (Cue the clinking of water bottles!)

Moving Into Apartment Life

Free People FP Movement Mountain High 1/2 Zip Jacket in “Twig” | Baublebar Earrings

We put most of our belongings into storage. Getting to that point required making some very real decisions about what to keep, what to donate, and what simply had to go. I created two very practical guides during that process: Decluttering 101 | Where to Donate Your Hard-to-Donate Stuff and Decluttering 102: How to Dispose of Hard-to-Dispose-of Items.

We moved into a two-bedroom, two-bath corner unit apartment in a fun, urban area. We wanted this next chapter to feel different. New. Interesting. A little adventurous!

From our apartment, we can walk to restaurants, coffee shops, and even Trader Joe’s. We have a concierge, two spots in an underground parking garage, and big windows with great natural light. If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you’ve definitely seen glimpses of this great space.

Even though our apartment isn’t cheap, the overall shift has been financially freeing. No yard. No pool maintenance. No housekeepers. No constant home repairs. In so many ways, simplifying our living situation has simplified our lives.

And during the recent ice storm? Let me tell you, it was a gift not to worry about frozen pipes, pool pumps, or covering plants. We just stayed cozy inside and watched the weather from our windows.

Lock and Leave Living

One of the biggest unexpected perks of apartment life is how easy it is to leave. We can travel without worrying about mail piling up, packages sitting on the porch, or something going wrong while we’re gone. We talk about this all the time! It’s such a peaceful way to live.

Béis Carry-On Roller in Atlas Pink (Click through for other colors.) | Béis Weekender in Atlas Pink | Allbirds Merino Blend Sweatshirt “Natural White” | Old Navy High-Waisted PowerChill Wide-Leg Pants | Allbirds Wool Runner Fluff Fleece Sneaker

This lock-and-leave lifestyle feels especially perfect for this season of life. We’re still active, still curious, still love to travel, and it’s wonderful not to feel tethered to a long list of responsibilities back home.

Quince Cotton Cashmere Side Slit Midi Dress | Eric Javits Ribbon Skimmer UPF50+ Hat (SUZY10 for 10% off sitewide) | Marc Fisher Zala Block Heel Pointy Toe Pump | CZ Earrings (Under $15!)

Learning Contentment in the In-Between

Here’s what surprised me the most. I’m genuinely content.

ON BOB: Cozy Earth Men’s Brushed Bamboo Jogger & Quarter Zip
ON SUZY: Cityscape 2.0 Hoodie “Clover” & Sweatpants
THESE MAY BE SOLD OUT but you can always take 20% off at Cozy Earth by clicking HERE and using code CE-EMPTYNEST

Because we don’t own this place, little things that might normally bother me just don’t. The cabinets aren’t my style. The drawer pulls are more modern than I’d choose. The outlets aren’t where I’d want them. And instead of feeling annoyed, I just shrug and move on.

It’s oddly freeing not to feel the need to fix, improve, or perfect everything. We wouldn’t want this to be forever, but after a year of emotional goodbyes, decluttering, and detaching, this feels like a much-needed pause. A soft place to land.

Still Waiting for What’s Next

We’re very aware this is temporary. We’re actively looking for a home and have narrowed down the area we want to live in. But so far, nothing has felt quite right. And that’s okay. To some extent, we’re still recovering from letting go of our family home. It feels like such a gift to be able to take our time.

Preparing our home for sale was its own emotional and logistical journey, and I shared all of our best tips in DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your House Fast, which many of you told me was one of the most helpful posts I’ve ever written. Our home sold in less than two weeks, for the full asking price, which still feels a little surreal.

And for the first time in my life, I’m okay with waiting.

Cabana Life Gauze Button Down Shirt Dress | Eric Javits “Alli” Crossbody/Shoulder Bag (SUZY10 for 10% off) | Similar Nude and Black Cap Top Low Heel Pump

I don’t feel rushed. I don’t feel anxious. I don’t feel behind. I feel patient. Hopeful. Trusting that in God’s perfect timing, the right home will appear. Until then, I’m learning to love exactly where we are.

Living in the in-between has reminded me of something I didn’t expect. You don’t have to arrive to be at peace. Sometimes the waiting itself is the gift.

And honestly? I’m really enjoying this chapter. 💗 Are you in a season of transition? I’d love to know how you’re handling it. Leave me a comment and share your thoughts!