In the late 2000s I kept a personal mom blog called Nest Bliss. I reviewed books, wrote about the house and the girls, and was even in the Wall Street Journal. These posts are from then: light, young, a mom in her late twenties. I have edited them to stand on their own.
First, my family is moving in 12 days to the Atlanta, Georgia area. About seven hours from where I live now and quite a big change for me since I have always lived in some part of Florida. I am excited and nervous which are refreshing feelings!
(Photo - Dec 2010 she has been smiling since 5 weeks old but this is the closest photo I have to a smile. It was quite a big risk.
I didn't even have jobs when I moved and I both had some college to finish. It was so much fun though.
Everything was new and different and the 'doors' were wide open. I had no debt, only one car, could live on very little money and had no expectations about the 'level' of home, cars, clothing etc.
My first apartment was somewhere around 700 square feet and the rent was $500 a month.
(photo - Dec. 2010 at the Georgia Aquarium) Fast forward seven years and I have a house, cars, bills, lots of stuff, careers, and my least favorite a "lifestyle." I am both turning thirty in a few months and well feeling a little 'old' and tied down for people who are STILL in thier late 20's.
My girls are still little and now is the perfect time, before they are in school, to experiment and try something new. Moving to Atlanta is giant leap #1.
I will be renting and working on simplifying, all with the goal of keeping the doors of life open. I don't know when I will start looking for a job again.
I admit that I have been pretty spoiled by a great boss and lots of creative freedom and that will be hard to replace. No matter what though I am moving to a big city with lots of options, lots of people to meet and lots of new ideas and opportunities.
(photo - Thanksgiving Day 2010) So cheers to 2011 and to turning 30 and to be unemployed for a little while (something I haven't been since I was 15 years old)! p.s. In other news it is "the coldest winter in Atlanta in 100 years"... p.s.s. I don't own one single sweater.