“Create a life you don’t need a vacation from.”

I have seen this quote many times over the years and it always made me think. I just could not arrive at what that would look like in my mind. My priority over the last 6 years has been seeing as much of the world as I can. I could not imagine anything more important than my freedom, and traveling. How could anyone stay in one place? I certainly could not.

When this pandemic hit and travel was on hold indefinitely, I’ll admit I had a little existential crisis.

I visited the Smoky Mountains 4 times since June. From the moment that first smell of the mountains enters my car window, through all the miles on the trails, I realized that I have felt happier than I ever have when there in the Smoky Mountains. My employer closed our physical office in Georgia and made us fully remote, and I’m actually in a job that I love and want to stay in, so it was within the realm of possibility to move somewhere new. 4 levels of bosses and HR had to approve my relocation and I am so grateful they did. A pet friendly rental house had to appear in the right timing and I’m so grateful it did. I moved in early October.

I don’t know what the future holds. Maybe I’ll want to go back to seeing the world again. Maybe I’ll want to make a more permanent home in the mountains and buy or build something. For now, I have a new home in East Tennessee, about an hour from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with 900 miles of trails to hike and no desire to jet off to another country.

Thank you for following my blog

• Andy