What a difference a month makes...
(An excerpt from an email that I don't feel like rewriting)
Consider this the official announcement that Team Shea is moving to Florida... a (not so brief) synopsis of how this all occurred (my timeline is bound to be wrong, but close enough)
4 years ago (in July even), the Navy informed me that I would be released from active duty a few months early (woohoo). Around this time I also happened to visit Regan, who convinced us that Boston was a fun place. Since he's such a persuasive bastard, we agreed, under the premise that this was but a minor detour in my master plan to settle in PA. Every lease renewal since then has inevitably been preceded by the PA/MA discussion. We all know which side (MA)tt is on...
This year around April (lease renewal in June), I put my foot down. We have loved this life for 4 years and 1.5 babies, but I'm ready for the house, and the yard, and the not-$13,000-a-year daycare that will double with Bebe #2. And I want Brynna to grow up surrounded by a gaggle of cousins just like Cati Knab did. So the husband started looking for jobs in PA, but for whatever reason (I have my theories), this just didn't pan out.
About 6 months ago, Elaine (lives in Orlando) started applying for this grant that would allow her organization to stay afloat for 3 more years. She's on the shortlist for it, so I was sure she'd be sticking around. My other sister Amy, and her hubbie Gary, and their 4 children currently live in Spring Hill (northeast of Tampa) and, since they're one of the unlucky people to be upside down on a mortgage, will not be moving either. :)
I reevaluated my life goals and realized that my goals are mostly what I thought - I'm ready for the house, and the yard, and the not-$13,000-a-year daycare... and I want to be around my family. But that's possible in FL or PA.
About 3 weeks ago, Matt talked to the manager of Draper's manufacturing facility (which is in St Pete - Tampa) and basically said "The boss wants to move by her family. I've been applying to jobs in PA. But if you had a spot for me in St Pete, she'd be happy to move there instead..." And in 3 weeks, Matt's current boss has gotten onboard, and about 3 levels of management have agreed, and last week we got the official offer. So yea. The only question left is WHEN. I'll spare you the debate - October 1st. That will give us a few short weeks before the baby arrives to settle in a bit. I'll go on maternity leave then and hope they let me telecommute starting January 1st. We're going to rent for about 6 months and try to find a ridiculously good deal on a house in a market that is hopefully at rock-bottom...
The end (beginning).
Consider this the official announcement that Team Shea is moving to Florida... a (not so brief) synopsis of how this all occurred (my timeline is bound to be wrong, but close enough)
4 years ago (in July even), the Navy informed me that I would be released from active duty a few months early (woohoo). Around this time I also happened to visit Regan, who convinced us that Boston was a fun place. Since he's such a persuasive bastard, we agreed, under the premise that this was but a minor detour in my master plan to settle in PA. Every lease renewal since then has inevitably been preceded by the PA/MA discussion. We all know which side (MA)tt is on...
This year around April (lease renewal in June), I put my foot down. We have loved this life for 4 years and 1.5 babies, but I'm ready for the house, and the yard, and the not-$13,000-a-year daycare that will double with Bebe #2. And I want Brynna to grow up surrounded by a gaggle of cousins just like Cati Knab did. So the husband started looking for jobs in PA, but for whatever reason (I have my theories), this just didn't pan out.
About 6 months ago, Elaine (lives in Orlando) started applying for this grant that would allow her organization to stay afloat for 3 more years. She's on the shortlist for it, so I was sure she'd be sticking around. My other sister Amy, and her hubbie Gary, and their 4 children currently live in Spring Hill (northeast of Tampa) and, since they're one of the unlucky people to be upside down on a mortgage, will not be moving either. :)
I reevaluated my life goals and realized that my goals are mostly what I thought - I'm ready for the house, and the yard, and the not-$13,000-a-year daycare... and I want to be around my family. But that's possible in FL or PA.
About 3 weeks ago, Matt talked to the manager of Draper's manufacturing facility (which is in St Pete - Tampa) and basically said "The boss wants to move by her family. I've been applying to jobs in PA. But if you had a spot for me in St Pete, she'd be happy to move there instead..." And in 3 weeks, Matt's current boss has gotten onboard, and about 3 levels of management have agreed, and last week we got the official offer. So yea. The only question left is WHEN. I'll spare you the debate - October 1st. That will give us a few short weeks before the baby arrives to settle in a bit. I'll go on maternity leave then and hope they let me telecommute starting January 1st. We're going to rent for about 6 months and try to find a ridiculously good deal on a house in a market that is hopefully at rock-bottom...
The end (beginning).
Oh, I think that sounds so EXCITING!!! You should be able to find an amazing deal on a house...you'll have family close...you won't have to deal with bundling up TWO kids this winter...sooooo many great things about moving south! :-)
ReplyDeleteI know there isn't a whole lot Justin and I can do from across the country, but if you think of anything we can do to make your move less crazy...let us know. I'm sad you guys won't be moving closer to us, but also really happy that you will be near some family.
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