After years of unhappiness, you’ve finally had enough and have decided to quit—but we’re not talking about your job. Write a letter of resignation to someone other than your employer—your school, your family, your favorite sports team, etc.

It is with trepidation that I submit my resignation and announce that I will no longer be living at 6608 Nordic Drive. The walls have been my home for these long 33 years where on balance happy times were had by all. When we first began our relationship, I was but half of a young, newly paired couple. We quickly filled the bedrooms with children, the basement with boxes, and the kitchen with comforting aromas of childhood fare.

6608 Nordic has been very, very good to me. The garage has, over the years, sheltered ten vehicles, ranging from sports cars to family vans. The basketball hoop migrated from garage roof to a stand-alone filled with sand. The deck, where I first fell in love with the house, finally fell down and a new, composite wood deck appeared. The entire first floor was remodeled, then the bathrooms, then the four season porch added with my hot tub.

6608 has been nothing but kind, helpful, accommodating. When we first moved in, we were all young. Now our age is showing, our edges frayed. Cataracts cloud our eyes, the window seals blown, condensation obscures what were once clear views of the trees.

But, consider, when one door closes, another opens. We move on, we close the door behind us, our hearts on our sleeves. But our vacancy allows for another young family to open the door, move into the superhero room, the Charlie Brown room, the master. Our turn is up, let the next family step up and move on in.