Mile High News Alert – The Averys are Moving!
it’s true – we are moving to the mile high city of denver, colorado! although we absolutely love portland, it is time to be closer to family. this wasn’t a super straight forward or easy decision to make and has involved lots of tears but ultimately it is the right move for us at this time in our lives. plus, the next 15 days show constant rain here in portland so bring on the sunny days, even if it’s negative 2 out in colorado!
heck, we left portland for 6 months and moved to texas/traveled to 50 cities when we first started our business in 2013 and then came back so who knows. for now though, we know it’s the right move. the past 7 years in portland have been such an important part of our lives.
i am originally from colorado so a piece of my heart has always been there. it’s where my husband and i fell in love and we are excited to explore a gorgeous state as slightly more grown-up. i say slightly because the frequency we still eat cereal for dinner during the week hasn’t changed much from college.
plus, i haven’t lived near denver since i was 18 so it’s basically a brand new city, full of adventures to see and delicious food to eat.
my soulfriend lindsey sent me the colorado hat last year for my birthday (it’s already birthday month again – YAY) and her sister made it! you are in luck – she has an etsy shop and can make one for you or the little humans in your life!
because we are who we are, we put together a pro/con list before we made the final decision (this has been being talked about for a while and was 97% decided in october). here is a snapshot of the pros and cons of moving to colorado:
pros:
- denver is an awesome city with lots to do in the city and in nature
- closer to family
- family can help with our future children more than friends might be willing to
- lots of sunshine! 300+ days to be exact!
- closer to ravery’s parents, as opposed to opposite coasts
- the projected earthquake won’t swallow us
- more centrally located to work in different states
- much larger airport so less connections and more direct flights
- nothing is permanent so we are dreaming big to eventually have a home in both cities!
- it’s a new adventure!
cons:
- chelsea has a closer attachment to CO because that’s where she’s from
- portland is our city – we grew through our 20s together and it’s hard to leave
- we are leaving some very special friends
- the housing market is insanely high and competitive right now but doesn’t offer the same cute neighborhoods as portland
- while we know people in colorado, we have changed so much and our lives look different -we may not necessarily want to spend time with people from our past and that’s awkward (may sound harsh, but it is honest)
- we have to move our business/create a new one
- no longer living on the river in our pretty perfect apartment
the timeline is soon as our lease is up at the end of february. we are in the midst of looking for a place we would like in denver. we would rent downtown but with rents so high there, my stepdad is helping us explore options of potentially buying a house.
yeah, it’s wild and crazy but for some reason i don’t have as much anxiety as i expected. i know things will work out and fall into place. i know portland will always hold a deep part of our souls and we will back often.
really, as long as i have this guy by my side, i am as happy as this otter was to climb him like a tree. (more photos of playing with animals can be found here, including a lemur courting me).
cheers to new adventures, making decisions even when they are tough and to focusing less on the anxiety of change and more on the excitement of a new adventure!
thank you to all of our wonderful friends in portland who we have laughed/drank/ate/adventured with through the pacific northwest! come visit us in the mile-high city!
Lauren
January 13, 2016 at 9:14 am
Good luck on your move!
And oh my gosh, I am DYING of that picture with the otter. That is so cute, and I’m kinda jealous! I want an otter on my shoulder!
xx Lauren
chelsea
January 13, 2016 at 11:23 am
thanks lauren!!! hah isn’t that the cutest?! i just linked to where we were for more photos but it’s about an hour outside of vegas!
Kate
January 13, 2016 at 9:21 am
So is it bad that as soon as I read your blog post title, I immediately thought, “oh good, I won’t have to worry about chelsea/avery/sugar when the earthquake/tsunami hits.” But honestly, this sounds like an exciting new adventure! I really want to move back to where I grew up, near the TN border, and we are hoping to make that happen sometime this year.
Kate recently posted…Wanderlust Wednesday: The Outer Banks
chelsea
January 13, 2016 at 11:24 am
bahaha i love that! i had a massive panic attack after learning about how it is GOING to happen (not IF) so it really was on our pro list 🙂
i hope you get to make that move happen to be closer to where you grew up too kate!
Elyse
January 13, 2016 at 9:36 am
That is so exciting! I’m sure your family will love to have you closer.
Elyse recently posted…What Does 29 Look Like?
chelsea
January 13, 2016 at 11:24 am
yay thanks elyse! plus…colorado is closer to toronto so….
Ashley
January 13, 2016 at 9:41 am
Ah! SO EXCITING! YAY for more sunny days! Also I have a friend in Denver so if I ever make a trip out there, I will definitely have to let you know and try to meet up! 🙂 Enjoy your time in Portland and do lots of fun things until the end of February!!!
chelsea
January 13, 2016 at 11:25 am
YES! great. see you in denver soon, ashley! 🙂 yes lots of fun things to fit in before we leave (if the rain would ever stoooop)
Nina @ Hugs and Lattes
January 13, 2016 at 10:25 am
Congratulations! Good luck on your big move. 🙂
Nina @ Hugs and Lattes recently posted…Win Free Stuff and Be Cute
chelsea
January 13, 2016 at 11:26 am
thank you nina! i am excited (and a little sad still)
Jessie @ Just Jessie
January 13, 2016 at 11:55 am
Good luck on your move and congratulations!! I’ve actually been focused on trying to move out to the Denver area – hoping it’ll happen this year. 🙂
Jessie @ Just Jessie recently posted…That one time I almost passed out (Weekend Recap)
chelsea
January 13, 2016 at 6:48 pm
thank you jessie! we are excited! glad you are focused on moving to denver – yay! hope you can make that happen this year!
