Just thought I'd add my downsizing story. We lived in a large four bedroom L shaped 'Lockwood' house with a lovely pool tucked into the L part. We only have one child so by the time she left home.....which was actually at a young age 17!!! (But that's an empty nest story) We continued living in the big house (a house I never really liked) for another 3 years until it sold and we built a little Versatile Cottage(that's a type of garage/shed/cottage buildings they have here in NZ, all low maintenance stuff) and it's been the best move ever, it's a little two bedroom place with open plan kitchen, office, dining, lounge area....but small enough for me to keep clean and tidy in no time at all, great for the animals, very private and a wonderful view.

Eliabeth comes home often and brings her young man too and there is plenty of room for them when they stay. We have a garage attached which has a second shower and bathroom.

Best thing we ever did. Had enough money over to put into a retirement beach front apartment on the Kapiti Coast, that's half way between our country property and our daughters city apartment in Wellington.

Sometimes I know it can be hard to give up the family home, but for me the big place we left was actually our second family home.....we had lived in the 1st home (another Lockwood but smaller) for the first 13 or so years of our marriage and we both wish we had stayed put in the 1st house rather than build the bigger place.