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1407 West Ricks Circle
2025 felt like a real‑estate apocalypse. I began the year remodeling an empty condo—smooth work but pricier than expected, a stark reminder of inflation. Leasing took six months, finally secured by the diligent Allie Beth Allman Urban team. In the meantime I acted as general contractor and had my wallet stolen, setting a grim tone for the year.
6121B Averill Way
We decided to buy a new home before selling our old one—a risky move. Twenty‑six years earlier, with two children in private high schools and four dogs, I’d never imagined this. Back then I sold a 4,500‑sq‑ft house, packed everything but clothes, and moved into a rental with a “box room.” For a year we survived on paper plates while property values around us surged. Had we bought a house to flip, we’d likely have profited. The lease we took was a tear‑down; we nearly faced eviction from a shady builder, Jim Odom—an experience I’ll never repeat.
In later years I owned two luxury homes until one sold. I trust the real‑estate community I write about daily; their support made the sale possible. Thank you—gratitude runs deep.
Move‑out and new beginnings
On November 15 we finally left Ricks Circle. I lingered, even slept on the floor one night after movers removed all beds. The next day we woke in a downsized “castle” in Lake Forest’s gated community at Hillcrest and Lake Forest, surrounded by boxes. I thought I’d downsized before moving, but 25 years of clutter—plastic wine glasses, BPA‑laden items, hidden in 6,800 sq ft—remained unseen. Curtis Customized Moving & Storage handled the white‑glove packing, though I still found two bowling pins and my mother’s cowboy boots.
The past six months have been a deep dive into my closets. We built our home with every space that could fit a closet becoming one, so 25 years later I uncovered forgotten treasures: a 1960s Trouvailles coffee table, my mother’s mahogany cedar chest with fabrics and dolls, toys for grandchildren, linens, flatware, china, schoolwork, and even my own elementary school papers. I’ve become the reluctant keeper of family heirlooms, a role I no longer wish to hold, yet I’m grateful for the abundance of memories.
Dave Perry‑Miller reminded me that Ricks Circle was a chapter worth cherishing: “Your life there was the best chapter—don’t mourn its end.” I’m still unpacking 50 wardrobe cartons and cardboard piles, but I’m thankful for the memories they hold.
Planning the next chapter
With the sale behind us, I’m documenting the process for others. I’ll treat it like a job everyone should tackle: organizing possessions, preparing insurance, wills, and a clean slate. The “Downsizing Diaries” series will launch in 2026, featuring Karen Eubank and the team.
Key highlights and tips:
- Digitize 14,000 photos—many were in envelopes or missing.
- Install beautiful stone countertops in every room; in a smaller space they become essential.
- Hire a reputable mover—Curtis Specialized Moving & Storage was close to perfect.
- Test plumbing with Green Scene Home Inspections.
- Send pieces you’ll keep for reupholstery or repairs before moving.
- Dispose of unwanted furniture early; my children wanted little, and armoires are out of style.
- Time yourself sorting old papers—some are irrelevant.
- Be prepared for waste: our generation’s electronics culture spans tapes to DVDs. I kept four video cameras, dumped tapes, and plan to digitize family cassettes.
- Books are hard to part with; I kept Virginia Woolf paperbacks for future rereads and sold most of my husband’s medical books and my daughter’s law books.
- Diet books accumulate—now we know Tirzepatide is the future.
- Declutter the garage—my husband had too much unused stuff, but I cleared it.
- End the roofing scam—our 9‑year‑old roof was flagged for replacement by an inspector who also installs roofs. Agents warn of this common pitfall.
These lessons will guide anyone through the downsizing journey, turning clutter into clarity.
