As I write this, we’re in the middle of our 4th move in 5 years. I haven’t been posting at all lately because we’ve been busy getting ready to move to …..
Washington, DC!!
We’re in the process of moving right now! I hate moving over the holidays, but it is what it is.
The movers took our stuff a few weeks ago. We’re lucky enough to be able to stay at a friend’s place while our stuff gets a head start on us. It takes about 45 days for everything to get from Hawaii to DC. So, shipping our stuff so early and using that time to stay with a friend has been a lifesaver. The military will only pay for you to stay in a hotel for 10 days in Hawaii and 10 days in DC, so you’re kinda on your own for the rest. It is easier for us to be without our stuff here in Hawaii since we have so many people who can help us out.
We will probably be in Hawaii for another month or so, but we don’t know exactly when Nick can leave the boat. We’re hoping to stop in California on our way to DC to see Nick’s family. We haven’t seen them in over 2 years!! We’re planning to get to DC in early February and we think our stuff will beat us there.
We’re working on it! We know the exact area we want to live in and we’re looking into places. With any luck, we’ll have a place lined up when we get there. If not, we’ll figure it out when we do.
Why DC?
With Nick’s job, he doesn’t always do the same thing. Onย one tour he will be on “sea duty,” which means he’s on a boat. He’s been on sea duty in Hawaii, which is why he was deployed. After sea duty, you go on “shore tour.” That basically means a job where you don’t get deployed (usually).
We’re going to DC for Nick’s shore tour. There was a list of jobs and we asked for this job in DC for a number of reasons.
Nick has worked so hard over the past 2.5 years on the boat, so it was really important for me that he gets a job he will love next. I was willing to go pretty much anywhere for that. But the stars aligned and not only did Nick want this job, but we both thought the location was perfect.
We have always thought we would end up living in DC one day since there are so many jobs there for Nick. We always thought it would be a great place to live for a few years because there is so much to see and do. Plus, neither of us have ever lived in a city. He is really interested in the job he will do there, and it’s close to New York which is where my family and a lot of my friends live.
But we don’t actually get to choose. We told the Navy what we wanted. We were lucky enough to get exactly what we wanted. ย I was shocked.
I still can’t believe we got lucky enough to get our#1 choice! I thought for sure our luck would run out after two tours in Hawaii, but a bunch of stuff just lined up perfectly for us.
I am devastated to leave Hawaii. But in my heart, I know that we’re both ready to move onto the next chapter. Nick is ready for a new job and he’s ready to live somewhere new. I believe that I could live in Hawaii my entire life and be perfectly content. But I am excited to go back to the mainland, be closer to family, and to live in such a cool place. One of the reasons Nick and I decided to continue with this life was to move around and see different places. I’m grateful for the time we had in Hawaii and now it’s time for something new.
Oh yeah, and we are not just moving anywhere. If we were leaving Hawaii and going somewhere we didn’t want to go, that would be one thing. But we’re moving to Washington, DC! It will be a complete 180 from Hawaii life, but I think it will be a great experience for us. I know it will take some getting used to but part of the fun of this life is change and new experiences. I’m excited to explore everything DC has to offer. Since I know we will be there such a short amount of time I know that I won’t take living there for granted. Plus, my good friend from college (and for us that was a while ago;), Christy from Planes, Trains, and Running Shoes, lives nearby!!
Nick and I went to DC for a long weekend many years ago and I remember us running around to see as many sight and museums as we could. Now it will be so awesome to take our time exploring!
I always thought the hardest part of leaving Hawaii would be leaving the warm weather and beautiful beaches. But what I am going to miss most is my friends here. I’ve written a lot about them on here and we have just formed such a tight bond over the past two years. I think that deployment and living on an island so far from our families helped cement that bond, but we also just clicked.
It’s going to be hard to leave them, but luckily for me, one of my friends here is also moving to the mainland next month. As hard as it is for both of us to move, I am glad to have her going through it with me. We already have plans for her to visit me in DC in February!! How awesome is that?!
This will for sure be the hardest move I’ve ever done. But in my heart, it feels right.
What was the hardest move or change you ever went through?
Here’s to 2019 and all of the changes/adventures/new experiences it will bring!
Linking up with Kristen @ See You in a Porridge
Wow!! That’s a really big move, and change, but what amazing new adventures you will have and new memories you will make in your new home!
That is so awesome! I grew up in a town just north of Baltimore and spent a good chunk of time in DC and I LOVE it there. If it wasn’t so expensive that is probably where Josh and I would settle down after the Army. It’s such a great city with so much to do (and so much free stuff to do). If you want some day or weekend trip ideas, I’ve lived in both MD and VA and would love to offer some suggestions ๐
I am SO excited for you! And girl- you can always always visit your friends in Hawaii!! Or retire there some day for sure!! I swear- now that we’re in the same quadrant of the country we NEED to meet ๐ Good luck with everything! I hope you get that time in California and your housing in DC is confirmed and perfect! We’re planning to hopefully visit DC soon… So I will let you know! ๐ Hope you had a wonderful New Year!!
This is SO exciting!! Iโm so happy you got your first choice – and such a handy one for your family!
Oh my gosh, how exciting!! I’m sure it will be bittersweet to leave Hawaii, but so amazing you got your first choice & yay DC! Hopefully we’ll get a chance to meet eventually.
Good luck with your move!
Congrats on the big move! Wow, Hawaii to DC! I love DC, though! It’ll be so much fun to live there.
I’m so excited for you two, your big move to DC, and the year ahead! I hope you don’t have any moving disasters like last time…! I’ve heard some amazing things about DC. I actually just wrote a ‘self care city guide’ to DC for one of my clients and it really made me want to visit, lol! I hope you enjoy your next few weeks soaking up all Hawaii has to offer. And who knows… maybe you will come back to Hawaii again some day ๐
Girl, what an adventure! I have moved so many times and it is always bitter sweet. Hoping you have an adventure of a lifetime in DC and that your move goes as smoothly as possible!
oh, so glad you got your #1 choice! that’s so awesome. hope it’s a fantastic experience. moving so far is hard, i’ve only ever had one big move and it was definitely hard. but i just try and remember that i’m lucky to have 2 places i love full of people i miss, you know?
Congratulations! How great that you got your first choice, that’s amazing. I hope everything goes smoothly with the logistics of the move, but most importantly, you manage the emotional side just as well. It’s hard but that’s a sign of what a good time you’ve had in Hawaii I guess!