Medium
The Next Chapter, Volume 3: How New Empty Nesters Found Home in an Unexpected Place
Welcome back to The Next Chapter, where I share the stories behind my clients’ moves and the lives they’re building along the way. This month, I’m sharing the story of Mark and Lorrie, who traded two homes in two states for a new beginning in Wisconsin.
After 19 years in Naperville, Illinois, Mark and Lorrie were ready to make a change. Their two adult children were living and working in Milwaukee, and with their years of raising a family behind them, the couple began thinking about what they wanted the next stage of life to look like.
The decision meant selling two properties: their longtime family home in Naperville and their second home in Naples, Florida. Both held memories, and both were part of a life they’d spent years building. Lorrie described the familiarity of their established life as “a comfortable blanket.” Friends wondered why they would leave such a beautiful home and a community they knew so well.
Lorrie had an answer: “This was OUR journey.”
They were ready to simplify, spend more time near their children, and see what life might look like somewhere new. They just had to find the right place to do it.
A City Girl in Grafton
I met Lorrie at an open house in March. We started talking about their plans to move to Wisconsin and what they hoped to find there.
Lorrie made one thing clear pretty quickly: she was a big-city girl. Costco, TJ Maxx, and Target were high on her list, along with concerts, sporting events, restaurants, and festivals. She enjoyed the convenience and activity of city life, and she wasn’t convinced a smaller Wisconsin community would offer enough of what she loved.
Grafton caught their attention because it offered a combination that made sense for them. It was close to their children in Milwaukee, with convenient amenities and a welcoming community of its own.
Within a few weeks of meeting, we found a beautiful home that felt right for them. We closed at the end of May, and Mark and Lorrie made their move in early August.
Get Dawn Malchow’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Their new neighborhood was called Stonewall Farms. For someone who had spent years identifying with big-city life, the name alone was a change of scenery.
Getting to Know the Neighbors
Moving somewhere new comes with a period of adjustment. You have to learn your way around, find your favorite places, and get to know the people who live nearby. For Lorrie, there was some uncertainty about how quickly that would happen.
It didn’t take long.
Neighbors began stopping by to introduce themselves. Some brought freshly baked treats, while others simply came over for a conversation. Walks around the neighborhood became opportunities to meet people and discover new connections.
Then there was the backyard.
Their home overlooks a pond where deer, wild turkeys, geese, frogs, and other wildlife have become part of the daily scenery. The setting offered a kind of entertainment that was a little different from what Lorrie had been used to, and she found herself enjoying it.
“This is our farm,” Lorrie shared.
The welcome from their neighbors and the quiet pleasures of their surroundings helped make the transition feel natural. They were also closer to their children, with more opportunities to spend time together outside of holidays and special occasions.
The place Lorrie had approached with some reservations was becoming a place she was genuinely happy to call home.
A Different Kind of Home
What stands out to me about Mark and Lorrie’s move is how much can change when you reconsider where and how you want to live.
They left behind a home filled with nearly 20 years of family memories and a second property that had been part of their lives. In Grafton, they found a new community, a different pace, and a home that put them closer to their children. The adjustment came with a few surprises, too, some of which were waiting right outside their back door.
Lorrie put it this way: “We know that we were planted here for a reason. And we look forward to living our best life and enjoying what is right in front of us.”
I love that perspective. You can spend years building a life in one place and still reach a point when you’re ready to try something different. The decision can be difficult, especially when the life you’re leaving has been a good one. Sometimes, though, you have to give yourself the chance to discover what comes next.
Mark and Lorrie, thank you for trusting me to be part of this move. I hope Stonewall Farms brings you many happy years, plenty of time with your family, and a few more unexpected visitors by the pond.
