“What’s wrong?”
That’s been the response I’ve received, from many people in Denver, when I’ve broken the news that I’m leaving. Because Colorado is filled with transplants that have settled here for the 300+ days of sun and the endless recreation opportunities, it’s a fair question to ask. However, what if the question were flipped on its head? What if Denver folks instead asked, “What’s right?”
Because, the truth is that it’s the right time for a new adventure. Here’s why …
Like a good improv scene, life in Denver has organically wrapped up. It’s time to edit the existing scene and begin a new one – in a new location. I’ve done everything I set out to do in Denver. Is there more that I could do? Of course! There are endless possibilities in any large city. However, because I’m not currently entrenched in local projects and relationships, because I have no commitments along the Front Range, I can step away and find my own – new – adventure that excites my husband as well.
A big “yes!” to St. Augustine!
So where does this new adventure lie? At the beach. Last winter, when I was recovering from foot surgery, I reflected back on my happiest moments of 2014. Almost all of them were on the coast. I asked my husband for clarity around our casual conversations about “someday” living on the coast. What did “someday” mean? With no personal or professional commitments in Denver, and a strong real estate market to minimize our worries about selling the house, we decided it was the right time to explore the possibilities.
I researched coastal communities with affordable housing close to the beach that are also home to vibrant art scenes. We sought after towns that would keep us engaged 12 months a year – not just during high season. We finally decided to visit Humboldt County in Northern California, the northern Oregon Coast and St. Augustine, Florida – America’s oldest city.
Only in St. Augustine did we experience serendipity, so we pursued it with intentional curiosity. Our casual pursuit turned into a thoughtful decision to purchase a brand new little cottage only a short walk from the beach. So, this week, my husband trades in his snowboard for a surfboard as we head 1,700 miles east to our own little beach house in a town that just celebrated its 450th birthday.
Our small, but mighty, new beach house, in the Vilano Beach neighborhood of St. Augustine.
And that’s it. Nothing is wrong. Everything is right. The timing is right. The logistics are right. The opportunity is right. But, what’s really right is our desire to shake up the status quo in the pursuit of a coastal adventure.
So the next time you get word about someone heading out on a new adventure, be sure to ask, “What’s right?” The right mindset with the right circumstances with the right amount of curiosity can lead to a whole new life adventure.
