While we were in Michigan last weekend, I shared some big news with my family. Now that it’s out in the open, it’s time to share it here as well. So………..
We’re moving! Where, you ask? Umm……
Not sure.
Source. (I love this shop!)
Ok, so, remember a while back when I talked about watching a movie that left me longing for simplicity, adventure, and the unknown? Well, it inspired Jordan too. After watching it, he looked at me and said “When our lease is up in April, lets leave California.”
I was surprised. While leaving California is something I have wanted to do eventually, Jordan was not quite there yet. So my immediate response was “Ok. Are you sure?” He said he was. We were ready for what’s next. The next adventure.
But where to go? Closer to family for sure. Somewhere a little more simple, not so urbanized. Not too north, not too south, such and such. There’s a lot to think about. But here’s the thing, we’re not going to focus on that part just yet.
First, we are going to focus on the journey. We are going to sell our things (I’ll probably have destash sales online), pack up my car (with Penny too!), and drive. We plan to enjoy the ride. When I drove out to California from Michigan I didn’t take my time. This time, we are going to make a lot of stops, visit friends, explore new cities. We are going to take advantage of the fact that, for once, we have no obligations. We will be free to go and do whatever we want. I’m so excited!
Obviously there’s a lot of details to face. I know getting rid of most of what I own will be hard and time-consuming. And while I plan to blog about the adventure along the way (wifi access permitting), I’m still trying to decide what to do about my shop.
So still figuring things out! The only certain thing is that I am leaving California in April in search of my next adventure! I would love to hear your suggestions! Do you love where you live? Where would you move if you could go anywhere? And where should we stop along the way?
such an exciting adventure! I think if we moved from texas we’d want to be in Colorado somewhere. I have urges to just pack up and leave… but my husband isn’t as free-spirited as I am, haha!
COME TO WISCONSIN 🙂 I love love love where I live, love having all 4 seasons, it’s simply beautiful around here 🙂
That sounds amazing!! Congrats on your decision to make the move to your next adventure!
-Megan
meganesass.blogspot.com
I heard Rhode Island is cute! Or Colorado, I want to live there. Northern Virginia is beautiful, but I guess it depends on what scenery you’re after next. Congrats on the change! That’s so exciting and adventures are healthy for the soul!
Wow, ballsy and I LOVE it. Good for you two. I’m up here in the Bay Area, so that’s still CA 😉 I hear many good things about Seattle – Boulder, CO – Austin, TX – Nashville, TN – Omaha, NE.
Also, not sure where in Michigan you’re from but I read a rad article on Detroit and it’s comeback: http://onforb.es/PaC36X I’m looking forward to visiting the Silicon Mitten soon! Can’t wait to hear more, xo.
My dad lives in Detroit. :] And my mom sends me newspaper articles ALL the time about the “revival of Detroit.” (Trying to get me back home!) When we went to Michigan, we ate dinner in Detroit with some of my dad’s neighbors and it was so apparent how much they really loved the city. It was really cool! :]
Oh my goodness, so exciting! We’re planning on moving to Austin next summer, from upstate NY, where we’ve both lived our whole lives. I’ve heard that Austin is so cool!
I’ve lived in NC my entire life (besides college) and absolutely ADORE it. We have mountains and beach, both within a few hours’ drive, and the cost of living here is very manageable. In Winston-Salem where I live now, the vibe is friendly and open-minded, the seasons are beautiful, and the art community is alive and growing. It’s a big enough city that you don’t feel cramped, but it isn’t big enough to be overwhelming.
The Carolinas would be a big change from CA, but if change is what you’re looking for, it could be a great fit — we here on the east coast would welcome you with open arms. Good luck with your decision! So exciting! xo
Well… that is exciting! I really don’ t think you should give up your shop though….it has the potential to do great things in the way of creating a career for yourself. As far as where to move… Im extremely lucky to live in the most beautiful place on earth… the Upper Peninsula of Michigan! The only reason I can do so is because Im self employed. It is very far north, but I love the seasons and the remote tranquility. Good luck and enjoy the ride… you may not know where your headed until you get there. When you find the place you’ll know it…
-Michele
http://www.revisionsdesignstudio.com
I don’t plan to give up my shop! I’m trying to decide if I should put it in vacation mode for a few months, or hire some one to take care of it while I’m out of commission.
I’m a huge fan of Denver, and I also love the (totally underrated) city of Indianapolis.
How exciting! I can’t wait to hear where you end up. 🙂
http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com/
Wow! Best wishes! Hope we still have decent access to your fabulous shop items 🙂
Good for you guys! If you can afford to make a decision like this, then go for it. How exciting!
please please drive north to me. 🙂 seattle is awesome. end of story. we also have a guest room. seriously.
if i could live ANYWHERE else, I would live in eastern wash. little bit slower pace of live, little bit sunnier– lots of farms. I would also live in Portland, because it’s like Seattle but cheaper! (ha)
I also would live in San Diego. I love San Diego. Or France. I could live in France.
but, I love love Seattle and we own our house and our families are nearby and I just am settled here.
I am going to go through JAA withdrawals while you travel though!!
How fun!!! That is so awesome that your man jumped on board and wanted a new adventure too! I have been wanting to move and if I did it would be somewhere with lots of lands and the mountains in plain view!! I can’t wait to see you blog about your adventure!
I am so excited for you guys and cannot wait to read about your adventures/see where you settle down :).
Hi, I don’t think I’ve commented here before, but I follow you!
Congrats on this new journey! I am from Arizona, currently living in London with my husband. This is my third time moving to England, and I also lived in Australia for 15 months. I wouldn’t trade moving for anything!! What an adventure!
