Three months ago, I wrote about wrestling with hypothetical worries while dismantling my old working life. I was anxious about whether we’d have enough resources for a safe and fulfilling retirement.
Well, the office sold. Then we sold the family home too.
It’s taken months of sorting, selling, waiting and finally signing. There were moments when it felt like the transition would never end. But at last we have made it: both sales are complete, and the long process of closing out the old life is finally behind us.
I ’ve just returned from a few days in Paris and while it was undeniably chaotic, architecturally stunning, and buzzing with energy, it also gave me unexpected space to think.
Welcome to the fourth and final blog in the series resulting from comments received about the Weekly Rhythm Template. This blog is focused on Prioritising that most precious resource – Time.
Welcome to the third in the series of blogs exploring weekly and monthly rhythms – small, repeatable ways to bring more intentionality to our days. This blog considers how you stay connected to your bigger hopes over the long haul,
We previously explored how living with rhythm and not rigid rules can help create a life with more flow and less overwhelm. We shared a Weekly Rhythm Template, but a thoughtful question came up:
“What if you’re in full-time work and your weeks are mostly fixed?”
That sparked something bigger: perhaps what’s also needed is a Monthly Rhythm Template. A tool that helps zoom out, notice what’s needed, and bring intentionality to a longer stretch of time.
When I shared the Weekly Rhythm Template, it sparked some great conversations including one thoughtful comment left on the blog last week:
“love this take on being intentional, wonder how those of us still in the working world could use this weekly rhythm too! Maybe it’s more like a monthly rhythm?”
When we started dreaming about a slower, more intentional life, the vision was clear: simplicity, space, nature, and time to live with purpose. But turning that dream into reality? That’s where things got… unconventional.
We quickly realised that many of our Big Hairy Audacious Goals(BHAGs) weren’t just about mindset, they required a shift in where and how we lived. And that meant making some big, counterintuitive decisions.
When Conventional Wisdom Doesn’t Fit the Vision
Conventional retirement advice says:
Own your home
Keep things stable
Don’t rock the boat
But we found ourselves longing for things that didn’t fit that model:
A rural location in the heart of the Peak District National Park
Space to grow our own food: vegetable beds, fresh herbs, homegrown tomatoes
Rides and walks from the doorstep: not something we had to “go to,” but something woven into daily life
A home close to the church community we’re part of
A calming, decluttered sanctuary that supported reflection, rest, and purpose
The trouble was… buying a place with all of that was well out of reach.
A Radical (and Rational) Shift
So we flipped the script. We sold our house. And moved into a rental.
On paper, that might seem backwards. But in practice, it gave us:
The freedom to relocate to the rural setting we truly wanted
Flexibility to explore, to adapt, and to live without being tied down
Less stress and maintenance, fewer responsibilities, more space to breathe
The ability to invest some of the capital to support the life we’re building now, not just someday
Most importantly, it allowed us to live in alignment with our values, not just the market.
When Values Drive the Strategy
Every BHAG looks great on paper but real life needs fuel. Sometimes that fuel is money. Sometimes it’s courage. Often, it’s both.
Selling our home wasn’t about giving something up. It was about releasing what we no longer needed to make space for what we deeply wanted.
Yes, some people raised eyebrows. But that’s okay. Not everyone has to understand your priorities, the important thing is that you do.
Final Thought
If you’re dreaming of a different kind of life but feel stuck, maybe the question to ask isn’t “what should I do?” but: “What would I do if I stopped needing to follow the script?”
You don’t have to be reckless. But you can be brave. Sometimes the best next step looks strange from the outside. But on the inside? It feels like freedom.
We found the place that ticked all our boxes: rural, peaceful, close to church, space for veggies, and nature on the doorstep. We moved from the city into our new home in January. Yes there’s still work to do, but for the first time in a long time, we know we’re exactly where we need to be.
We’ve chosen a life we can build around what truly matters. And that, to us, is worth everything.
Great2Live 