Me and some guy in downtown Seattle
Did you know that I’m from Seattle? I know I’ve talked about it before, but it’s been awhile. For those of you who know the area, I was born in Bellevue and then moved to Woodinville. My dad worked for UPS, so we transferred to CT and KY – but I came back for college and graduated from the University of Washington. My parents moved to Georgia, so then I came to Atlanta. And that’s where I am.
And there has hardly been a day that’s gone by that I haven’t wanted to go home. It sounds dramatic, but it’s true. It’s not that I haven’t been happy, or that I haven’t tried to make my life in Atlanta. I have. I’ve never forgotten where I’m from though.
About two years ago, my parents moved back to Seattle, and then three of my four brothers did. It took a lot for my parents to move back, and they really did it because of me – because I told them long ago that I would eventually be there. So many things happened that delayed the process, like getting my MBA, jobs and a boyfriend.
I think over the last year of my life there have been a lot of signals that it’s time to go home. I told you before that my job went down the toilet, and now I’m working as a freelancer. So I’m taking a leap . . . a big one . . . and I’m scared. At 35, it’s not as easy to make changes as it was at 25. There’s also the matter of my relationship as well. I love my boyfriend, but he’s staying behind for now.
That’s my big news! I’m so glad to have gotten it off of my chest. You’ll definitely hear more from me as I take this journey. What is the next big leap in your life? Anything exciting?
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Blogger who loves the color blue and sock monkeys. You can find me in public easily— I'm wearing glasses and lots of stripes.
I love your blog and I’m so excited to hear you are moving back to Seattle! I was born and raised in the Seattle area, moved to Arizona and now I’m back in the NW with my little family. I live just 10 minutes from Woodinville! Can’t wait to have another blogger in the area. Safe travels.
welcome back to the evergreen city! I’m a born & raised seattleite and actually grew up in the woodinville area too! the green tress miss you.
I’m also from Seattle! Love it and miss it. I had to move to the Tri-cities (WA) for my job, but I can’t wait for the day I can move back!
Good Luck on your new adventure Amy! You will rock it! And I’m excited you’ll be a west coaster again!
Amy,that’s awesome! I transplanted here a couple of years ago. We moved right into the middle of the city — a huge change from our Norman Rockwell-like Colorado town. We love it here, and split our time between our condo (which we are renovating), and our beach house (which we are also renovating). We need to do a PNW Blogger retreat at the beach house this year! Any takers?
you go girl!!! i think you are going to do big things when you get there! you are never too old {or should i say young} to follow your heart!
What a big step to take. I don’t know why, but I thought you worked for Mod Podge. They certainly should pay you for the amount of coverage you give them.
Instead of moving back home, I am doing the opposite — moving out of the house I’ve lived in my entire life. No, I don’t still live with my parents (I’m over 50), but there was a lot of going to graduate school and then taking care of my parents through different terminal illnesses. It is a scary proposition to leave the comfort of my safe haven, but rheumatoid arthritis has made the stairs impossible.
So maybe I can borrow some of your bravery as I try to sort through 3 generations worth of stuff and then decide what kind of a place I want to move into.
Good luck. I will be thinking of you
Kia
I took the leap at 48, and moved to Seattle, leaving my entire live behind in NYC… Have not regretted it for a moment. Let your instincts be your guide. This door has opened for a reason and you will discover it. As the saying goes, do one thing every day that scares you. Best wishes!
Welcome back! Seattle is seriously the best place on earth
I was a Navy brat, so we moved a lot. We lived in Western Washington more than anywhere else when I was growing up and didn’t leave again once we moved back from Hawaii when I was thirteen. I left when I was twenty-one, but my family still lives in Kent. I didn’t get to go back to visit often in my previous life except for the six months I was there in 2010, that is. It’s weird how it’s my hometown but not where I want to live. Mom says I got the gypsy blood in the family, whatever that means.
More than to tell you my Seattle connection, I wanted to wish you luck even though I don’t think you’ll need it.
Take that step Amy, you are still young and have lots ahead of you! I’m 52, diagnosed with breast cancer at 29. Because of the need for insurance I let a lot of years go by, working to make a living, but mostly for the insurance. Sometimes practicality gets in life’s way. Do things while you can because your life can change in a blink. I have been without a job for over 15 months now, never thought I’d be here at this age. I’ve always imagined being able to be my own boss, do what I love, etc. This isn’t exactly HOW I pictured it happening but I’m trying to work at my craft and letting God take care of the details. I hope you don’t take this as depressing or a downer, because it was meant as encouragement. Sometimes what we really want or dream of gets delivered to us in a way we had not imagined, but I’m going for it and having faith enough that the Lord’s hand is there to catch me with every leap!
So happy that you are taking a leap. I just moved from Chicago to London to be with my boyfriend..I know it can be scary but everything happens for a reason and I am sure that things will work out! Enjoy being back home.
