Ch-ch-ch-anges

I honestly don’t know where to start this post. So, I’ll just write and see what happens. Over the years, I’ve written several times about moving a lot and living with one foot out the door. I used to have conversations about it with my friend Jeri, who reads this blog sometimes. When we lived in California, she and I admitted that we had a hard time hanging artwork. Her reasons were a little different, but mine was that I was always certain we would be moving soon, and it felt like too much of a commitment. Silly, I know.

I kept the closets clean, the house decluttered, and the suitcases on standby for fifteen years. Then, when Andy got the job here in New York, I was like, See? I knew it would happen! I’m glad I stayed ready. But I wasn’t really. I wasted so much time not feeling truly settled.

When we finally arrived in New York, everything was different–really different–piles of snow different.

I quickly realized that we would have to go all-in as soon as possible to survive and thrive here. I joined a running group that prided itself in running in the worst weather. Isicles on beards and eyelashes were worn with pride. We bought BHH, and I decided to use my DIY knowledge and education to write this blog and record the True Tales From Old Houses podcast. Long winters gave way to short, perfect summers full of exterior maintenance but also trips to NYC, the Adirondacks, and Canada, back when they would have us. Fall brought out the best and worst in stalwart Buffalo Bills fans, but there was always an undercurrent of hope. In short, I settled. I hung the artwork and got cozy.

Anyway, this post is going nowhere and everywhere. So, I’ll get to the point. Despite having zero plans to leave even eight weeks ago, the universe felt otherwise. Andy has accepted a job in Salt Lake City. He starts in January 2022. I know you have questions, and honestly, I probably have more. I do have a few answers, though.

What does this mean for our family and BHH? For now, I am staying behind with some of our kids. As you all know, BHH is a little lot torn up at the moment. We’re nowhere close to listing it. I’m committed to doing the work right, not necessarily fast. Knowing that we will list it much sooner than expected is a good kick in the pants, but I haven’t put a timeline on that just yet. We will figure everything out as we go along. Andy and I have a solid marriage, and he has always traveled a lot for work. With all of our kids nearly grown, it is very easy to be flexible.

The podcast is portable, and it will not change. Its popularity has skyrocketed this year as all of my plans are starting to come to fruition. Travel is a big part of that. Also, I’ve been enjoying exploring old house real estate in the Salt Lake City area. Many readers and followers only know what I’ve shared on this blog since 2014. However, I lived most of my life out west. The mountains are calling, and I look forward to having them in my life again. Finally, old house life out west is significantly underrepresented, and I am excited to be a part of it. Perhaps I can be an agent of change.

My friend John Rodgers joked that BHH would cost a fortune to move. If only that were a possibility. We always knew this house would be too big for us someday, but someday just came sooner than we thought it would.