How did we get here?!?

If you had asked me five years ago what this season of my life would look like, I would have painted you a very different picture.

My plan was simple, when my youngest graduated from high school, I was going to buy an RV, work remotely, and travel. Freedom. Open roads. National parks. Coffee with mountain views. That was the vision.

All my boys were grown and independent. Each one pursuing his own path.

My middle son left for the Marines straight out of high school. He served four years, came home in 2020, and bought a house. A few years later, he decided he wanted to take a contract job overseas. He asked if I would move into his house and watch his dog for a year.

The timing felt perfect

.

My youngest had one year of high school left and had already decided he was joining the Navy. Living at my middle son’s house would give me the opportunity that would allow me to save aggressively for my RV dream.

But if I’m being honest — the dream started to shift long before I admitted it.

It began in 2021 when my granddaughter was born.

That tiny human changed something in me. Suddenly, the idea of wandering wherever the road led didn’t hold quite the same pull. I still wanted freedom… but I also wanted first steps. First words. Backyard giggles. Bedtime stories.

I didn’t fully let go of the RV plan. I just quietly tucked it beside this new role I was learning to love Dede, aka Grandma.

Then life sped things up.

Fast forward to 2025. That “one-year” overseas contract turned into three. My middle son decided he wanted to move to Arizona but didn’t want to sell his house.

Meanwhile, my oldest son, his wife, and my granddaughter were living in an apartment, trying to save for a home of their own. Their rent was $1,400 a month. The mortgage on my middle son’s house was $1,600.

And there I was, living in a house alone, standing at a crossroads.

Do I say I can’t afford to stay here by myself and go find an apartment that isn’t much cheaper? Or do I ask my oldest son and his family if they would consider moving in?

It felt like it could either be the greatest idea ever — or the dumbest.

After many long conversations with my best friends (because who makes life decisions without their personal advisory board?), I decided to ask if they would even consider it.

We had real conversations. Honest ones. We wrote out the pros and cons.

The Pros:

• We could save a significant amount of money each month.

• Life would become more affordable for everyone.

• My granddaughter would have a backyard instead of an apartment complex.

• Built-in support for all of us.

The Cons:

• We live differently.

• Different routines.

• Different parenting styles.

• And the big one — did I really want to live full-time with a four-year-old?

There was a lot to think about. We revisited the list more than once. We didn’t rush it.

After a few months, the pros outweighed the cons.

So we did it.

We refinished the basement and created a small apartment space just for me. We share the kitchen upstairs, and I share a bathroom with my granddaughter — which is a humbling experience if you’ve never negotiated mirror space with a four-year-old.

And then, because life loves plot twists, two weeks after they moved in, my daughter-in-law found out she was pregnant with baby number two. 😳

Fast forward ten months and one newborn later — here we are.

Navigating. Adjusting. Learning as we go.

Some days are beautiful. Some days are loud. Some days are messy. But they are full — full of baby snuggles, early morning cartoons, shared dinners, and spontaneous backyard bonfire parties.

The RV dream didn’t disappear, It just evolved. I just bought a pop up camper and we will be seeing some stuff!

Maybe one day I’ll still do that dream of living full time in my RV, but right now, this is the adventure. And it turns out, the road doesn’t always take you away from home. Sometimes it brings you deeper into it.

Come along for the ride as we figure out what works, what doesn’t, and how multigenerational living is shaping this unexpected — and surprisingly sweet — chapter of life.

If you’d like, I can also help you craft a strong closing call-to-action to build community and encourage readers to follow your journey.

DeDe