We moved. From the San Francisco Bay Area to Hartford, CT. This is why my blog has been static for the past three months.
Not that I have not been doing anything. In addition to my freelance work (making money), I have packed, moved and cleaned our house in CA, gone house hunting in CT, and traveled a lot. Oh, and for a month I was doing most of this as a single mom. My husband left to start his new job at the end of February.
This is a big change for me. While I grew up moving every couple of years to places as diverse as St. Croix and Buffalo, my first, on my own adult move was to San Francisco which I fell in love with as a tourist. (Has anyone ever been a tourist in Hartford? Seriously! And especially with kids? All recommendations welcome.) While I left for a few years, my most recent stint in the San Francisco Bay Area has been 12 years. It is tough to leave. I have gone through the five stages of grieving only to encounter setbacks which send me through them again.
Ironically, 13 years ago I lived in the same corporate housing complex we are in now. I turned down a great job with a great company because my memories of Hartford were two meals at the Olive Garden and lots of great trips away from Hartford.
Mirielle testing out winter clothing on a house hunting trip.
I am trying to stay optimistic. There are nice people everywhere and I have been fortunate to meet some of them already. In every city there is a lot to discover and discovery is wonderful and one of the joys of travel. (The internet resources are less developed here than in the Bay Area, so I am going to have to find gems the old fashioned ways). I (intentionally) missed the bulk of winter and now see buds on the trees and I am looking forward to everything waking up/blooming/greening at once. Oh, and I am beginning to think there are more children’s museums per capita in this state than anywhere in the country. As I left my wonderful day care behind in California, I may visit all of them before long.
And the bottom line, our mortgage in a great neighborhood here will be less than our rent in the Bay Area (plus 1000 more square feet which I have mixed feelings about – but ask me again next February.) That translates into a lot more room in the travel budget! I have barely visited New England, airfares to Europe can run as low as $400 RT, and if all else fails I can take advantage of the real estate implosion in Florida and get a pied-a-terre in Miami.
Now off on my first adventure – finding great Souvlaki in the area.
Five reasons you know you toddler is a seasoned traveler | Backpack to Buggy // Apr 7, 2009 at 10:45 am
[...] about ← Welcome to Hartford, CT. [...]
welcome to your new home! i’m sure you will find the best hartford has to offer in no time. and when you do, can we visit? hehehe…
sarah
Five hour flights to Europe sound pretty good to me! Of course, you’ll probably never visit Hawaii again…
Would love to cross-post some of your findings on Travel Savvy Mom (and send you on some hotel reviews now and then).
Stay in touch!
Good to have you back. I know what you mean about moving. I moved so much as a child, across continents as a young child, that I feel very attached to my current home in the Bay Area. I know how hard it would be for me leave it. Anyway good luck with the Souvlaki hunt!
hi there – saw you on BlogHer! Welcome to the area – we are in Tariffville, CT
ps, have you been to the Trolley Musem yet? Or the Trash Museum….we are a flood with children’s museums that is for sure!
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