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I knew at the end of 2018 that I was going to make a big change at the start of 2019. In January I quit my job with no new opportunity lined up, loaded my car with anything that would fit and sold everything else, and drove 3,000+ miles. I was living in Nashville, Tennessee which had been such a fun experience I am so glad I had, but Nashville had never felt like home. I loved the city, the music, and the friends I made, but was ready to head back to my home on the West Coast. And so I did, sort of.
I grew up in California and have always known that the West Coast is home. My time living in California, Sweden, China, and Tennessee all reinforced my knowledge that I am a West Coast girl at heart. I have family and friends all along the Pacific Coast and in the Pacific Northwest, so I had so many options of places to live while I was trying to figure out where to relocate. I ended up deciding on Portland, Oregon to be closer to family.
With the destination set, it was time for me to take off! It took 9 days and 8 states, but I made it the 3,097 miles “home.”
Of course, I wasn’t about to pass through 8 different states and not explore along the way. I chose to take the southern route in hopes of avoiding most winter weather. This route allowed me to see parts of the U.S. I have always wanted to visit but hadn’t yet. I had a blast! Since I didn’t have a job lined up in Portland I was able to take my time. I didn’t have any plans or reservations, so I could stop anywhere I wanted along the way and stay for however long I wanted. It was such a liberating, exciting feeling.
Stay tuned over the next few weeks for more in depth information about the different cities I visited along the way!
Great road trip. Thank You.
Happy new week.