I'm here! And I have news!

No, I haven't given up on blogging, you can't get rid of me that easily. Things are going to be a little slower here for a little bit though because . . . we are moving! Even though it seems like I just barely made this post, this move has been a long time coming.

For the past seven years my husband has been an attorney at a big law firm. There have been times when he liked it and times when he hated it, but pretty much all of the time it has been a lot of stress for the whole family. A few months ago we bought a Powerball ticket when there was a huge jackpot. We knew we weren't going to win. And we didn't. But we were both surprised how disappointed we were that he couldn't quit his job.

Or could he? What else could he do? Certainly nothing that would pay anything close to his current salary, so that would require moving away from our beloved San Diego since our mortgage here is, well, not small. So we started looking at jobs, and applying for jobs. After several months we honed in on what he felt passionate about: working in state government. I know, it wouldn't be my choice either. But it is something he is interested in and his legal degree opens up doors for him in different fields without actually requiring him to work as a lawyer.

The next question was . . .where do we want to live? We decided we wanted somewhere with a more reasonable cost of living, with a state capitol that was moderately sized, that wasn't horrendously far from our families, and somewhere that had temperate weather. That led us to Salem, Oregon.

He interviewed for a job in Salem a few weeks ago. And then there was a second interview. And then there was time to check references and his background. It all took awhile, but in the meantime it gave me time to . . .

Paint our front door red (don't worry, I have also replaced the doorbell since this photo was taken).
 Renovate the kitchen. I didn't actually do any of this work, but I made it happen.
 Donate 18 quilts to Project Linus.
And about a million other things to help get us packed and our house ready to put on the market. Finally today we got the official news and are planning to move in about 3 weeks.

I hope that you can forgive the lack of sewing. I do actually have a baby quilt that hasn't yet been gifted, a new pattern, and a quilt for Quilt Market that I will be sharing over the next month.

Please bear with me while I make this transition. While Salem does have a lower cost of living, my husband is taking a massive pay cut to switch jobs and I am hoping to contribute by selling patterns. I will update here once I have more news :)

35 comments

  1. Such a change and so courageous to follow your hearts. All the best with selling, moving and settling in, we will hear back from you when you are ready.

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  2. Good luck for all of you.

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  3. Good for you! We are thinking of leaving San Diego, too -- the financial stress is too great, and it's just not what we want for our family! So excited for all of you and your new adventure!

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  4. all the best to yo both on your new adventure, I am sure the quality of life is going to be much better

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  5. How brave to set a new course for your family! Salem is a lovely area. My sisters are in the Sherwood and Newburg areas off Interstate 5 and they love these areas. I am looking forward to hearing more about your new home! Best wishes!

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  6. Erica -- Congratulations to you two for having the courage to find what is right for your family, and making big sacrifices to do so. Rather than just thinking about it, you have taken the steps to DO it -- what an inspiration!!! Good luck as you prepare your family for this transition -- and I bet your patterns are going to be a big success.

    As they say here in France, bon courage!! which means a little like good luck, but also go forth with strength and courage. Wow!!

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  7. I grew up in Oregon and whilst I know things have dramatically changed since the 60's many of the people I grew up with still live there and it is a wonderful place to live and bring up a family. There is a strong quilting community and I'm sure you'll be welcomed with open arms.

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  8. This is exciting news for you and your family. All the best for the move and setting up the pattern business.

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  9. Huge congrats on your news! There is a lot more to life than a large salary, so I hope you find better life-balance and peace in your new home. Moving is also a wonderful time to reassess what 'things' you need and think about how to set up a new sewing area :)

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  10. Well done on making that decision! I worked in a large law firm for several years and I was so stressed (mostly because I hated the company!) I eventually quit and deliberately took 3 months off to stay and potter at home, relishing each moment I didn't have to go to work. It took me another couple of jobs to get to the one I really wanted, a small little firm which I absolutely love. I did get the crazy looks for taking the time off, and I was rather short of cash afterwards, but taking that step to a happier place was the best decision I've made. Good luck with the move!

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  11. A big new chapter for all of you. Big decisions - so happy for you though and wishing you all the best for this move and change in your life. Project Linus - I need to donate there too - a special charity!

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  12. Sounds like a really smart move for you and your family. Job stress is not worth it! You're so talented - looking forward to seeing the patterns you design!

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  13. Congratulations! It is so important to know what you need and search for it - stressful living is not good for the long haul. Salem is such a nice place...my daughter lived there for a year before her move to Portland. Happy for you and your family!

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  14. Congratulations! I work for state government, and for the most part it is a pleasure.
    Good luck with your move, I hope everything goes smoothly! I look forward to seeing your patterns.

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  15. How exciting! Your family is very blessed that you are able to do this and living on less can bet very rewarding. At first I thought, I wonder if they picked PA but then you said moderate size capitol and I knew the answer was no...lol Can't wait to hear all about the next chapter....in time. Good Luck!

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  16. Salem is a beautiful place. Best wishes to you in all the details of the move!

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  17. Salem is a lovely place to live. Goodluck!

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  18. Wishing you and your family 'all the best' and hope you'll be happy for the next new phase in your life :)

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  19. welcome to the PNW - I live in Vancouver, WA and transitioned here from Seattle for much the same reasons. You will love living in Salem - I know it is hard to give up sunny CA but the expenses are just to crippling. I have family members who are "stuck" in CA and cannot afford to leave - it is a love-hate relationship for them.

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  20. Congrats! You'll love Oregon, but I'm a little sad you didn't choose Sacramento! Good luck with your move and new life changes. I'm excited for you!

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  21. Congrats!! Welcome to Oregon. It really is a beautiful place.

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  22. I lived in Vista, CA from the time I was 12 and moved away after I married at age 21. (My husband and I both graduated Vista High School.) We now live in Portland, OR, and get to Salem fairly frequently. You're going to love the area. Lots of great quilt shops too, although my favorite in Salem closed this summer after something like 100 years in business. Still, plenty more left. Congratulations!

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  23. Wow! How exciting for your family! Job stress is not fun, I know how it goes! Good for you for changing it up and making a move! I live in Portland which is only about an hour up I-5 from Salem, lots to explore and I would love to finally meet in person one day! Good luck with the move!

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  24. What an exciting change! My husband grew up in that area and we go visit there from time to time. Once you're settled in, I recommend going for a hike up at Silver Falls. We were engaged there, so it's a favorite for our family.

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  25. Such a wise decision! It would be terrible to spend your life doing somethng you hate! We will miss you during the transition but applaud your courage!

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  26. Sounds like a truly wise decision for your family! May there be lots of grace along the way of your transition!

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  27. Congratulations to both of you to have the courage of your convictions. Best of luck to you as you move forward.

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  28. I'm so happy for you! Take it slow and don't worry about posting for a while. I hope everything goes smoothly!

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  29. I found Salem to be a lovely and not too large place when I visited there many years ago. I hear it is still lovely, and compared to San Diego probably still not too big. Hope it feels like home for you very soon.

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  30. I went to law school in Eugene and really loved Salem. I did big firm life for 5 years, when I left to take a huge pay cut I never looked back. Sometimes the finances are harder, but having a life outside of work more than makes up for it!

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