Well, I’ve got some big news to share: Keegan and I are leaving San Diego. But before I get into the when and where we’re going next, let’s rewind to what brought us here in the first place.

We’ve been asked a lot, “Why did you move to San Diego?” The choice was relatively simple. Ever since we met in college, we both felt a pull to the west coast. After getting married, we spent two years saving and planning, and finally made the move in October 2019.

loading our POD to move to SD in Oct 2019

While I had never lived more than two hours away from my family and hometown, I was so excited for the next chapter of our lives. It was hard to leave my comfort zone, but I never second guessed that it was the right move for us. And I was right. San Diego has been the most incredible gift and adventure.

We endured isolation during the 2020 pandemic in a 700 sq ft loft not four months after we made the move, and I still remember feeling grateful for being able to go outside and enjoy sunshine every day. I even learned to surf and longboard! While it made meeting and connecting with people more challenging, we still felt sure we were where we were meant to be.

As challenges and change came unexpectedly in 2021 with the loss of my grandmother (Vovo), the weather, the beaches, the sunsets and the ease of life here in San Diego were soothing to my grieving soul. In 2021, my whole family came to visit San Diego to celebrate what would have been Vovo’s 81st birthday, and it was truly a gift to have some of my favorite people in my favorite place.

I began building a community here thanks to Bumble BFF and CrossFit OB. I challenged myself to complete a Tough Mudder. I discovered my favorite activities; like thrifting for vases and art at Consignment Classics and hiking at Torrey Pines. I found my favorite vegan/gf pizza place, Alfredo’s and my favorite turmeric latte and banana oat muffin at Parakeet Cafe. I enjoyed picnics with friends at Kate Sessions and Balboa Park. I learned to paint. I got to explore the joys of my inner child, and became more me than I’ve ever been.

California is superior in so many ways: outdoor malls? Yes please. Dogs allowed everywhere? Love it. Beach days in February? Nothing could beat it. We fell in love with the desert and have luckily been able to visit Joshua Tree with friends and by ourselves at least twice a year. We went snowboarding for the first time in Mammoth and although it was mostly a failure, I hope we never stop doing things for the first time; especially if they scare us (me). :)

I made countless trips to LA for work and for fun. We visited SLO for a wedding of our dear friends. We went to Palm Springs and Santa Barbara with Keegan’s parents. From the beaches to the snowy mountains to the vast desert, California is and will always be one of my most cherished places on earth.

As the years passed we saw friends move away, we created a new community in Kensington, found a new gym home at The Yard and settled into our work from home lifestyle. We continued to meet new people and host Christmas brunches and birthday parties. The people here never cease to amaze me with how calm and kind they are. I never thought we’d have another home than San Diego.

Then, after visiting family in Nashville in the summer of 2024, coming back to San Diego suddenly and unexpectedly didn’t feel like home. It was one of those overwhelming feelings that stopped me in my tracks and turned my world upside down. I sat with the feeling for some time before sharing with Keegan what was on my heart: something was pulling me back to Nashville, back to my family.

It reminded me of the only other time I felt this strange and unexplainable pull; when I decided not to go back to UT Knoxville for my sophomore year of college a week before I was supposed to move in. It was sudden, it caught me off guard, but I followed my gut, transferred to Belmont and met who would become my husband a year later.

I’ve thought a lot about this situation in making what’s been a truly heartbreaking decision. In the last five+ years, I’ve been able to fully focus on myself; learn what makes me happy, what I love doing, my unique needs and gifts. I’ve learned how to care for myself and put myself first. I’ve honed in on my inner voice, and gotten to really know and love myself. I bet on myself and have had my own freelancing business for over three years. I’ve grown so much as a person, and I owe a lot of it for the space and support I’ve felt here.

San Diego has brought me home to myself. It’s allowed me to become the most authentic version of myself. It’s given me clarity and confidence, and I am not the same person I was when I moved here. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about maintaining my identity when I go back to a place that represents a different part of me.

But as confusing and difficult as this decision to move has been, I know that listening to my gut will always lead me to where I am meant to be – even if I don’t know how or why just yet.

In some ways, it’s been hard to not feel like this move means I failed. I couldn’t handle being away from family. I didn’t achieve my financial goals in order to travel to see loved ones as much as I wanted. I didn’t cultivate a big enough community. While I can hold space for those fears and emotions, I know deep down that this decision isn’t being made from a place of lack. We’re choosing to go somewhere that will set us up for a brighter future. A future filled with family, financial freedom, opportunities to travel and honestly, less stress.

Of course, I will miss everything about California and everyone I’ve come to love here. In my heart of hearts, I feel like it’s more “see you later” than “goodbye.” A huge piece of my heart will always be here, and I do see myself raising kids in California one day. All I know is that right now, I’m excited to see my cousins’ children be born and grow, and be closer to some of my closest friends and family again.

Change is always scary, and there’s so much uncertainty ahead for us in 2025. I feel like this next chapter is an opportunity for me to practice all the tools I’ve learned in my own growth journey the past few years. I’m trusting in the unknown, surrendering to whatever is meant to be, and having faith that our next steps will bring us closer to achieving our dreams. If you’re in a space of transition or uncertainty, I see you. It’s not easy, but trusting your intuition will always lead you in the right direction.

If you’re in San Diego or SoCal, we’re planning to start driving east the first part of March 2025. I hope to hug you all and say goodbye properly before we head out! Also, we’ll be selling most of our plants and furniture, so if you’re in the market for anything, let me know!

Sending so much love to our San Diego family. Thank you for making this place feel like home. We love you! (Now, who’s visiting us in Nashville?!)