From Coast to Coast... A Cross Country Move

Four years ago I was desperately seeking a change. At the time, I wasn’t fully sure what that change was. I knew my soul was not happy where I was. While I loved the people in my life, I just didn’t feel “home”. I was searching for more. What began as feeling unsettled soon turned into a burning passion to make the change I felt I was so desperately looking for. And that’s when it started. Like an artist with a blank canvas, I went to work. I began journaling my thoughts, wishes, and desires. I determined what I wanted… what things made me happy. I knew I wanted to live near water, but without the weather (which, basically ruled out all of the east coast). I knew I wanted to live in an area that was dog friendly. I thought back to our trips to Wildwood where we managed to find one dog friendly hotel, one dog friendly restaurant, and one block of a dog friendly beach… and I knew THAT’S what I wanted. I googled “top dog friendly cities in the country” and literally went to work ruling them out, or leaving them as a possibility.

And then I found San Diego. I had never been to California, and understood that I was now looking at moving across the country. But, as I continued to research, I learned that it began to meet each and every thing I was looking for. My research turned into an obsession, and it’s literally all I did outside of work. I told very few people in this early stage, all of which thought I was crazy. In May of 2016 I took a solo trip and spent a week here. I told nearly everyone that I was taking a vacation. And while it was a vacation, it was also me determining if in fact I could see myself living here. During that week I had a fair mix of sight seeing and vacations, but also met with a realtor, looked at housing options, and went on several job interviews. I’ll never forget, on my last full day here, taking a whale watching tour with Adventure Rib Rides, a three hour tour in the Pacific. We were about half way through the tour and hadn’t yet seen any wildlife, when I distinctly remember looking up to the sky and saying “God, please help me, give me a sign as if I’m making the right decision to move here”. Less than minutes later our boat was surrounded by hundred’s of dolphins that swam and played around the boat. I was in absolute awe, and knew, that this was where I was going to call home.

Most people, by the time I went public with my decision, thought I was insane and moving impulsively. No one knew the time and thought I put into that decision. All while doing my research and dreaming big in my journal, I was also putting in the leg work. Applying to jobs, looking for housing, meeting with a realtor, figuring out the best time to put my house on the market, making upgrades to help sell it, and starting to sell some of my belongings. I researched and exhausted every detail of every option; hiring a moving company, moving all of my furniture, selling everything and buying new, renting a pod, the route I’d drive. All of it. San Diego became top of my list in March 2016, visiting in May confirmed it, and I officially made the cross country move in September of 2016.

It’s not easy moving across the country. I could write an entire series on everything it entails and all of the different options one has. Perhaps one day I will. It’s also not easy being so far from home. I’d be lying if I said the last four years have been easy. I miss my friends and family tremendously. It stinks to miss out on major life milestones, like the birth of my niece. And choosing to move so far away does not mean that I love any less those from at home. Quite the opposite. Moving also does not just erase the difficulties we encounter in life. All of my struggles that existed when I lived in Pennsylvania still exist living here in California. Yes, I live at the beach, but I still struggle with depression, anxiety and loneliness. That doesn’t go away. But, for us, what did happen was a breath of fresh air. Bluebelle got to be a dog and was socialized far better here then ever in Pennsylvania. She made friends, got exposed and lets face it, she’s one hundred percent living her best life here in San Diego. How can she not- she get’s to go out to eat and order from a doggie menu and spends her weekends chilling on a paddle board!. I’ve always been independent, but have learned a new sense of the meaning since moving here, something that I’d never take back! I’ve learned to appreciate my own company, and not let being alone stop me from doing the things that I love. Let me tell you, that’s huge for a people-pleasing enneagram two! While we will always miss our friends and family back home, and are incredibly grateful for all the support and love we’ve received, we also love calling San Diego our home.

Here’s a look back at some of our friends and favorite memories over the last four years. We’d be remiss not to mention some of our favorite dog friendly businesses here in San Diego that has made a huge impact on our lives! The Sup Connection for all your dog friendly rentals and Sup Pups for teaching us the love of stand up paddle boarding; our holistic vet Integrative Veterinary Care for all of the love, care and support provided to us both; and our amazing dog walker at San Diego Trail Dogs who beautifully blossomed Blue into the socialized dog she is and diminished my fears that “she isn’t a pack dog”. Life wouldn’t be the same here without any of these businesses!