Just Keep Swimming...

First off, I'll start by saying that I'd like to think of myself as an optimistic person. Always happy, always friendly, and always seeing the best in people. Maybe because I don't like to prepare for the worst, or maybe because I generally don't have much to be negative about. Whichever it is, I really do like that about myself. I like always being happy (who wouldn't?) and I like seeing the best in people (even if I sometimes vent about their bad qualities to my BFF or sister). So when it came to this move, I knew it would be hard but I looked at the glass half full and did NOT prepare for the bad. 

I had mentally planned my life in TN before I even got there. Typical for women to do (hopefully the feminism bloggers don't read this far back). We over think and over analyze every little detail of our future and when it doesn't happen, we (SURPRISE) are disappointed. And well, that mentally planned future life in TN that I had pictured was a little far from what is now my reality. Not by a lot....but some things, I just wasn't prepared for.

THE BAD:

I honestly thought that I would get to TN and everything would fall into place. I'd meet people, explore the city and surrounding areas, find activities to keep busy, find a job, Skype family and friends daily, and things would eventually become normal for us. And I secretly thought that I'd get off the plane in Knoxville, and I'd be going down the escalator to see Josh on one knee proposing. Serious, true story. I guess I thought moving to TN also meant I'd be staring in my own romantic comedy.  

WOMP WOMP.

Needless to say, some of the above did just fall into place...I found a job after two days of being here and Josh and I have been doing all the exploring that our schedules allow us to.  Other stuff has been an adjustment, including the time change that leaves about an hour, if that, window of time to talk to anybody back home.

I mean, who would have thought that making friends would take effort? That keeping busy would take effort? There wasn't enough hours in the day when we were in CA for the people we wanted to see and the things we wanted to do. And now I'm googling where and when they offer cooking classes, watching way too much reality TV, and writing a blog! 

I WASN'T PREPARED. This is when optimism bites you in your badonkadonk.

I wasn't prepared for the continuous nights that Josh has to work. I wasn't prepared for not being able to talk to my family or friends as much as I wanted. I  wasn't prepared for the roller coaster of happy/sad emotions that would occur shortly after I got here. I wasn't prepared for pedicures by myself. I wasn't prepared for having to find doctors, dentists, hair stylists, coffee shops, and everything else that I didn't even second guess back in CA. I wasn't prepared for Josh and I's first "fight" and realizing that I needed to put my big girl panties on because there is no going to my sisters/Amy's/mom's house to take a breather. I wasn't prepared for how much I was going to miss everyone back in CA, and how much I was going to miss my little Ellie Belly. I just wasn't prepared. 

Who wouldn't miss this face?

THE GOOD:

With the bad, there always comes good. Especially in the "South."  Everything is a transition. Especially when it comes to moving away from everything you know and it takes time to settle. But settling becomes much easier when everyone is just so dang friendly. 

Yes, rumors are true. This is the Bible Belt and life is at a much slower pace. And people are just genuinely nice. It does require effort to make friends, but everyone is willing to tell you their life story if you have time to listen. Traffic? They don't really understand the CA definition of traffic here. Traffic here is going 40 on the freeway. 

Josh gets to work as much OT as he wants, which helps for all the places we want to visit and for our first trip home to CA! He has so many new places to ride his Harley and everything is just so beautiful here. I managed to find a great job that keeps me busy, and that I think has the possibility for career growth. I mean, it got me a picture with the City Mayor! And Josh is guaranteed to move up where he is. He definitely isn't working in the right position for the talent he has. Once they realize it, I know they will realize just how lucky they are for stealing him from CA. 

I mean look at this face..he's worth moving anywhere.  

The memories we have already made from being here, and the tests we've had with our relationship from the decision of the move, not seeing each other for two months, and the amount of our love grew for one another is just amazing.  

How many people get to travel to Nashville, Asheville, Chicago, and Atlanta in two and a half months with someone who enjoys baseball and beer as much as they do? 

And have their friends coming in July to Nashville to visit for 4th of July?! 

I get to see them in...t-minus 14 days!

So, there you have it.  The nitty gritty of moving across the country.  And I wouldn't change a bit of it.  Even though I have my 'bad days' where I just want to click my heels and be back 'home,' the good days 100% outweigh the bad.  Because I know that if I needed to talk to my family and friends at any time of the day, regardless of the time change, they would be there to listen.  I know that I'll get to see them soon, and I know that Josh and I are making our future together, regardless of what city we live in.