Welcome to the QB from MA. It is a lot quieter without the kids in the house, however, both of mine became boomerang kids, inbetween jobs and sometimes longer. It was good having my son around as he helped us both so much, especially since my husband has severe vertigo and I have arthritis, osteo and rheumatoid as well as fibromyalgia, but as long as I can quilt I'll keep on keeping on.