What's in Store for 2013

It's been pretty uneventful here on The Elser 411, but our real lives have been anything but over the last three months or so.

I hated keeping secrets, but it was complicated.  At first it was just an idea - there wasn't much to tell.  Then, as things progressed, we needed to keep it close to the vest.  There was a very specific order that had to be followed as this plan was put into motion.  Slowly the news was released.  Finally there are no more secrets.

We are moving to Fort Collins, Colorado.

It started just beforeThanksgiving when Drew decided to dust off his resume and test the waters.  Anyone who knows him well could see that the stress was getting to him.  He was turning into a shell of his old self.  Something had to change.  But never in a million years did we expect that in the course of one month those phone interviews would turn into a day trip to Denver for some face-to-face time and a job offer that seemed almost too good to be true.  I'm a believer in following the signs and in this case we were shown a lighted path!

So here's what we've been up to.

• December 20th Drew accepted a position with Emerald Isle Landscaping to open their 4th branch in Fort Collins (they currently have branches in Colorado Springs, South Denver and North Denver).  He will be building it from the ground up. 
• December 29th the three of us made a quick trip to Colorado (conveniently disguised as a belated Christmas celebration with my family) to finalize the deal and visit Fort Collins in person. 
• January 5th we selected a realtor (after our first attempt nearly scared us to death about the state of the market and value of our home).  We spent the next 10 days cleaning closets, painting walls and shampooing carpets as we prepared our house for the market. 
• January 7th Drew resigned from First Management, Inc.
• January 9th I notified GCSAA that sometime in the coming months I would be leaving for Fort Collins.
• January 16th a for sale sign went in the yard.
• Yesterday Drew flew to Colorado to start his new job while Jackson, Ruby & I stay behind to sell the house.

And now we wait.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a tiny bit scared.  We built a great life here.  We have all the "stuff" that makes you comfortable:  the 13-year careers with one company, the house, the country club, the school, the community we know and love.  We're trading all of that for a whole lot of unknowns.  But I've learned through this process that sometime being comfortable just isn't enough.  So we'll suffer through some time apart, ride the roller coaster of selling our house and cross all of the other bridges (new jobs, new school, new house...new everything) as we come to them - our motto since we started this journey.

Despite the occasional overwhelming moments, we couldn't be more excited about this opportunity.  For the first time in my adult life, I will be close (about 90 miles) to my family.  We still have 1 1/2 years before Jackson starts Kindergarten so his disruptions are minimal.  We both have an opportunity to rejuvenate our careers after pretty much reaching a plateau.  And we are moving to the land of perfect weather (four seasons without the extremes in either direction and 360 days of sunshine a year), endless outdoor activities, professional sports in every genre, a quick drive to Denver and all the city has to offer, and breathtaking scenery.


Here is the view as you exit I-25 toward Ft. Collins.  It was a horribly overcast morning with flurries in the area.  On a clear day the foothills are picture perfect.  The tree line in front of the mountains is the city.  So, so pretty.

That is what's in store for us in 2013.  Some ups and downs no doubt, but one heck of an adventure along the way!