My kids both left home(for the first time - smile) the year I was 43 and my husband was 52. They have both returned a few times temporarily, but are now on their own for good. Didn't change much in our lives, except that I started going to bed earlier since I no longer had to wait up for them to come home. After about 7 years I put a sewing center in my daughter's room, but it is still used as a bedroom when she and her husband come home with my darling grand boy and girl. Now we've moved semi-permanently to Michigan. The kids never lived in this (small) house, but do come home to visit. I'm working on my sewing area upstairs........