Jen and I have talked for years about relocating. Almost as soon as we moved to Eldersburg, we traveled to St. John, USVI, one summer with my sister and her family, and my parents, and fell in love with island time and space. For a few months, we lived in the conversation of a relocation, perhaps even a bi-location. The possibilities were enticing.

We thought about positioning ourselves to work remotely.   I thought perhaps it was time to get serious about online teaching and writing, and we looked at property and read books and stoked the dream.

But we had two young guys, and were considering a third. Even though the days crawled, it seemed the years flew, and even after a second trip to St. John, and numerous trips to Florida (and a couple to the Bahamas), we still were here. A couple very mild winters followed the last really severe one.  The kids were up to the eyeballs in sports and First Lego and scouts, I was writing up a storm, and Jen was coaching and teaching and time flew.

For several years, we had said “summer 2012.”  The magic year.  Our focus shifted to Florida’s Space Coast. We had the house appraised. Ouch. Maybe another few months.  But we stayed committed to the goal.