For many couples, becoming empty nesters marks a turning point. Daily life shifts after decades structured around school schedules, sports practices, and family routines. Once the house quiets, a practical question follows: What now?
Local empty nesters share that the transition is rarely just logistical. Parenting shapes identity as much as it shapes calendars. When that role changes, couples often find themselves adjusting not only their routines, but also their sense of purpose. Some describe the first stretch as unfamiliar. The pace is different. The house feels larger. And the responsibility that once defined each day softens.
There is no single way to approach this stage, but over time, that open space often becomes opportunity.
Choosing Movement
With their 28-year-old son grown and independent, Patrick and Kristina Schmit left Tahoe with their two pups and began traveling the country by RV. They have visited 38 states and parts of Canada, often staying for weeks at a time.
“You really understand how big the U.S. is when you’re driving through it,” they say. “Seeing the country from the road changes things. You meet people from different backgrounds and cultures, and it shifts your perspective on how people live and what truly matters.”
RV travel requires coordination and stamina. Long driving days and constant repositioning are part of the routine. For the Schmits, the work is built into the appeal. They chose to pursue it while they feel physically able to do so.
Scott and Kiley Peterson have taken a similar approach. With two adult daughters living in California, they prioritize time together when schedules align but also volunteer frequently and travel extensively.
In recent years, they have participated in work exchange programs in Scotland, Spain, and France, trading labor for room and board in gardens and retreats. Currently, they are drafting paperwork to apply for a non-lucrative visa for Spain, hoping to spend a year there. “Because our nest has been fixed here for our whole lives, it feels good to go places that are very different and see firsthand how others live,” they share.
Staying Rooted
For other empty nesters, the shift is less geographic.
Becky Derifield is a widow and local book club member. She describes her days as abundantly full of work and friendships. “I am very fortunate to have a good job and good friends to occupy my time,” she says. “I am so proud of my sons and what they are trying to achieve, but there is not a day that goes by that I don’t miss them with all my heart.”
Sean and Beth Grundy share a similar perspective. They openly admit they spend much of their time thinking about their sons and proudly say they speak with them nearly every day. And while the household dynamic has shifted, communication remains constant. There are adjustments, including learning to live with more space and fewer daily demands, Beth shares. But there are also lighter moments. She jokes that she finally has food in the refrigerator now that her sons are out of the house.
The Next Chapter
These paths vary from household to household. Some couples travel. Others relocate, downsize, deepen community involvement, or return to long-set-aside interests, but what remains consistent is autonomy. With fewer obligations, choosing how and where energy is spent becomes self-directed.
Empty nesting does not follow a formula. For some, this period can involve adjustment and reflection. For others, it can create room for growth. For many couples, this stage is less about what has been lost and more about relocating and redefining time.