New Adventure? New State?

My handsome boyfriend Adam and I have been in talks of starting a new adventure in our lives. We are at an age where we feel that we are old enough to direct our own lives and be the masters of our own fates, but still young enough to let the winds carry us where they will and explore opportunities before society forces us to get married and settle down with a permanent home and careers and children.

We've decided that next Spring, we want to pick up and leave California and start an adventure in a brand new place where neither of us know anyone or are familiar with any of our surroundings. We've both lived in California our whole lives, so we know nothing else, which is why we have chosen to leave the state for this excursion. But it is also why we feel that our hearts are in California and why this will only be a temporary move. We just want a year or so to get to know ourselves and each other better.

I'm a total city girl at heart and would be happy living in a place like San Francisco or New York City, but that's not what this is about. We want to find a place where we can make a home, and be in peace. This doesn't necessarily mean that we're going to live in the woods or anything, (in fact, there are some medium to large cities that we are considering), but we are mostly looking for a charming, nice place to live on a budget and just enjoy our time away.

We've actually been able to find three-bedroom houses that we can afford, which is unthinkable in California. Some even come with their own docks!

The states we are looking into are: Virginia, Washington, Oregon, and North Carolina. The cities we have looked into the most are Portland, Oregon and Wilmington, North Carolina, but I thought I could use my blog to explore some other options, so that's what I'm going to do. :)

Alexandria, VA: It's along the Potomac River and only 6 miles from Washington D.C. (which is nice for me, because as I've mentioned, I'm a city girl). But it also seems to have a lot of beautiful views and quiet, peaceful areas.

Chesapeake, VA: It's actually a little bigger in size than Alexandria, but it's a beautiful city. And it's right on the Atlantic Ocean, which we'll both love! 

Richmond, VA: All you smarty-pants out there already know that Richmond is Virginia's capital. It's just slightly smaller than Chesapeake, and it really seems to have that East Coast feel to it.

Virginia Beach, VA: Of course, being from Southern California, we both love the idea of living at the beach. I think this would be a good choice for us because although it's a brand-new environment, it will almost be like we have a little taste of home there too.

Chapel Hill, NC: I've always thought North Carolina was extremely beautiful. Yes, it's in the south, but it's along the ocean and it's really not as "hick-ish" as some might think. In fact, "Chapel Hill and its surrounding area have historically been politically liberal" (says Wikipedia, haha).

 Charlotte, NC: Charlotte is the only city in North Carolina I've actually been to, and I thought it was absolutely beautiful. I was there in the fall and the colors were just breathtaking. I like the fact that it's a city (in fact, it's the largest in the state), though I don't know if Adam will.

 Wilmington, NC: I believe this is currently our number one choice. It is right on the Cape Fear River AND is up against the Atlantic. We have found GORGEOUS homes that we can actually afford right on the shore!

Bellevue, WA: By now you probably know that we both have a soft spot for the West Coast and for bodies of water, which makes Bellevue great because it sits right on Lake Washington (and of course is on the West Coast).

 Portland, OR: Portland is another one we're pretty serious about. I've been there and I absolutely fell in love with it. It reminded me of my beloved San Francisco and had this energetic, hippie culture. They have a great music scene, food scene, and great institutions of education (which may appeal to either Adam or I, as we both want to further ours). It's also along the Willamette, and the best part is that my brother, sister and nephew live just right across the river. :)



Like I mentioned, Portland and Wilmington are the two that it will probably come down to. We are both so excited to embark on this adventure and we fully intend to take full advantage of all the opportunities presented to us. :)