For years, Darrell Pennington thought he would work until his 70s and enjoy his retirement then. Gradually, he says he considered what it would be like to accelerate retirement, uproot from Evansville, and experience worldly cultures.
He realized this would mean selling the beloved Victorian home โ and nearly all its contents โ where he and his wife, Penelope, have lived for 27 years and raised two children. In January, he gingerly broached the subject.
Penelopeโs response surprised him: โCan we leave tomorrow?โ
โThat put it in a whole different perspective,โ says Darrell, who retired May 10 as chief operations officer with Mortgage Masters of Indiana.
Itโs been full steam ahead ever since for the Owensboro, Kentucky, natives. They are downsizing their home just out- side the Riverside Historic District item by item. Friends and former coworkers have browsed the Penningtonsโ collection, which is set up โkind of like a flea market,โ Penelope says. An auction likely will be needed for larger pieces.
The homeโs uniqueness has caught Evansville Livingโs attention in the past โ a secret basement-level speakeasy called The Red Polka Dot was profiled in 2021, and in 2023, the magazine returned to check out a terrace space. In earlier years, the Penningtons had rooms dedicated to University of Kentucky sports (which also was profiled in Evansville Living) and legendary rockers KISS.
But Penelope, who retired five years ago from Milestone Investments, says her sentiment for the house is overshadowed by excitement about whatโs to come.
โWe have 27 years of everything,โ Penelope says. โWeโre not hoarders, but we have 5,000 square feet thatโs full. There are things in the house I wouldnโt get rid of otherwise … but itโs nice for people to take things that I love and give them another life.โ
The Penningtonsโ immediate plans are to purge their belongings and put their house on the market. In mid-October, they board a vessel on a one-way voyage to Spain. Norway, the United Kingdom, Europe, North Africa, and Central and South Americas are on their wish list.
They do plan annual visits back to Evansville, staying in a camper, completing some U.S. travel, and visiting their daughter, 22, and son, 18.
Indicating their readiness to hit the road, the Penningtons headed to Ireland for 10 days in late May and early June to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary.
That trip, Penelope says, represented โa big kick-off to our new life.
