A letter

How moving to receive an actual hand-written letter! I thought I had lost contact with a bookshop keeping couple with whom I was in contact while in Korea and whom I always took care to meet during my later visits. I learnt that they had moved when a clothing-repair shop keeper told she and her family were living temporarily in a place which turned out to be the home of this couple. So now comes a sympathetic letter, telling that he has gotten my latest mail, is feeling well (he was severely ill a few years back), and wishes us all the happiness in life. They are living close to their old place. But what has happaned to the house they owned? Rented it out and sought a new residence? Nice to be addressed as chane (자네); here him using higher-level language towards me instead of panmal would not convey the same kind of friendliness and intimacy.