Big Changes

Soooo….. I don’t know where to even start. I am sure most of you have figured it out.

We are moving.

To North Carolina.

When I say that this decision is a major one, well that is understatement. We have gone round and round and back and forth.

We always knew that for Andy to further his career we would (most likely) have to leave Ohio. He *fortunately* works in an industry that is in pretty high demand and he calls from recruiters often. I have talked about this before. Most of them are in California or NYC.

We have always said that if the job was right, and it was in one of our few *fave* locations, we would consider it. And quite honestly those have been few and far between. The job is good but the location stinks, or rarely- the other way around.

Our list of places was short. We both wanted warmer weather, but we still wanted seasons. I wanted to be close to a beach, Andy wanted mountains.

It is never an easy decision to move your family. Especially when you have kids as old as mine, Austin is in 8th grade. He will be starting high school next year.

Nor is it easy for me, I am a creature of habit. I like where I live. I love my house. I don’t want to leave it. Or my friends.

I grew up moving a lot, and I always said that I would settle and allow my kids to stay in one spot.

But then I started to really think about it. Yes, moving was hard as a kid- but looking back as an adult I like that I experienced different places, different people. I shudder to think that I might still be sitting in the town where I grew up, afraid to leave.

We have given our kids a good strong stable base, maybe it is time for them to experience something new. I always said that Austin was the reason we would stay, the others would be able to handle it. But he has surprised me the last couple of years. And honestly I am not sure I was doing him any favors by believing that he could not handle change, or new experiences.

I am not brave, I am scared out of my mind. But I am more scared of staying put for the rest of my life. I want to challenge myself to try something new. To meet new people. To not settle into the same old thing.

And I want this for my kids. I want them to know that there is a big world out there and it is theirs for the taking if they want. It won’t happen if they don’t know how to try something new.

Am I sad about leaving friends behind, about them leaving friends behind? Absolutely. But a smart friend told me back in the summer while sitting on the beach in the very state we are now moving, good friends are good friends no matter what. Location doesn’t matter, and if you move I will come see you. All the time.

My kids have so many resources for staying in touch. Resources that I didn’t have as a kid. Cellphones, texting, facebook, playing online on xbox or playstation.

That said I know it is not going to be easy.

Lots of tears have been shed, by them. By me.

But deep down I know this is right.

I have known since I walked by the computer back in July or August and Andy’s email was pulled up. I saw a message from a recruiter. I always found it fun to read them, to entertain the idea (at least for a little while) of trying something new. Someplace new.

I read through the job description and when I got to the last line I sucked in my breath, highlighted the line with the mouse.

This job is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

I stared at the screen for what felt like forever. “Here we go”, I said to myself.

I closed the email and waited for Andy to read it himself. Sometimes he brought up jobs to me, sometimes he didn’t. I knew he would bring this one up.

And so it went. He interviewed a few times, we went down there a few times. We had actually never been to Chapel Hill, but Raleigh was on our short list.

In the end we decided that this was a new adventure we wanted our family to take.

Chapel Hill is to North Carolina what Austin is to Texas. Cool fun college towns that are exactly our style.

The fact that it is 2 hours from the beach and 3 hours from the mountains was the icing on the cake.

Much more to come….

All images are of Chapel Hill and taken from LIFE ON THE HILL article

About The Author

elisa

11 COMMENTS

  1. June Makes Six | 20th Dec 11

    Will be thinking of your family on this new adventure…hope you can enjoy the ride:)

    Tiffany

  2. Lisa | 20th Dec 11

    I knew it!!! 🙂 This is really exciting news – and scary and sad, I’m sure, all rolled into one! I’m so happy for you and your family. No matter what you say, I think you are awesomely brave – something I aspire to. As I have commented before, I feel like we’ve been in a rut for awhile and that I would like to try something new…a new city, a new job, etc. We lived in TX (San Antonio and Dallas) before we moved back to the Midwest and I would love to move back to TX but have had same fears and concerns as you…older kiddos, leaving friends, moving farther away from family…

    Now I will live vicariously through you while you start off on your new adventure…and perhaps, just perhaps, I can find the courage to try something new! You rock, girl!!! 🙂

  3. Gretchen | 20th Dec 11

    While I know we don’t know each other well, I know this will will be good for your family. Chapel Hill is a great town, and offers what you both want. Your friend is right, your true friends will always stay in touch and find a way to see you. Good luck with moving? Is there a time frame for you to be down there?

  4. dani | 20th Dec 11

    one of my fav places in the whole world…great city, friendly people, seasons…you children will thrive not b/c of location but b/c you both are amazing parents…and this is just based on your blogs ..see how many people you touch just based on writing…

  5. Hannah | 20th Dec 11

    I’m excited for you guys, I hate that we are so close and haven’t found time to meet up and now you are leaving…

    I think Chapel Hill has Elisa written all over it. It just sounds like you. I can’t wait to see you guys blossom there 🙂

  6. azjenny | 21st Dec 11

    My mom told me once when I was making a big decision – ‘don’t make your decisions based on your friends because your friends are not making their decisions based on you’. Sort of harsh, but also true. Everyone does what is right for them, not others. Exciting times for your family. If it feels right, it IS right!

  7. Amy Jo | 21st Dec 11

    So excited for you and your family as you embark on these new adventures!! Best of luck to you.

  8. Kathy | 21st Dec 11

    I’m so proud of you guys for being brave. We felt the same way leaving Seattle. It had become our home where we raised two babies and where David and I had started our careers. Our friends treated us like family. But we moved, and now I can’t imagine not knowing the friends we’ve made here the last ten years. When I send out Christmas cards and I see the names of friends from our multiple “hometowns”, I feel so happy and lucky.

    It was very scary, up until the stuff was out of the house. Then I realized it was my family together doing this adventure. I also realized that Seattle wasn’t going anywhere and if it turned out to be a mistake, we could turn around and move back. That made it seem doable for me.

    Have a wonderful time! We love you! K,D,E,M and J

  9. Megan | 23rd Dec 11

    Your blog comes at a very relatable time as Jake & I just made this decision as well. We’ve always loved South Carolina and have wanted to get out of Ohio, so we made the crazy decision to do so. There are so many things you said that show exactly how we feel. You said, “But I am more scared of staying put for the rest of my life. I want to challenge myself to try something new.” This shows how we feel 100%. The Carolinas are amazing and I’m so excited for you, Andy, and your kids. Enjoy every new moment & keep blogging. Good luck in your next big adventure!

  10. Karenr | 23rd Dec 11

    so excited for you!! Shaking things up – although chaotic- can also be such fun!

    Give those kiddos a hug from us – keep us posted if there is a last chance opportunity to see you before the big move and we will try and get there – maybe this time it will work!!

    xoxo

  11. Cathy Bray | 10th Jan 12

    I am thrilled you are moving to NC! I live in Winston Salem and have followed your blog for almost a year! I love your products, creativity, and realness for life. I have threee kids…a little older but still the same issues. Good luck on your adventure!

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