Have you heard?

So we can now officially make this announcement.  Brian has been awarded a sabbatical for the 2010-2011 school year.  The original "deal" we made 10 years ago was that we would spend this sabbatical on the West Coast near family that we don't get to see often.  As life happened, 10 years of life to be exact, our plans changed.  We bought a house in up-state New York and for a time considered spending our sabbatical year there.  It made sense, right?  Why buy a house and then NOT live in it?  One answer: WINTER.  We changed our minds.  Up-State New York winters are NOT for us, but the SUMMERS and FALL are amazing.  (We'll get back to this in a moment though).  Our next plan involved us staying right here in NH and moving just up the road (or down, depending on your orientation).  The girls are enrolled in a charter school that we L-O-V-E and is very difficult to get into.  If we leave, we loose those spots and will only get back in if we win the "lottery".  Literally.  They have a lottery for the open spots in each grade.  There is only one class per grade. The odds aren't in our favor.   Another big bonus:  I love my job.  Not just like it a lot.  LOVE it.  A lot.  It seemed logical to stay here.  It seemed like it was in everyone's best interest. It was comfortable and known.  But....once again...plans changed.  One day we were talking.  "Remember our original deal?  10 years here:1 year in WA?  What happened to that idea?"  and suddenly, without even a single moment of doubt, we knew.  And so, we have come full circle.  We're moving west for the 2010-2011 school year.  Check it out:

We are ALL excited.  We are amazed to find that rent is almost 1/2 of what we were going to pay here...but we are getting SO much more.  Pools.  Tanning beds (really!?!).  Racket ball courts.  Fitness Centers.  Nationally ranked Elementary School.  FAMILY....3 miles away but in a different STAKE!  (Crazy!)  Tax free shopping across the river in Oregon (woot!).  GREEN.  Lots and lots of GREEN.  Rain.  Lots and lots of rain.  A rare snowfall or 2.  The ocean.  The mountains.  Volcanos.  Amazing Forests.  Even MORE family (not quite as close, but close enough for monthly visits).  

Honestly, since the very second we decided to do this, there hasn't been a moment of hesitation or reconsideration.  It FEELS right.  It IS right.  We will miss our East Coast stomping grounds.  Our friends and our family here too.  But, we know we are coming back.  We love St. Paul's School and don't see ourselves permanently leaving this place.  Ever.  But, if this experience has taught us anything...life happens.  Maybe we will sing a different song 10 years from now.  Which will be just in time for a 2nd sabbatical and we might as well tell you now:  We've already decided where we're going NEXT time.  And it's a whole different country.  But, we'll save that reveal for later.  Besides, we might change our minds. :)