Marie Denhardt of Charlestown shares her secret

By Julia Boyle
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

When Marie Denhardt moved to Charlestown in Baltimore, Md., from her son’s house in Morristown, N.J., this past January, she was practically a professional mover.

“I had already downsized seven times since selling my house 1997. At first it was hard to get rid of things, but now it’s easy,” she says. “When I moved here I didn’t want to make my home look small by filling it with a bunch of things. I wanted to be comfortable and be able to enjoy my space.”

Denhardt attributes the comfort and enjoyment of her new life at Charlestown to her positive outlook on “rightsizing.”

Life, simplified
“I sold my house because it was too big. Here, this is my space within Charlestown. It’s a wonderful size for me,” she says of her deluxe studio apartment home.

Denhardt first downsized from her house to a condo. She says that Charlestown has eliminated her need for many everyday items because it provides everything she needs. “I bought a set of pots and pans before I came here because I thought I would do some cooking, but I haven’t cooked yet,” she says, laughing.

She enjoys having the option to cook in her kitchen but prefers eating at one of Charlestown’s six restaurants. “It’s the best thing to go shopping with the girls all day, come back and take a nap or read, and then go enjoy a nice dinner at any restaurant you want,” she says.

Friends abound
Denhardt says that because her home is the right size, she spends less time maintaining it and more time doing the things she loves—shopping with friends, meeting new people, and sketching or painting.

“I moved here because I didn’t want to feel lonely anymore. Even at my son’s house, the grandsons were getting older and more involved with activities. But I haven’t been lonesome since I’ve been here,” she says.