Former First Lady Jill Biden has provided a snapshot into her life after the White House, sharing a picture of the family’s cat, Willow, amidst moving boxes as they transition into their Delaware home.

Dr. Biden, an educator prior to her role as First Lady, captioned the Instagram photo “Best unpacking buddy”. This represents a shift from the formalities of White House life to the personal environment of their Delaware property. This follows a previous holiday post featuring Willow, to which she had added, “A season of peace and light – and Willow.”

The Biden family has returned to Delaware, where they own two properties: a 6,850-square-foot home in Greenville and a beach house in Rehoboth Beach. The couple bought their Greenville property in 1996, establishing deep connections in the state.

President Biden’s decision not to run for re-election prompted this transition, eliciting various reactions from supporters. Some party members admitted that age-related issues influenced the 81-year-old’s decision to step away from presidential responsibilities.

The Bidens’ cat, Willow, has been a constant in their new chapter, particularly considering the absence of their previous White House pets, Major and Commander. Her presence continues a long-standing tradition of pet ownership among U.S. presidents, a tradition only broken by three presidents – James K. Polk, Andrew Johnson, and Donald Trump.

The practice of keeping pets in the White House dates back to 1800, during John Adams’ presidency. Over time, presidential families have housed a variety of intriguing pets, including a bear, lizard, guinea pigs, a pig, a badger, and even a hyena kept by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s family. Fala, their Scottish Terrier, ascended to celebrity status, even featuring in films.

Presidents have also received exotic pets as gifts from foreign leaders, such as elephants from the King of Siam and tiger cubs from the Sultan of Oman. More recently, Socks the cat resided in the Clinton White House, while the Bush family had Scottish Terriers named Barney and Miss Beazley, and the Obamas had Portuguese Water Dogs, Bo and Sunny.

Social media users have warmly received the insight into the Bidens’ private life. Responses ranged from well-wishes for their retirement to pleas for their return to the White House.

The Bidens’ future plans could include involvement with the Biden Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware. While Joe Biden has expressed interest in continuing his work on foreign and domestic policy, Jill Biden’s future plans remain open, though her lifelong commitment to education implies she may return to teaching.

“I’m not going to be out of sight or out of mind,” Joe Biden stated, indicating his intention to stay active in public life. This determination is reflected in his early post-presidency actions, including signing with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which also represents former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Richard Lovett, CAA co-chairman, commended Biden’s “lifelong commitment to public service” and stated they are “profoundly honored to partner with him again.”

Dr. Biden, who continued her teaching career at Northern Virginia Community College during her time as First Lady, has not yet announced whether she will return to the classroom. However, she plans to carry on her advocacy work through initiatives like Joining Forces, the Biden Cancer Moonshot, and the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research. The couple also intends to collaborate on children’s books, expanding on Dr. Biden’s previous publications.

A significant project in the works is the creation of a presidential library. Although the location is yet to be confirmed, it is anticipated to be in Delaware.