When faced with the dilemma of whether to have a home or not, what do you do?
We — meaning me and my husband — have a problem. We’re getting older. The house is old too, and it needs more work than it used to. We only have so much money, so the question becomes: what now?
It’s a question that feels more pressing now than it did a few years ago, back when we first started noticing the cracks, the leaks, and the long list of “someday” repairs. How did this even happen? How did we get here?
We’ve lived here for over twenty years. We own the house and the land it sits on. It’s ours, through and through. But like anything that’s been around for decades, it needs care — and care costs money.
Over the years, we’ve tried to handle what we could ourselves. That’s part of the problem. We never really thought to ask what homeowners should do on their own, what was in county code, or what the penalties were for not being in compliance. We just did what we had to do.
After a lot of careful thought (and more than a few late-night talks), we’ve decided to start looking for another home.
Now comes the big question: do we rent, or do we buy again?
If I’m being honest, I’d prefer to rent. There’s a certain peace in knowing that if something breaks, it’s not automatically your problem. My husband, on the other hand, leans more toward buying — but we both agree on one thing: if we do purchase, it has to be a newer home.
We’ve had our share of repairs and patch jobs, and the idea of buying an older home just feels like signing up for more of the same. We’re too old (and too tired) for that kind of adventure.
At the end of the day, we’re seniors with just enough saved to make this move possible — but at what cost?
Half of our savings and net worth would disappear overnight. And if one of us were to get sick, well, that could take the other half.
It’s a sobering thought. That “rock wall” everyone talks about — the one you hope you’ll never hit — it’s closer than you think.
So, am I a risk taker?
Maybe not in the wild, adventurous sense — I’m not jumping out of airplanes or betting on the stock market. But deciding whether to start over, to spend what we’ve worked a lifetime to save, that’s its own kind of risk.
It’s not just about money; it’s about comfort, health, and faith that whatever comes next will be okay. Sometimes the bravest risk isn’t chasing something new — it’s trusting yourself to make the hard choice when every option feels uncertain.
Written by Jonnita Stubbs
Sharing real stories about life, love, and the lessons that come with change.
Elaine Stubbs 
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