I'd like to start by saying a HUGE thank you to everyone who wrote back last week and shared their suggestions with us for ideas for future Captain's Log episodes.
 
Some of the emails we received were so encouraging that they have inspired us beyond words. In fact, we still have a few responses trickling in, so we're not going to announce the winners until next week. Sorry to have to keep everyone in suspense!
 
This week, I actually sat down with my Mum, Libby to discuss her recent decision to downsize from her house in Beaconsfield, to the new condo development in Pointe-Claire, Le Charlebois.  This was an idea that Libby had been considering for the past couple years, but which had proven to be a very difficult decision to make. I think a lot of people at her stage of life can relate to this. It's a monumental undertaking, that involves not only a complex process of planning and logistics, but which also carries a deep psychological impact along with it. And if you're like Libby... you don't have your spouse or partner there to help make those decisions together, so the process can become that much more challenging. 
 
We lost my Dad, Max (Libby's husband of 45 years) in August of 2016 after a long battle with Alzheimer's and dementia. He and Libby had done their first "downsize" back in 2003 after the four of us kids finally stopped coming back to live in the house for good! They sold the old 4-bedroom, two-storey home that we all grew up in on Sherbrooke St. in Beaconsfield, and found a great executive-sized bungalow on Birch Crescent. It's hard to believe that was 17 years ago!

After we moved my Dad into the Sunrise Residence, and then after he passed away, Libby found herself all alone in the house with just her cat Tinker to keep her company. Luckily she still has 4 kids who all live within 15 minutes of her - me being the furthest away in Lachine. She also has a great group of friends who she sees regularly and keeps very active with, playing bridge, golf, Ma-Jong, working out at the gym, or going out for their famous "luncheons" or dinners. Many of her friends are also widows, so they seem to have a lot of the same challenges, but offer each other a great deal of support as well.
 
However, during the past year-and-a-half, many things changed within our family, our business, and most recently with the world as we know it. Last year when my brother Sean decided to leave Team Broady to work separately with his wife, his daughter, and our eldest brother Scott… it had quite an impact on our family dynamics. Our usual Sunday night family dinners stopped for quite some time. And when people did come over to Libby’s, it was usually in smaller groups. 

Libby began to notice that because some of her grandkids were growing up they didn’t come as often to play in her basement, or at the park behind her house. The home office that used to see almost daily traffic from Team Broady activities became much quieter, and without the usual 16 people over for supper… the large dining room table didn’t require the added extensions any more. 

With the rise of COVID-19 this spring, and the isolation and lockdown measures that followed... many of the things Libby enjoyed doing with her friends and her family were temporarily suspended. We couldn't go and visit her at her home. We couldn't bring the grandkids over. She couldn't go to the gym or have lunch with her friends. So all of these factors played a part in her decision of course. Here is an excerpt from my talk with Libby about her downsize…

M: So tell me, when did you first begin to consider the idea of downsizing from where you are now?
 
L: To be perfectly honest, I hadn’t really thought about it or felt the need to move until things changed with our business and with our family. It was only after Sean left our team and our family dynamics changed that I began to notice the emptiness in the house. The whole family didn’t come over or get together as often, that’s when I started thinking I no longer needed all this space. It was at this point that I considered the idea more seriously and began to look at some options with Catherine’s help. 

 M: What options were you considering?

 L: I’ve always kept an eye on what sort of condos are available in this area, because there aren’t that many choices to begin with! Nothing had really appealed to me until I saw the project being proposed for the old Pioneer building in Pointe-Claire Village. 
 
M: What did you like about this one in particular?
 
 L: I liked the location for one. It’s still close to the shops I like, my gym, my friends, and the office too. But more importantly, I liked the fact that it’s a smaller project, with only about 12 units in total. I never liked the idea of being in a big high-rise with 200 other people!

M: I don’t blame you – especially with this pandemic going on. When did you finally go from thinking about it… to actually putting down your deposit?

L: Funny enough, I was more confident about the idea before this pandemic hit. I didn’t mind the idea of moving to a smaller space as long as I was free to walk about, go outside any time, visit the shops and cafes in the village. But once this COVID hit, I wondered if I wasn’t better off staying in my house. At least here, I have my own space, my own garden, and nobody in close proximity. 

M: When are you supposed to be moving?

L: Well that’s just it… the delivery for this condo project isn’t scheduled until the fall of next year, which suits me just fine. Hopefully things will have improved before then, and it gives me plenty of time to prepare for the move.
 
M: What are some of the biggest hurdles, obstacles, or challenges you’re facing?

L: The daunting prospect of trying to get rid of all my stuff! Even though I’ve been through this before… the last time I did it, I had Max there to help me. And you know how he was… anything non-essential was “rubbish”.
 
M: Hahaha! Yes, he would be good to have around for this part of the process, wouldn’t he!
 
L: I’m also finding that services such as Nova – who used to collect furniture and household items – are no longer open. But luckily there are still other services like Renaissance who are still accepting donations. Another resource I will be calling upon, who have been fantastic at helping some of our clients going through this process – is a company called Entourage – run by Renée Blanchette. https://relocationentourage.com/team/
 
M: Well thanks for agreeing to this interview Mum.  I know you’ve been through a lot this past year and it’s not an easy process… but at least you have us to help you if you need it. 
 
L: Well I’m glad to hear that. You can start by taking those 16 boxes you have of your junk still lying around in my basement!
 
M: Hahaha! Will do. Good thing I have until next fall!

Signing off…

Capt’n Mark