How I Became a California Girl: A Love Story.

Since its Valentine’s Day week, I thought I would share with you my Love Story with my husband Matt, aka Boyfriend. He is the sweetest, most supportive husband out there and I love him so much! I’d follow him all over the country and I actually have. Here is our story.

I’m an Ohio Girl

It’s true, I am not from California. I was raised in Ohio from the time I was in 2nd grade until after college.

 

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 So how did I end up in California? Well, it’s a long story but it starts with a boy. Doesn’t it always???

I am an Ohio University Bobcat and like all good Ohio college girls I headed to Spring Break in my senior year. Destination: South Padre Island, Texas. I know this will be hard to believe but I didn’t go on Spring Break to look for a boy. Really! I went on Spring Break to get some some sun, hang out with my friends and have lots of fun. But that boy just walked into my life. Literally. Around the 3rd night of Spring Break a group of boys walked into our hotel room. (I know that sounds totally unsafe to just have your hotel room door wide open, but that is kind of what happens on Spring Break.

This is our actual first picture together! No fancy editing here other than the hearts. It really is a polaroid!

It was love at first sight for me. I can’t speak for him but I remember thinking the second I saw him that I knew I was going to marry him. And he was from Ohio too. I always think it is funny that I had to go to Texas to meet a boy from Ohio!

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Fast forward a few years and that boy and I were getting married.

We started our married life in Toledo, my hometown. And shortly thereafter Matt was transferred with his job to California. I was all about the adventure, so I jumped in with both feet. Our clothes packed in a mens weekend bag. We lived in the San Francisco Bay area for about 3 years when we started to get the feeling that it was time to get closer to home. We were ready to start a family and it is hard to be so far away. Oh, and the place where Matt worked happened to burn down. So there’s that. An opportunity came up again with my husband’s company that allowed us to move to Dubois, PA.

Have any of you ever heard of Dubois?

I didn’t think so. Nestled in the hills of West Central PA, Dubois is near nothing! Let me set the scene. I got on the plane in San Francisco in January and it was 60 and sunny. I got off the plane in Pittsburgh and it was Antarctica cold and snowing like crazy.

I would have cried but my tears would have frozen to my face. (Wait, I think I did cry!)

When we arrived in Dubois, realty set in. After being in the Bay Area, it was a difficult transition back to dial up internet connections with now services like vpnhut.com and no mall. (Ok, there was a mall but the anchor store was Big Lots so I don’t think that really counts!) But I was pregos with our first baby boy and that kept me going and kept me super busy.

We had to wait for our new house to be finished being built but when we moved in we started making plans for decorating and furnishing. I no sooner painted the walls when my Matt came home and said he was being transferred to Zanesville, OH. Now you would think I would have resisted another move so soon. But just the week before, Matt had called to let me know he saw a bear in our neighborhood on his way to work. And when your day mainly consist of walking your new baby around the neighborhood in a stroller, these black bear sightings are not cool. Plus, Zanesville had a mall!

So off we went. Our second home was a 100 year old victorian fixer upper.

I spent a lot of time stripping floor to ceiling wallpaper and painting in that home. It was a labor of love and I think it was really where my DIY spirit was inspired. If we wanted it done on that house, we did it ourselves. Fast forward 5 years in that home and another baby boy later.

And we got the call to head back to my hometown of Toledo for another transfer. I must confess I was ready. My parents were there and some friends from grade school and high school. So it was an easy move to make.

We lived in Perrysburg for less than 1 year when my husband came home and said he had been offered a new position back in California.

Truth be told, ever since we left California the first time we both had dreamed of going back. The good weather, the outdoor life, the beach, the mountains, the cost of living (eeek! Not so much!) Of course, leaving our family was and has been difficult. We have been lucky to be able to see everyone at least once a year. Which is not enough but, it’s something. Thank goodness for FaceTime!

So that is the journey that has led to my California life. I did it for love! I think I will always be a midwest girl at heart. But life is good here on the west coast. Who knows what will happen in the future? Will we move again? Trust me when I say I have learned to never say never. But as long as I am with my family, I’m happy. Love you, Boyfriend!

 

I’m Linking Up:

http://www.frysauceandgrits.com/2014/02/beyoutiful-link-party-7.html