Heather and Doug Nunley: September 2013

So Friday we returned from our trip to Huntsville, Valley, and Augusta (pictures coming soon). We enjoyed the trip and time spent with family but we learned a really big lesson. Our home is now Maryland. As I sit here by the open window in my living room, with NFL football on, there is a cool breeze coming through and a smile on my face. 3 years ago, when we first considered moving up here, I would never have believed you if you told me we would absolutely love it up here. But we do. I love the south and will always be a southern girl but Maryland has been a great fit for us. I had a pro/con list that leaned towards con but living here for over two years has really changed my mind. I just didn't realize it until our trip. Yeah, it was hard at first being in a new place far away from all our family and friends. Then with Doug working the yucky retail hours I was home by myself a lot. But now his schedule gets him home every day by 3 and he has every Friday and Saturday off so we see each other more than ever. Our first trip home last year, I was sad. I still had a soft place for our home, our old hang outs, and the area in general. This time, I did not. Walking through our house, I remembered the good times we had there but realized we had outgrown it. We are in a different place in our lives now. I wondered what we would be like if we would have stayed there. I knew we would not have been happy and we were exactly where we are suppose to be. It's hard to describe the feeling and when I told people we would probably not move back anytime soon they did not understand. It's hard to put in words what it feels like to be home. Here, we feel we are home.

The reasons we love Maryland are endless but in short it is because the area offers so much to do, we both have jobs we like and get paid more than any previous job, we have made great friends, the weather is so nice, and we have a nice, quite life here together. There will always be things I miss about the south (the food, Auburn and SEC country, and the beaches) but we have adapted and have come to appreciate things like crabs, NFL, and the bay. I know we are in an apartment and don't own a big house but I LOVE our apartment. It is a perfect size for us, close to friends and Doug's parents, in a great neighborhood that is safe, and close to our jobs. The active community has helped me focus more on my health and has me working out more than ever before. Everyone, for the most part, in nice and we have had no bad experiences. Doug and I are always moving forward, wanting the best that life has to offer. We work hard and are willing to make sacrifices to achieve our goals. Being here has helped us get closer to those goals and become happier than we have ever been.

I have raved about my job in the past and nothing has changed. Yes, we all have our bad days. There are things we don't agree with or people we don't see eye to eye with. But I would take what I have now over my old job in a heart beat. I really think my last job was something I had to go through to appreciate every job I have after that. I can't wait to go into work everyday. I find my job rewarding and challenging. I also feel appreciated and rewarded for the hard work I do. I feel successful and on path for my career goals.

Auburn's allergies have not really gotten any better but I really think she loves it up here. She goes on walks with me a lot, she has made many friends and sees them often, and has really calmed down since we have been up here. She was excited to see her friends last week but she was thrilled to be back home. I also believe that us liking it up here so much has helped her adjust and love it up here as well. Her quirks may make it seem like she is spoiled or "special" but in reality, we all are a little quirky. Some things she can't help, like her allergies and all the special food she has to have, and others are her preferences, like watching TV on the couch with her pillow and blanket, but we don't judge her for them. We love her more for them.

Doug and I are homebodies and we spend a lot of time together but we would not have it any other way. We enjoy our quite time together and our fun nights out with friends. I feel we are the same as we were in GA but maybe more appreciative of the time we have together thanks to the almost two years of working weekends and getting off late. We are each other's best friends and we support each other in everything we do. We have fun everyday. We laugh, we argue, we aggravate the mess out of each other. :) But it's fun and has been the best 10 years of my life. I thank him for everything he has done for me and for being there for me no matter what. He has made me happy. Auburn has made me happy. And Maryland has made me happy.