Grass is greener, until it's literally buried in snow

Living in Orlando and reflecting after a quick visit back to CO

We are officially living in Orlando as of… five months ago. Last time I posted, literally everything was unknown: housing, jobs, childcare, all of it. But here we are now. We’re renting a cute 1950s house with everything imaginable close by (Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, local coffee shops… basically all I need). I’m working a fully remote gig, our kid is thriving in pre-K, and the holidays are fast approaching.

To say the transition has been easy would actually be kind of accurate. But recently, I told someone that while I’m glad we’re in Orlando, I miss my life in Colorado. My job was the best. I had my own friends, Jared had his own friends, we had our family friends, and we made the most of living in the snow and mountains. Sledding, snowboarding, snow hikes, stunning summer hikes with 0 percent humidity… we really loved it. But we trusted our guts and said it was time to head back East, so… what gives?

Then I went back to Colorado for a visit. It was a gorgeous Tuesday with a crystal clear view of Pikes Peak. I was working at my favorite coffee shop with the perfect double espresso. I was with my people again! I was all in my feels and called Jared (who was holding down the fort at home) and again articulating that I miss my life in Colorado.

And then, the next day happened. AKA a foot of snow. By noon, I was losing it.

I was staying with close friends whose kids most definitely manifested the snow day. I eventually made my way into the living room where they were enjoying Christmas movies and demanded “that’s it! we are going outside!” After thirty minutes of gearing up all seven of us, we finally bombed a tiny hill on a sled a few times then headed back in.

For the record, it was SO fun and absolutely the right call, but it also reminded me that I do not operate well without daily time outdoors. DAILY. That’s not exactly a trivial thing during CO winter which BTW lasts like 8 months. It takes intention and it’s WORTH IT, but it’s also a lot.

Basically, the universe said, “Kaitlin, do not do anything irrational like move back to Colorado.” ☃️

This morning (back in Orlando), our little family of four (Roxy included of course) walked down to a nearby (unfrozen) lake, surrounded by (green) trees and (I kid you not blooming) flowers. IN 70 DEGREES! We probably still haven’t found “our life” here in Orlando. But as Jared reminded me, it took six to eight months to find it in Colorado too.

For now, I suppose I’ll just have to sit confidently in the fact that at the very least… we’re in the right climate. 🤣

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