Four years ago today, I loaded my car with all of my belongings (that I hadn’t given away) with my sister as my copilot to begin my journey from the desert heat to once again become an East Coaster. I was born in Seattle, so I guess inherently I will always be somewhat of a West Coast gal, but having spent half my life (my childhood) in Virginia – it felt a little bit like coming home. For probably the first year or two though, I referred to Arizona as home. I’m not exactly sure when the ocean became home and the desert became somewhere I used to live but it has. I have told many people, now after living exactly 1.2 miles from our driveway to being parked front row at the ocean – I don’t know if I could live far from it again. This desert transplant has acclimated quite nicely and my toes feel firmly planted in the sand.
Soon though, Zack and I will be starting another chapter of our life together. He has received orders to Connecticut, and we will be moving up there this fall. When I moved to Virginia Beach, it was my choice and I was so excited. I was a little nervous, and sad to be leaving behind almost everyone I knew to go to a place where I basically knew about 2 people. But more than anything I was excited. It’s scarier when the decision is made for you. Part of being in the military, or being married to someone in the military is forfeiting your choice to live where you decide. Yes we can say where we want to live, but ultimately the decision is made by the government and there is very little that can be done about it.
I have been to Connecticut quite a few times in my life. I have memories from when I was a very small child of being at my great grandmother’s house in Niantic. Mostly, we are sad about having to leave our home, and all of our friends to go somewhere where we didn’t choose to be. However, the adventurer in me is excited. Excited to experience a new place, a different kind of coast, adventure, explore and make new friends and memories with my love. I know we will be coming back to visit often, and I still plan on booking weddings and sessions in Virginia on a limited basis starting 2015.
So, to all the Connecticut folk – lookout, the Maxeys are coming. We’d love to meet you 🙂
Some photos we took on what my sister called “The Great American Roadtrip”
