My entire adult life has had one constant… Change. The thing I hate the most, yet the thing most comforting. Change is inevitable, its guaranteed to happen on every level, and I’ve gotten used to it. But I still haven’t figured out how to make it a seamless transition (getting closer I think) .

Anyhow, I’m a mover. Since I was out of school I was gone – moved 2 states away to the north, and then down south, back up to the north west, and zig zag back again. Each move had been the best decision of my life. It is hard constantly having to uproot and meet new people, but it’s also allowed me to open up and put myself out there… It’s enabled me to make relationships with people all over the states. Maybe moving has been my way of being able to travel and see the country, I’ve loved every place I have been and it makes me want to see more! I love the excitement a new place brings, moving isn’t for everyone and some are completely content to stay where they have always lived, but I highly recommend that everyone live someplace new at least once and at least for a year. Or at the very minimum travel! But the more I see the more I realize how much I don’t know, and have yet to see.

Growing up in a town about 45 minutes or so north of Chicago, and spending most of my time in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota I was used to flat lands, corn and cows.

I spent about 2 1/2 years in Minnesota – enjoyed living in an area that was closer to the cities/metro area. Sure Illinois was that way, but Minnesota had extra charm to me. (Forever and always GO HAWKS!) Living in the Midwest always had green trees and fresh water nearby… Always in abundance, and I’ve learned to appreciate that. I moved to Texas in 2011 (I think) and I discovered two more things. I LOVE the heat, and yet I missed the diversity of the seasons, but I knew I could never go back to a Midwest winter if I could help it! (Okay that’d make it three things then)

I met Ben in 2013… we met online in 2011 — someone brought me up to him and we emailed for a short time. But we finally met in person a couple years later and he decided to move to Texas to be closer. Ben also happens to be rather nomadic as well if not more than me. He has been around a few states and even into Canada a few times to live… So we are both used to that lifestyle. We both knew that Texas wasn’t our end point and knowing we wanted to adventure together, we shortly moved up to the Pacific Northwest. And that’s where I fell in love yet again. I love that area, the pines, the mountains, the smells, the hills, the water, the heat and the four seasons!

I didn’t know I would love the mountains, coming from the flatlands… I never did the outdoors hiking, backpacking, camping thing, and never gave it any thought. Sure camping — but always and only in a campground. Ben has definitely been one to get out into nature, and in going out on trips with him, I found something I didn’t know I was missing.

There is something very humbling being in the mountains and nature. My first real backpacking trip was up a mountain, the trail was about 4 1/2 miles and had pretty steep sleek rock at the top. It was the 4th of July and instead of a beautiful mountain top lake (that was promised), we were greeted with snow and frozen ice that was just starting to melt. I was exhausted, freshly quit smoking (the day before), out of breath, pissed off (don’t remember why – probably a nic fit) and threatened violence (with no follow thru of course). I don’t remember how many hours it took but the packs were loaded down to stay for the night. Instead we ate lunch at the top and headed back down the mountain, and it was still amazing. The whole way home (saw my first Moose BTW) I was exhausted and ecstatic that I did it — Sore down to my toenails but worth every ache!

I’d say I’m more of a city girl simply because that’s what and where I’ve usually lived, so it still can be a bit of an adjustment, but I am adjustable… And perfectly capable. It’s not that I want to keep moving and not settle in one place, it’s just the way my life has gone so far, so I may as well embrace and enjoy it. Colorado seems to have a nice mixture of what my ideals are in a place to live so I’m excited for the possibilities! Keeping an open mind to whatever may come my way–  Because something else always comes, as it has to with change. 🙂 My soul will know when it’s found it’s place to set up camp, and will keep looking until its found it.