About this Blog

I started this project in May 2010 when Chop and I first committed to our plans of moving to Key West.  We decided then that it would be best to keep our plans to ourselves while we worked through the details, but I still wanted to talk about it.  It's been so hard keeping this from our families!  I'm also a freakishly organized planner, and if I can't tell Mom what's going on right now ... well, I really wanted to be able to tell somebody.  So ... here I am!   

Why the top secret plans, though?  If you scroll back to the beginning, way back to June 2010, you'll see many posts that explain how and why we came to our decisions.  Primarily, there are two reasons we've chosen to do this incognito.  First, we live in a small town.  Word travels fast.  We simply can't afford to take the chance of anyone at Chop's job knowing of our intentions quite yet.  Neither one of us are comfortable with the secrets, but the risk of him losing favor with his bosses is not one we can afford to take.  An unexpected job loss would be devastating.

Second.  On the scale of complexities when it comes to relocation - this one rates pretty darned high.  Chop and I have both moved many times in our adult lives, but now we have a little boy, professional civilian careers, property, and responsibilities to the Navy, and responsibilities to our community.  Until we are able to provide clear answers to the many expected (and rightfully so!) questions, it's easier for us to maneuver through this process without worrying our families.  I can assure you, we are studying every angle, every option, and every possibility that we have available to us in making our plans.  Much of the process is a matter of waiting, and it's awfully tough to explain the wait for those anxious for news.  We can only ask that you have a little faith in us.

Third (kind of, but not really).  There will be some who will wish us to fail.  GASP!  Really???  Yes, they're out there, and we all know those types.  I think Chop and I are incredibly blessed and lucky to have the families that we have, and we genuinely feel that they will support us once the final pieces fall into place.  But there are others who won't be so kind.  For the time being, we don't need the negative energy associated with said boobs, but we'll be sure to send them postcards once we're settled. You'd better believe it! 

I think one of the most important things that I've learned in this process (so far!) is the immense willingness of the Key West locals to help us along in our research.  It's been difficult tracking down stories of other families like ours - other non-affiliated families.  As a result and over time, this project evolved into something more of a resource guide - "all the things I want to know about moving to Key West with a family but couldn't find anywhere else in one nice neat little package."  Gradually, my blog became the source I had been searching for all along!

Nearly one year has passed since we made our decision, and we are still working very hard on our plans - and so far, so good!  It's not an easy process, as we are moving to a tropical island, after all (ahem, did I mention that?) ... but we're very proud of how we've worked together to ensure that we're doing the right thing for our family.  In the meantime, we continue to check off our lists day by day, week by week.  Please feel free to browse my postings and read our stories.  If you think my efforts might helps others in their own transitions to Key West, please feel free to pass this site along.  If you have your own stores to share, then don't be shy ...we'd love the hear them!

Cheers!