I’m taking a big leap this fall! Once I get my son settled into his first year of college, I will be quitting my job. My fiance is a crane operator and we will be traveling wherever the job takes us. It is very scary to leave the safety of my job, but I’m looking forward to the adventure!
That’s so exciting! Good luck!
I was active duty Air Force for 20 years and retired in 2005. Our youngest graduated from high school in 2006 and moved out. So I quickly became lost. Who was I? I was no longer a military member when I had spent my youth. I was no longer a full-time mom. And I didn’t want to do admin anymore (my job in the service). After 3 long years of soul searching and praying, I went back to school for my BA in Environmental Studies. I am so happy. Every day I wake up happy and ready to take on the day. Even if I was up all night doing homework.
Doubt and fear can prevent us from moving forward. But I have learned that once you move forward, it’s not as scary as you imagined it to be. You will do great in Seattle. I have no doubt. And BTW, I live in Yelm, 1 hour south of Seattle.
Congratulations on making a big leap. It sounds like it’s definitely a good move for you, literally and figuratively. Hopefully more things start falling in place- getting yourself into a location where you feel like you should be is definitely a great way to get it started.
Best wishes!!
Amy – Wow! Dont read a post and I am out of the loop. This last week has been a doozie for me as well personally and I havent read your last couple posts…
Congrats on making the decision to move back to a place that you call home. Your closer to Oregon and maybe we can make that meeting work in 2012!
Yes, after working for an attorney for 13 years I took the leap 2 years ago when friends offered me a job in a completely different industry. The first year was extremely difficult and I had co-worker that made it that much more challenging. Since then the co-worker is no longer with the company and everything in our office has taken on a new attitude and we are pushing forward with new technology and things are better.
Besides my new employment my husband got injured on the job that he had worked at for 18 years – it was a county job and like one of the comments above, had wonderful bene’s, pay and though it was an extremely stressful position for him with upper management changes he planned on retiring there. That all changed when he got injured. My job change was a God-send since I had the only steady pay for almost a year before Workers Comp paid us his lost wages. Last year was our most difficult. Having our income reduced in half we had an extremely difficult financial strain not to mention the fact that my husband was and still is in pain 24/7. His injury is non-operable. We almost lost our house – saving it from foreclosure.
Today my husband is going to be trained as a volunteer and for the first time in 2 years he’ll be in a position to see if he can “make it” in the job world.
We know scary – we will both be 45 this year and if anyone had told us that we would both be starting over after 40 we would have ran the other way but God ultimately has had a plan for us and he has one for you too.
Please know that you are such an inspiration for all your readers, friends, family and those that you work with. You will land on your feet – it just might be in a totally different position and place than you had originally expected. Your blog was the first one I began following years ago and it has remained one of the only ones that is relevant enough for me to continue to do so. With that said – you have a talent and a gift and I so appreciate your honesty and willingness to be transparent. That is what draws people to you and your peppy, fresh take on life. My prayers are with you friend. Sorry for the long post but have been wanting to share this with you for some time and the opportunity presented itself. Much luck Amy – Elaine :0)
Welcome back home! I live just a smidge north of Seattle.
COngrats on the big move!!!!! I LOVE moving! It is scary, but I love the starting over feeling of being able to take the new freedom and go somewhere to another adventure! Just love it!
I’ve never been to Seattle, but those that have love it there, as you well know!
My “big move” this year is really trying to sell my art online and then later this summer, sell it locally. And then restarting my LMT career, started a new job and have to start all over again finding clients and retaining them! I’m feeling positive tho!
http://pearspalette.etsy.com
Glad that you have made the decision, hopefully your boyfriend will move too, but that will happen if it is meant to be. We will be in Washington state all summer to get away from the TX heat, never been there. Going to have a family reunion at the Twilight Treetop house in Port Angeles the fourth of July week. Take care, drive carefully and good luch with your new old haunts!!
janet
We will miss you in Atlanta:(
~Follower your heart.
Congrats on your big decision! Seattle is a wonderful city for artists and crafters! We have many great friends there and my sister and her family and my brother’s family live there as well. And best of all, you are just a short (3 day) ferry ride from Juneau! Come up and visit me – maybe I can arrange a workshop or something…
Good Luck with your Leap Amy!
Home is where the Heart is! Good Luck!
I hope everything works out for you. It has to be scary for sure, but you can do this
Wow! You should be so proud of yourself! I moved to Ohio about 10 years ago for work, and I have to say I don’t think I have been really, truly, happy here one single day. I can’t place my finger on it except to say it just doesn’t feel like home. I have a list of places I always thought sounded cool, and every vacation I pick one to go to to see if I could live there. Seattle’s on the list … maybe I should bump it up to the top!
Wowee! That is a big leap – but I have all the confidence in the world that it will work out positively.
Be well.
Welcome back to the beautiful Pacific NW! A friend sent me this quote at a time I really needed it. It inspired me and might do the same for you: Courage is simply the willingness to be afraid and act anyway. [Robert Anthony]