The Big Move, Part 2: FAQs

Now that everyone knows about "THE BIG MOVE" (that's what we're calling it around here), I thought that I should take some time to fill you in on the other details surrounding this time of change, and answer some of the questions that I've been getting on a regular basis. 

No, I don't think that I'm so important that you all are just dying to know every detail about my move (BOR-ING), but since I have been getting a lot of similar questions about the Cape, where we'll be living, and life plans once we get there, I figured I should take just a little time to touch on some of the details that I wasn't ready to talk about when I was *super emotional* about simply making the announcement. 

Similarly, I do know that a lot of people love Cape Cod, or have connections to it, and that a lot of you have gone through equally big (or much bigger!) moves, or are planning one in the near future, so I think it's worth discussing some of the decisions that we've  already made, and why. Here goes!

Where on the Cape will you be living?
Although Ben grew up in Barnstable, we've decided to live in Harwich for the first year there. This is mainly because we found a great year-round rental in this town, but also because Ben hasn't spent a lot of time there, so it's kind of like we're going to be moving to a new area (and discovering it) together. I like this--it feels a bit more couple-y this way ;)
 
Are you by the beach? 
Well yes, from what I understand, basically everywhere on the Cape is "by the beach." But Google Maps says that we're exactly 1.4 miles from the beach, and that we can drive there in 4 minutes. So yes, we're by the beach, but no, we're not directly on the beach. I can live with that!

Isn't the Cape really seasonal? 
Ahhhhhhhhh! Yes! It is. Crazy stats for you: In Harwich, the town where we'll be living, there are 12,000 year-round residents, and that number goes up to 37,000 in the summer. Crazy, right? Where Ben grew up (Barnstable, which is very close to us), there are 67,000 year-round residents and 125,000 in the summer. Yes, I did look this up right after he accepted the job, and yes, this will be a *slight* adjustment for me...

[I'm hoping that this seasonal shift will eventually work to my advantage. Maybe I can spend my summers teaching a lot and selling my art at local art fairs/markets, and then my winters painting and writing. Wouldn't that be nice?] 

Are you still going to teach yoga?
Yep, I'm still going to teach yoga!! I'm planning on continuing to paint, blog, do a little design work, and consult, and then hope to find some jobs teaching ASAP. However, it's not ideal to be looking for teaching jobs on the Cape in the winter, when all of the yoga class schedules have been reduced for the season, so I'm going to have to be patient...

Are there studios on the Cape? 
Yes! One teacher told me that there are about 15 total. I was pleasantly surprised by this news! 

Will you rent or buy? Apartment or house?
Oh my goodness, this was such a hard decision for us! We went up to look at houses, found one we loved, but then couldn't get the sellers to come down enough to buy it. Then we started getting nervous about the whole buying thing (Is it the right thing to do in a new place? What if we aren't happy and want to move in a year? Etc, etc. etc.), and then things got rushed once Ben got the job offer (we thought we'd have more time for the transition), so we decided to rent. We're renting a house on--wait for it--"Lovers Lane" (OMG!), and it's a 15-month rental. We hope to buy once that lease is up. I'm really ready to have our own home that I can decorate as I please...

Oh, but get this--the house we're renting is a 3-bedroom! With two bathrooms (!!!!!!!), a back deck, a yard, a fireplace, an outside shower, and a garage (for Ben's home gym, of course). After living in NYC and then DC, we're beyond excited about having real living space. But also, we haven't actually seen the house. Whoops. There was just no time! Luckily, we've seen pics, and Ben's Mom went and saw it and said it was amazing. [Lets hope we like it!]

Are you still going to come back to DC to teach every once in a while?
Yes! I plan on coming back to guest teach workshops and/or Teacher Training at Tranquil Space at least once per year. 

Who lives on the Cape year-round? 
I'll get back to you on this one. I mean, most of Ben's family does, a few of his friends and their families do, and from what I'm told, plenty of young families live there, but mostly, I think it's a somewhat older population (again, another adjustment). However, I've been assured that there are some "people [my] age, doing some amazing things" there, so that's what I'm holding onto. 

Do you know anyone there?
Yes, as I mentioned above, most of Ben's family lives there, and one of his best friend's lives there with his wife and baby. A few of his other friends live nearby, as well. 

Are you going to open your own studio?
Surprisingly, I've been asked this question many times since we announced the move (haha!)! It makes me smile :) But no, I don't plan on doing this any time soon. I'm not opposed to it in the future, but I want to take things one step at a time. If I find a fabulous yoga community on the Cape and am happy doing everything else that I'm doing, that will probably be enough. We'll see where life takes me! 

Will you still be painting, consulting, and/or blogging? 
Yes, yes, and yes! I hope to have time (and space!!!) to do more of all of these things. Yay!

So there you have it--I hope that answers some of your questions about this change. It definitely makes me feel a bit better to get it all down on paper (er, screen?).

Cape Cod, here we come!  [In 18 days.]