Relocation Dreams

Linking up with MamaKat today for her Writer's Workshop.  This week's prompt was definitely meant for me:

You have to move away from your state in one month. List 6 destinations you wouldn’t mind relocating to.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately.  This month marked my 11th year in Baltimore.  ELEVEN!  I moved here in April 2004.  Typing that out looks insane.  I can't even believe I've lived in the same place that long.  When I moved here at the tender young age of 25, I had no idea what my future in this city would look like.  I have a decade of memories here, some good and others not so much, but all are a part of who I have become.  Some memories are so old they are starting to fade away, and some I can hardly even believe happened.  What a crazy ride Baltimore has been for me.  But I've known for quite some time that my next chapter is not here.  So where to?  Here are my current fantasies:

1.  Southern California

This has been a dream for as long as I can remember.  I know it's expensive as heck, but can you really put a price on 365 days of sunshine?!  Quality of life year round is important to me and I'm pretty much done with Northeast winters.  There's a reason people in California are happier and healthier - Sunshine!  Like the ad says 'Happy cheese comes from happy cows, and happy cows come from California'.  Well, I want to be a HAPPY COW.

2.  Italy

Oh just one of my favorite countries on Earth!  A couple of years ago I actually looked into becoming a European Au Pair, but it turns out I've already surpassed the age limit?!  Rude.  Choosing a city in Italy would be the toughest part.  I have only been to a few on the mainland and a few in Sicily.  Perhaps my favorite destination was the Aeolian Islands off the coast of Sicily.  I certainly wouldn't mind spending my days working in a seaside café in Lipari and perhaps meeting the Italian man of my dreams?!

3.  The Caribbean

Inspired by this article I read today as well as my general love of the beach.  I also just started reading this blog (http://www.moxieandepoxy.com/) about a girl who works on sailboats and travels to tropical destinations FOR HER JOB.  Sign me up.  Although I don't know a thing about sailing.  Maybe I can just get a job scooping (dairy free, vegan) ice cream like the woman in the first article.  If Vegan Treats wants to send me to a Caribbean island to open a franchise, I'M IN.

 

4.  The ATL

The obvious reason being my sister and 3 loves of my life live there, but it is also a pretty great city.  The winters are mild and the summers are just the way I like my men: hot and sweaty.  There are so many opportunities for outdoor activities and recreation, and the people are friendly.  What can I say, it's a real PEACH!

 

5.  Bethlehem, PA

source

No matter where I go, Bethlehem will always be "home" to me.  I really had an idyllic childhood here.  Although I loathe PA winters as an adult, as a kid no two words held more promise and excitement than these: SNOW DAY!  My closest friends, parents, sister and many members of my extended family live here.  It's the perfect place to raise a family and if/when I enter that phase of my life I hope to be living close to them again.

 

6.  ???

I'm leaving this one open-ended to see what else the Universe may have in store for me.  Perhaps the Universe has plans for me that I haven't even considered.  The only requirement: wherever I go must be cat-approved!

 

Happy Friday everyone.  Have a great one.

 

 

 

Play along!  If you could relocate anywhere, where would you go?!