My husband and I are unsure of where we will move next when we probably return to the States-there are so many places to choose from! Good luck and I look forward to following along!
Someone I know got rid of a majority of her stuff, took her partner, and drove across the US in search of the simple life. Her blog is here: http://www.lifeflipping.net/2007/06/and-theyre-off-066229.html
Kelli
http://www.therewardisthejourney.blogspot.co.uk/
I’d say Seattle because it’s pretty nice up here but I know its not for everyone. The rain can be terrible but in the summer, like this year, its almost non-existent. Good luck wherever you choose. I’m sure the journey will be amazing.
I’m jealous! Being unfettered like that will be fun (and stressful!) but mostly fun! Definitely stop in Colorado. It fits your ‘criteria’ and is simply beautiful.
Wow, that is crazy awesome! Ever since studying there for a summer, I’ve wanted to live in Rome for a year someday…
I’m seeing a lot of Seattle & some Portland in the comments, and I’ll just put my little vote for both places! =D I grew up mostly in Portland and have lived in Seattle for the past 7 years. Both excellent places, if you can stand the rain. It’s pretty sweet right now since it’s kinda still summer.
Have a great time on your adventure – can’t wait to read about it!
This sounds absolutely AMAZING! I want to do the same thing when I’m done with teaching. I sort of did the same thing after college which is how I ended up in Baltimore. Baltimore is an amazing place… not too far north, not too far south. Urban, but in a neighborhood way unlike most cities. It has some really awesome historic areas with amazing restaurants and pubs. Great parks, a day trip to the ocean, a half an hour to awesome hiking in state parks. And it doesn’t hurt that it’s significantly cheaper than DC and Philly (which are both awesome places to visit as well). Ok, I’ll stop advertising and it’s probably too far from Michigan anyway. 😉 It’s a ten hour drive for me to get home to north central Indiana which can be hard sometimes.
Either way, if you’re setting off on an adventure across the country, you should make sure to see some of the amazing national parks. I can never get enough of our national parks!
Looking forward to reading about your adventures when the time comes!
That is very exciting! I would never be able to just up and leave anywhere. The only reason we moved away from home was that R had a job offer elsewhere. Granted we did kind of just up and leave there when we came to the realization that we did not enjoy where we were. We didn’t go that far though, and now our adventure is having a house finally lol.
Personally I would move back to the west coast (anywhere in BC just about) in a heartbeat. I miss the ocean and the rainforest with a passion. I even miss the rain. But I everyone is different, right? As for the getting rid of stuff, I am horrible with that and still need to purge :/ lol Even after two moves, though I’ve lessened the mess, I still have a ton of things that I just don’t need. I have started a photographic record of things that I don’t need to have but want to remember and need to start scanning all the papers I seem to think I need.
Just enjoy every minute of it! Mine was a short move, but I remember most of the drive and loved it all. The excitement of leaving was something I will hopefully always remember.
This sounds like a fun adventure! Portland is a great city, if you want a new place to explore.
hi Julie Ann- just spotted this by checking the traffic stats on my etsy shop…Wanted to thank you for sharing my Roam If Want To print! (I shared a thanks here: http://www.facebook.com/JumpOffThePage)
then I read a bit of your post and Had to comment b/c… those first 3 paragraphs or so could be me & my husband talking! we live in LA area and have been toying with leaving CA off and on for a while, want to be closer to family, change it up, etc. its a tough decision; i can totally empathize.
anyways, thanks again for sharing the print 🙂
I love it! I wish I was that ballsy, maybe someday… 🙂
I live in downtown Detroit and am smitten with the city (even its shortcomings… ha!). I love being part of the revival of the city but wouldn’t mind escaping for a year or two, perhaps to Boulder, CO or Portland or somewhere west coast-based.
Good luck! I look forward to living vicariously through your adventures 🙂
Awe, girl, I’m super excited for you! My husband and I just did this right here(http://www.munchtalk.net/2012/06/where-is-waldoi-mean-captain-and.html) recently. We absolutely loved it. It was a great time. I know you can do it, and I look forward to hearing how it goes. Just a bit biased here, but Des Moines, Iowa is pretty sweet. Yea, a far cry from LA, but I love it. All the seasons, the metro area, the country…it’s gorgeous. 🙂
http://www.munchtalk.net
Yup – super jealous! I would be doing the same thing if I didn’t have two mortgages and two babies (mostly just the mortgages, my babies travel pretty well.) You should check out Salida, Colorado. It has a great artist community, it’s gorgeous and the housing is super inexpensive (compared to Orange County, CA!)
Have fun and keep blogging!
Kat
You’re so lucky! I’d love to move to a small town out in the country after college, but I’d hate to go far from my mother and family in Cali. Hmmm New Jersey perhaps?
What an amazing adventure! I live in Canada, so that’s probably a bit too North for you. My husband and I once talked about moving to Scotland, and then we wanted to move to Australia. Neither happened, but that’s alright. Life just took us in a different direction 🙂
Ahhhhh! How exciting!!! I’m happy for you! It sounds like an awesome adventure. At least you have until April to solve a lot of the little issues. This is actually something that my fiance and I have been talking about doing. We’re definitely up for some adventures…especially since we’re young. 🙂 I can’t wait to hear more about your adventure and the process you’ll face when getting ready to roam.
How fun!! I love in Phoenix, AZ and LOVE it…but anywhere in Colorado would be fantastic also. Can’t wait to hear about your adventures!
Julie, you might be my soul sister. I’ve been talking about having a “living estate sale” (lol) packing up what’s left, buying a funky airstream and being a gypsy.
Good luck on your journey!
xoxo Kayli
wow.. that is quite an adventure.. and can’t wait to hear about the places you go and the things yo see and do..