Relocation Jubilation!

Well y'all, it's been 7 months since our move to the Lonestar State. I wanted to update a sort of "review" of our experience, just because we've had our ups and downs and are really starting to turn a corner into Texan permanence.

Let's see. To update any new readers, we moved here in October from Western Maryland when Andrew was offered a job in the Fort Worth area. Andrew moved to a new company several weeks ago and what was assumed to be a 2-year assignment is looking more and more like a permanent home.
I thought I'd miss the mountains, but it turns out I'm more of a "top of the mountain" kind of girl, rather than someone who wants to look up at them. I've always loved the moment when you get to the top and can just see forever. Texas may be flat, but you really can see forever. I love driving and feel like Texas will just go on and on and on. (And trust me. A drive from Dallas to Houston will make that reality REAL quick.)

So what did we do that worked in our favor?

• We agreed to hold judgement until 2011. We still don't know if Texas is really the place for us. We decided to reserve our opinions until we'd been here for a year.
• We started slow. We took the first few months to enjoy the quiet neighborhood, our big backyard and a little family downtime. We kept our friend-making to a minimum and really tried to have some "just us" adventures. Our weekends were spent exploring and our weekdays were spent sun-bathing and watching tv. Nothing serious. 
• We found a house we loved and furnished it to feel like it was "ours." We decided not to buy because we didn't know what we'd think of Texas. We left anything we didn't love in Maryland. Any furniture that was too worn or tired was left behind. We got rid of our second car, old clothes, old tools, old toys, anything that wouldn't fit into a clean start.
• We enjoy each other. If you can't spend 6 days straight with your spouse, moving might not be for you. You spend a lot of time chatting, planning, complaining and cuddling when your partner is the only one you know. To get a little time away, we'd each go to a movie and leave the other person home with the kids, go to the gym solo, etc. But when you're strangers in a strange land, expect to spend a lot of time with your fellow stranger.
• We joined a gym with childcare. Joining the YMCA was a fabulous way to start talking to people and get a break from the kids each day. I'm not really the type who needs breaks, but I needed thinking time as we were adjusting to somewhere very different from our previous home. I could spend an hour on the treadmill, letting my mind settle and sorting out the rest of my day. The Y also provides a Parent's Night Out each month, so we had a babysitter for date night. 
• I bought an iPhone. Yes, it's an expensive way to communicate, but it kept every single person I knew at the touch of a button. I could text Nina all day long, keep up with Katherine in Gchat, email pictures to the grandparents, blog in the car, keep my GPS in my pocket, surf the web for new things to do and feel like I was closer to the people I had left behind. It was absolutely the best purchase we made in preparation for our move.
• I found the right friends, right away. Fort Worth is a wonderful place to live because you have all the amenities of a large city with a small-town feel. This means that I can find large groups of like-minded people to spend time with. It's hard to find friends, no matter where you live. Finding a Catholic mom's group was a gift from Heaven for me. 
• We searched high and low for the right faith community. We needed a young parish with lots of families, easily accessible, a huge Mass schedule and tons of activities. What's wonderful about the Catholic faith is that your actual faith and the Masses never change. Once you find your parish, you're home. Catholic humor is the same across the world, grace before dinner is the same, the Rosary is the same, the Mass is the same. Every Catholic church is like home anywhere you go. You'll find different levels of reverence, more liberal parishes, contemporary music, Latin masses, etc. Things do vary, but it's like the ocean. It's soothing no matter the coast or country. 
• We're embracing Texas. Texas is just so...proud. It changes your outlook. Things move slower, the food is fabulous, the people are friendly, the music is country, the state flag flies everywhere, the sky is immense and the land is flat. We could spend 7 months complaining that it's not Maryland, but that wouldn't help a thing. Texas is certainly no Maryland.

Are you considering a relocation? Too expensive where you live? Family a tad too close for happy reunions? I know a lot of people talk about moving over and over and can never really find the motivation or courage. If I could offer one piece of advice it would be to DO IT. The one thing I've found is that you never know what you're missing until you're brave enough to go out looking for it. Life passes by so quickly. If there's something you've thought of doing, jump on it!

We've had a couple of down days, but I can honestly say I think it was just hormones. Trying to decide when to make a visit has been challenging, but otherwise, we've had a very positive 7 months. We're really not the types to be down about anything, let alone an adventure in a new state. 

We've been very happy with the move and I can't believe it's been 7 months! We miss our Maryland family and friends, but we've met so many people and seen so many things. Our marriage is just growing like crazy and our girls mean even more to us because we're truly a team. We just delight in each day we can learn new things and enjoy life together. Texas has been nothing but a blessing.