We sold our longtime home, but can still visit

In February 1992, with our 15-month-old son along for the ride, we finalized the purchase of our first home, in Suisun City.

We didn't buy another home until this summer – after that same son and our daughter-in-law (our first daughter!), with their 5-month-old daughter along for the ride, purchased our Suisun City home.

Yes, in true dynastic fashion, the Stanhope family manor was passed to the oldest son. Although there was a Realtor and money involved.

Last week, I wrote about Mrs. Brad and me moving from Fairfield-Suisun (our home since 1986) to Walnut Creek, near my workplace. What I wrote remains true: We're sad, excited, nostalgic, nervous and optimistic.

But grateful, because our home passed to someone we know: our son and daughter (in-law), who were able to buy their first home.

The deal was striking for another reason: the Realtor who handled the transaction was Kitty Powers of Coldwell Banker Kappel Gateway Realty. The Realtor who sold us the home in 1992? Kitty Powers, then simply of Gateway Realty.

Same person, 26 years later.

In 1992, Mrs. Brad and I were unfamiliar with how real estate worked and scared and confused about the buying process. Twenty-six years later, our son and daughter-in-law were in a similar situation, although in this case, they knew the sellers (and had the internet, which answers any question). It felt strange and comfortable at the same time to be moving out of a house (with new-to-us floors, a new roof, a second bathroom, a new yard, new trees but plenty of old memories) with the help of the person who helped us get there.

I've written about our home before, so there's no need to go into depth about the sacredness of a place where you've lived  for decades: the places in the backyard where we played kickball and our dog sat on second base. The garage where our 12-year-old son removed most of his eyebrow with duct tape. The places where we kept Christmas trees and hid Easter eggs and played a thousand basketball games.

Now, the son who made many of those memories (to be fair, his younger brother made just as many, especially the endless basketball games) will raise his daughter there – at least for a while.

The two best things, beyond the pleasure in being able to return to our old home occasionally, about our move were these:

• Our neighbors were pleased to welcome the "new family" to the neighborhood, with smiles.

• Our beloved Brandy, the 10-year-old Weimaraner who occasionally fills in for me in this space, was able to stay in a familiar home with a familiar owner. We miss her, but know that she's better off in a Suisun City home with a big yard than a Walnut Creek condominium without one. Especially since she's near people she loves.

The Suisun City home is no longer ours, but hopefully our son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter will have as many great memories there as we do.

And in a few years (or a decade or 25 years), when the next generation of Stanhopes moves on, Kitty Powers will probably sell the home.

Until then, we can visit.

Reach Brad Stanhope at bradstanhope@hotmail.com.