New Places, New Faces: The Joys & Hassles of Moving

It’s official. Eight years after moving to my current city just outside Washington DC, and five years after moving into this very apartment, which my husband and I have both loved, we're picking up and heading a bit farther out into the suburbs in order to save more money and hopefully make our dream of buying a house come true within the next year or so.

Honestly, had it not been for our original goal of eventually moving back to California, which we’d been discussing throughout the past couple years, we probably would have made this decision a lot sooner. But now, with opportunities on the West Coast simply unable to compete with those available here, we’re excited to feel more settled and focus on buying a home, starting a family and enjoying life in our 30s.

Space Shuttle Discovery flying above our current neighborhood back in April 2012.

As I type this post, we’re right in the middle of packing, scheduling cable and Internet installations, arranging to have our mail forwarded and all of the other joys that come with moving to a new place. But, despite the hassle and the fact that we’ve loved our current location, I’m also very pleased with our soon-to-be new community. What we’re losing in terms of proximity to the city, we’re gaining in terms of a quieter and more serene wooded neighborhood, an apartment with a fireplace, outdoor space for grilling, growing plants and sitting out during the warmer months, easy access to great restaurants and shops, and more.

I certainly hope time will demonstrate that we’ve made the best decision for our future and that we’ll be as happy in our new place as we have been in the one we're leaving behind.