We’ve been keeping a secret, and it’s a big one. We are moving to Chicago! I’ve been so nervous to share this news even though we made the decision at the end of last year. This move is so bittersweet because we have LOVED living in Seattle the past two years. The Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful areas in the U.S., and it’s been such a joy being surrounded by it everyday. However, as some of you may know, the past year was one of the most transformative seasons of my life due to some scary health issues. It had me contemplating some things and wanting to live closer to family.
Although it may seem sudden, this is not out of the blue. We’ve traveled to Chicago several times over the last few years and always enjoy the city SO MUCH. When we were first thinking about moving away from Kansas City a few years ago, we narrowed our potential new cities down to Seattle or Chicago. We ultimately went with Seattle because we wanted to go camping and hiking and the opportunities for outdoor adventures are really unmatched here. But as we stayed here longer and struggled with seemingly endless health setbacks, we really felt the distance from home. And while Chicago is still not Kansas City, it will be MUCH easier to get there.
In more news, we BOUGHT A HOUSE! We knew that we wanted to settle down and plant some roots after this move to give the kids some stability so we started looking for a house in Chicago after the first of the year. We actually put an offer on a house in Chicago without even seeing it in person. I know, crazy, right? After our offer was accepted, I took a (secret) trip to Chicago in March for the inspection, and the house was even better in person. I can’t wait to make this 1920’s house our home. For those of you who are familiar with the area, we are moving to a close-in suburb called Oak Park. I know some of you may give me crap that the suburbs are not Chicago, but this one’s pretty close and has very city like vibes. We would have loved to live in the city, but we wanted a backyard and some space for our family to stay when they visit.
We are officially hitting the road in the middle of June to make our journey to Chicago (with our cat, Prue, in tow!) Our kids are finishing up school here in Seattle which ends in a few weeks. One little hiccup was that we couldn’t extend our lease on our rental home in Seattle so we are moving into an Airbnb for the remainder of our time here. The past few weeks have been filled with packing and getting ready to put all our belongings in storage for a month which is why I’ve been a little quiet on social media.
We are going to miss all the wonderful people we’ve met here in Seattle. Some people talk about the Seattle freeze, but I’ve found the community here, especially the community in West Seattle, to be so welcoming, kind, and inclusive. We will always think of our time here fondly and hope to be back to visit every so often.
Looking forward, we are so excited for this next adventure! Every time we’ve visited Chicago, I knew it was a special place for us.
Thanks for always being so supportive of our family and this little blog of mine. And for those of you who need more ideas for dressing for extreme weather, I’ve got you!
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”
helen Keller
