FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About My Thoughts on Ashvegas Thus Far:

Q: How do you like Asheville?
A: So far, so good!  I have been here for a little over a month now and it is what I was expecting.  The weather is great, the scenery is great, and the people are good people.  Having friends already here is such a blessing.  I have been treated well and look forward to meeting more people and making more friends.

Q: How do you like working from home?
A: Working from home is an adjustment, this is true.  It has now been about 3 1/2 months since I started working from home.  Overall I am thoroughly enjoying the wardrobe requirement and the flexibility.  I do find myself a little lonely at times and my daily motivation fluctuates quite a bit.  As the winter and holidays approach I am finding it more difficult to stay motivated.  There has been a lot of change at work over the past few months that has affected me more than I thought.  When things settle for awhile I think I will find my groove.

Q: Have you explored your new city much?
A: I've been joking that I spent more time in Asheville before I lived here.  Almost every weekend since I moved here I have been away.  Back to Blacksburg, Charleston, and Pittsburgh.  I have found time to get myself a library card and explore local walking trails.  There is so much to do here, so many places to explore, so many new restaurants to eat at - I am glad I plan to be here for awhile!

Q: Do you miss Seattle?  Any regrets?
A: That is such a great question.  I miss Seattle but I miss the Seattle I knew about 5 years ago, not the Seattle I recently left.  There was a time when I loved to go out there - walk, eat, drink, see shows, meet people, explore the beauty of the NorthWest.  The past few years it wasn't the same, or I wasn't the same.  I'm thankful I created this blog because I did need to pay respect to my near decade in Seattle and capture those memories.  I don't regret leaving and I don't regret staying as long as I did.  So yes, I miss Seattle but it was time to go, no question there.




Frequently Asked Questions About My Move:

Q: Wha?
A: Yes, I figured out how to make a kind of cool blog. I am very proud of myself, having finally accomplished what teenagers mastered in their tweens. When I originally moved across the country blogs didn’t even exist. If they did exist, I’m sure I would have had to walk up a hill with no shoes on to find one and then I would have been too exhausted to post anything. Plus, we didn’t have digital cameras so posting pictures would have been nearly impossible. (Wait, I think that part is actually true!) I have wanted to create a blog for a long time that wasn’t about my angst or my boring life, and this is my chance. I hope it is enjoyable for everyone; I know I have enjoyed creating it thus far.

Q: No, by “wha?” I meant, “what, you’re moving?”
A: Oh, silly me. Yes, I am moving away from Seattle after nine, nearly continuous, glorious years!

Q: When?
A: When am I moving? I have been asked this question for months and my answer has been, “this summer!” Well, summer is here and I still don’t have a definite answer but most likely it will be at the end of August.

Q: Huh?
A: I know, it seems out of the blue, especially since 1) I LOVE Seattle, and 2) I don’t do a good job of keeping most people updated about my life.

Q: Why Asheville?
A: Let’s start at the beginning...I love Seattle for many reasons such as the weather, the culture, the variety of things to do, etc. I love the east coast because that is where my family is; and even though it has been nine years, Seattle hasn’t managed to get any closer to the east coast. I have thought about moving back east for a few years and now the time is right. My parents are in Virginia, my brother and family are in South Carolina, and everyone else is pretty spread out across the east. I wanted a place that has the same fundamental elements as Seattle, is closer to my family, and is a place I can set up shop for years to come. Asheville fits the bill and has the added benefit of being a little more country and a little less city. (Remind me this is what I’m looking for when I complain about going to Wal-Mart at 11:00 at night because it’s down the street, ok?)

For more information on Asheville, talk to Barack Obama or just see the links on the right side of the blog under “Things to Read.”

Q: What about work?
A: Currently, I work in HR at a large non-profit organization (LNPO). Originally I was looking at leaving my job and taking the risk that I would find a job in Asheville before I ended up on the street. In this economy, perhaps not the best choice, but family and being closer is too important for me to stay in Seattle solely for my job. (I am a romantic at heart remember. Logic has never been my governing body.)

But then, something happened that doesn’t happen to me. Bokenluck (the opposite of Wunderluck) made an appearance. Things at work are changing so much that by August I will certainly either be laid off or I can take a new opportunity in HR at my LNPO.

Q: What kind of opportunity?
A: Well, I can basically become a full-time Recruiter and work from anywhere in the country, including a home office. Since Asheville doesn’t have an office for my LNPO, this is my chance to stay with my organization and relocate. It sounds too good to be true and so far it is, but this opportunity is 99% and still looking good to become effective in July. I am committed to moving and if I could stay with my LNPO that would be the icing on the cake! (Or the low-fat peanut butter on the heart healthy bran muffin!)

Q: Do you know anyone in Asheville?
A: I know a couple crazy kids I met in Seattle years ago who relocated to Asheville. Their persistent persuasiveness (that alliteration is for you grammar lovers!) will soon pay off. I think it has been their mission to get everyone they know to move to Asheville. Having some cool friends there is awesome but regardless; this is the right decision for me. I have been doing extensive research and have already identified the local HR group, two places to volunteer, and my future bank!

Q: Where will you live?
A: I hope to rent a condo or townhouse that is 2 – 3 bedrooms so my family can visit and stay comfortably. Plus, I will need more than a 1 bedroom apartment if I am going to work from home. I hope to buy in a year so if I could find a place to rent that I could soon buy that would be ideal! (If you are interesting in investing in real estate in Asheville, I can guarantee you a well qualified, responsible renter!)

Q: What about all that stuff you said you had?
A: I debated shipping most of it or selling everything and starting anew. After a few months of running the numbers and realistically looking at the next year I decided to ship my stuff using an ABF Relo Cube. This will also make the road trip more enjoyable because my car will only have essentials for the drive, as opposed to being packed to the top with boxes screaming, “Steal me! Come on; all you have to do is break the window and I’m yours!”

Q: What route are you going to take?
A: This is TBD. It will depend on how much time I have to make the trip and if I have any mandated stops. I would like to stop to visit folks in Boise, Missoula, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina. If you look at a map you’ll see that would not be the most efficient trip. If I have more than a week I will probably take a northern route to ensure ample time visiting friends and kissing babies. If I’m in more of a hurry I will have to take a somewhat direct route and leave the visiting for weekend trips.

Q: Are you traveling by yourself?
A: This is also TBD. A lot of other factors have to come into play before I can determine whether or not I will have to drive alone. Once I know my timing and my expected route, I will be able to extend invitations to potential co-pilots. If you are interested in applying to be a co-pilot, please view the position description and complete the application and return it to me per the application instructions by clicking here: Join Me