Last Updated on January 13, 2025
Last May, my parents, out of the blue, announced that they would be selling my childhood home in Baraboo, WI. Well, I guess not completely out of the blue, but earlier than expected. After snowbirding between Wisconsin and Florida for years, they found the perfect senior living community in Naples and decided to move there permanently. Panic set in.
To say 2024 was a rollercoaster of emotions is an understatement. Was one of them sick? Would we see them regularly anymore? Besides The Boy and my kids, I’d be pretty much alone. Feelings of abandonment set in.
I felt like I was being ripped away from friends — people I’ve known since elementary school. Ya, we could book an Airbnb for a weekend, but what about the dog? Would we do that ten times a year? Probably not. I like to bebop up there for the day, visit my high school friends, and have dinner at my favorite restaurants. We take the kids skiing, hiking at Devil’s Lake, or visiting a waterpark in Wisconsin Dells.
You may remember my sister died, and this house is really the only “thing” I have left of her. She died right before smartphones and Facebook. The town and this home are where I feel connected to her. I tried to keep this emotion top of mind because making a financial decision based on grief is not smart.
My parents presented us with a reasonable price. After running numbers and budgeting, I devised a way to afford a second mortgage — hurdle #1.
Convincing The Boy to take on said second mortgage — has not been an awesome experience, but he’s come around — hurdle #2. I needed to find a dream job to make sure I was not sending my family into financial ruin. BTDubs, I started said dream job last week — hurdle #3. Woohoo!!!
That being said, I can officially announce that we will be closing on the Baraboo house in May 2025. Holy guacamole! We got chips! I’m excited and terrified all at the same time.
Before I spill the decor plans, set a reminder to check back tomorrow morning because I’m in the process of designing mood boards for each room, and let me tell you; it’s freaking epic! I’m heavily leaning into Mid-Century Modern furniture in the best way possible — and even better, it’s affordable, and you’ll be able to shop everything,
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Crystal Warren
Wowww, what an emotional journey. It’s amazing how you found a way to keep such a special connection to your past while navigating all those hurdles. Wishing you all the best in your new chapter.
Nagendra
Hi Kyla it’s a very nostalgic see you old fashion dress and beautiful interior of your house. i hope you enjoyed your childhood. Thank you for sharing your sweet memories.