After high school I vowed to move out of my small hometown, so I did. For many years I have been chasing a dream, a dream to have more, be more educated, and to be happy. Marriage and career came after college, kids and a MBA a short time later. All pieces that come together to realize that dream. It has been years since I lived in my hometown but the last year has given us pause and a chance to downsize life by moving “home”.
Throughout the years, we have moved towns, built houses, upsized, downsized, changed jobs, I became a stay at home mom and thanks to COVID-19, became my kids lifeline for all things school. We have done everything but move to a smaller community, which is where both my husband and I grew up and where our families still live.
As with many people, the last year has drastically changed priorities for my husband and I. In two weeks, it will have been a year since we have been able to spend time with his family. Every birthday, every holiday for a year celebrated with a video call. A year since my boys have been able to hug their Nana and Papa. Ninety miles separate our homes, an easy day trip. I know this is a choice many people have made, one made to protect those we love, and our communities.
The landscape of jobs has also changed over the last year. As with many, work and school shifted to remote environments. We were lucky enough to absorb the difficulties of all being home full time in our brand new nicely almost 4,000 finished square foot home in the suburbs. Spreading out, taking calls un-interrupted, and finding time to ourselves within our home was relatively simple. We were able to continue to be able to hike in the woods, run outdoors, and workout in our home gym. My husbands job is now permanently work from home. All of these changes gave us the time to stop, talk, and change course.
Over about the last 6 months we have taken the time to reflect on how we want to live and what we want for our children. We re-evaluated where we were at; physically, mentally and emotionally. We discussed where we saw our future, and more importantly our kids’ future. Many evenings sipping wine, family always came up. Time with family grew to the top of what we were missing the most. Not just seeing them on holidays but the birthdays party’s and the random grill outs. The swimming in the lake and tubing with cousins. We want to let our kids ride bikes to the local ice cream store, or know most people in their graduating class. All things we both grew up with.
So we moved. We moved to the town I said I would never live in again. We chose family, quiet, less conveniences, less options for restaurants, and a less superior school district. This move is one with far more impact than just the four of us moving to a new house.
This move means seeing cousins everyday at school and riding bikes to friends houses. The boys will get to fish most days from the dock, I will get to see my mom more frequently. We are also in a location that is much easier to drive to for my in-laws, easier to meet half way for lunch. Yes, we will miss our friends greatly, but we are still less than a two hour drive from them. Plenty close to see each other possible more than we have in the last year!
Change is hard, but good. A change doesn’t signify failure but rather gives you the opportunity to grow, learn, and adjust expectations for the future. I am excited for this change, our family is excited for this change. Cheers to new adventures in 2021!