Leanna
January 13, 2016 at 12:13 pm
Chelsea,
You and Ryan will be missed. I’m happy for you to add more adventure to your already exciting life.
chelsea
January 13, 2016 at 6:49 pm
we will be missing our toastmaster mom too but know where to find you (and come visit us!)
P.K. Eastman
January 13, 2016 at 12:22 pm
Chelsea, I moved to Portland in 1963. After 43 years, I packed up and moved to St. George Utah after visiting for 2 days in July. I know no one here really . Not one tear have I shed, nor have felt even a whisper of regret. Yes, it interrupted my business building! Even that is minuscule next to the beautiful sunshine and gorgeous scenery. I wish you joy and happiness in your new location. Keep up the great work.
chelsea
January 13, 2016 at 6:49 pm
sometimes you just know when you know, PK! i love it that you followed what you needed to do – yay! enjoy that gorgeous scenery and sunshine 🙂 thanks for sharing that!
Charlene
January 13, 2016 at 1:29 pm
This is so exciting! Congrats!
Charlene recently posted…Why it’s Important to Find Time for Your Spouse
chelsea
January 13, 2016 at 6:50 pm
thank you charlene! we are excited indeed!
Amanda
January 13, 2016 at 1:40 pm
Aww, how great and scary and exciting. All the best in your move!
Amanda recently posted…Boost Your Health With These 5 Stellar Fruits
chelsea
January 13, 2016 at 6:50 pm
yes yes to all of those things! now you’ll have to come visit in denver pleeeease 🙂
Erin @ Very Erin
January 13, 2016 at 2:34 pm
So exciting! Big moves like this are always both exciting and scary (although who am I to talk, because I’ve never lived more than two hours from where I grew up?)!
Erin @ Very Erin recently posted…My Word of the Year and New Year Goals
chelsea
January 13, 2016 at 6:51 pm
they are both scary and exciting (and expensive) ha! thanks for the excitement erin!
Jordann
January 13, 2016 at 5:32 pm
Ohhhh, maybe we can do lunch? Then we can determine if we can be real life friends or if it’s blog land only friends. That being said, we do have a lot in common.
chelsea
January 13, 2016 at 6:52 pm
haha YES! lunch to test the waters, i like it jordann! i want to meet your little ones at some point too! i think we could be real life friends again 🙂
Anita
January 13, 2016 at 6:07 pm
Good luck for your move! I have been to both Portland and Denver and they are both cool cities. I am more of an outdoors girl so I would pick Colorado any day! Maybe skiing could be your new thing??
Love your posts, and look forward to more adventures from you both! 🙂 Go for it! The sky is the limit!
xx Anita
chelsea
January 13, 2016 at 6:53 pm
love that you have been both places, anita! we need to come back to australia and do WAY more exploring! here is a little secret – i have NEVER been skiing. bad coloradan, i know 🙂 give me a sled and i’m a whiz though! thanks for your positive words, anita!
Rachel G
January 13, 2016 at 7:07 pm
Congrats! That’s definitely big news! The fact of being closer to family who can help with little kids definitely played a role in our decision to move to Malaysia! 🙂
Rachel G recently posted…7 Things Never to Say to People Who Have Ears
chelsea
January 15, 2016 at 8:43 am
thank you rachel! yup, family has that special pull don’t they?? hope you are loving being back in malaysia!
chelsea recently posted…Tell Me Something Good Friday!
Audrey
January 14, 2016 at 7:12 am
Congratulations, Chelsea! Too exciting! A move is always fun and exciting and crazy and scary, but I’m so sure it’ll be just right for you both in the end! Can’t wait to read about the best donut shops in Colorado! 🙂
Audrey recently posted…A Little Self Doubt Goes A Long Way
chelsea
January 15, 2016 at 8:44 am
ha! i will be on a mission FOR SURE about donuts, audrey 🙂 it will all work out so deep breaths for now and it will be right in the end 🙂
Amberly
January 14, 2016 at 8:52 am
What an exciting new adventure!! I kind of love that you guys can move different places and have that freedom with your jobs. Except that I don’t think we’d be able to move away from family… It’s been too darn convenient living 10 minutes from both parents and 3 minutes from Joe’s sister.
Amberly recently posted…Date Night in the Kitchen: Thai Curry Chicken Soup
chelsea
January 15, 2016 at 8:45 am
we were talking about that too, amberly! what a luxury to be able to pick up and go and the freedom we have with that! i don’t blame you for never wanting to move away from family – it’s super hard. even though we love our city i have sort of been homesick for the last 7 years so it’s time to be back!
Rich Hopkins
January 14, 2016 at 3:52 pm
We look forward to you joining us in D26 – Always room for great speakers in Denver!
chelsea
January 15, 2016 at 8:46 am
thank you rich! we are excited 🙂
Kayla
January 16, 2016 at 12:08 am
I feel totally weird admitting this but it made me a little sad. Even though we’ve never met I always hoped maybe we would someday since we are so close geographically. But I think it’s so cool that you guys are moving closer to family. I am so hopeful that my parents will be moving up here from CA in the next couple of years so I understand wanting that. Best of luck finding a place you love!
chelsea
January 18, 2016 at 10:23 am
hah don’t feel weird admitting that kayla – now i’m a little sad we have less of a chance to bump into each other too but if we are ever in the same city – we should get donuts! 🙂 fingers crossed that your parents will move closer to you! i am excited to have better access to family 🙂
Pingback: Taking Stock of Life • the new wifestyle
Laurie
February 22, 2016 at 7:07 am
It is a very hard decision I know to move – a lot of weighing on the pros and cons. It isn’t always an easy answer. Good luck to you on your move, thanks for sharing!
chelsea
February 25, 2016 at 7:31 pm
it sure is a tough decision but thank you laurie 🙂 we just arrived and so far it feels great!