Moving!

As you probably know, we are moving! It isn't all that far from where we currently live, but hopefully it will be the change we've been looking for!

Having learned a lot from our first home, we spent a lot of time researching this new home and area, along with praying for God's guidance, and we truly feel it is the place we should be!

Without being too specific, here's the scoop (especially for those of you worried we are moving to the boonies... aka my mom):

The county where we currently live has seen phenomenal growth over the past decade. That growth has not been managed well, to say the least. People from New York, Boston, New Jersey, California (that would include us) are flooding here because of the jobs and low cost of living, and in most cases sell their ity-bity condos for $600K and buy a McMansion here (this would not include us).

Because of all the growth, the schools are so overcrowded that practically all public schools are on a year-round schedule, with three tracks. This makes it difficult if you have a child attending one track in elementary school, and another child on a different track and schedule in middle school. Also, because of all the growth, schools are constantly being reassigned. Our middle school, for example, has changed three times in the last three years we've lived here. Most schools also have at least 20 or more "portable" classrooms (i.e. trailers) and class sizes just keep getting larger. Case in point, one of the classes I taught last year was 33 kids full (I didn't even have enough tables for all of them)!

What is most disgusting is the way that the county permits these builders to totally slash and burn the landscape, and a mega development to pop up almost over night, without any concern for the landscape or environment. When we bought our current house, there was a super Target and a Lowes nearby. The rest was beautiful rolling hills and woods. Three years later, an entire strip-mall has taken the place of the once forresty area. And the once crisp, blue skies... replaced with a hovering smog that never seems to dissipate.

By contrast, the two other counties that border where Vassil works have been much more conservative about allowing growth. It is more expensive in these counties to build and there are strict guidelines about how much can be cut down per acre. As a result, builders don't exactly flock to these counties, and thereby the schools do not have the overcrowded problem, the roads are not nightmares to drive on, and the landscape is just much more beautiful.

The area where we will be moving also has two excellent schools to choose from. The public school has been an Honor School of Excellence for the past two years, and the charter school nearby (which is K-12) boasts a 95% graduation rate, with 91% going on to college, and the 6th highest SAT scores in the state. Not too shabby!

Also, in this area homes are more spaced out, and you can get more land for the money. In our current county, we would only be able to afford a home on (maybe) half an acre... but where we are moving, our lot is 1.6 acres and backs up to a stream (and not one of those drainage things you see in neighborhoods... a real one!)

Five minutes up the road is the most charming neo-traditional shopping center, built to look like a little village. Nothing like the strip mall near our current home!! And the movie theatre also does outdoor movies every Friday and Saturday nights in the summer. Too cute! Five minutes in a different direction and there is another charming shopping/living community, which was built on an old farm. The old farm house has been transformed into an adorable b&b, the barn into a reception hall, and a little "village" of upscale shopping/eateries. And while it is no longer a working farm, they've kept the pastures, and even the cows, for added charm!

Where we are moving is 5-10 minutes longer of a commute for Vassil, and in a neighboring county. But even though it is further away, it is a totally different drive, mainly on peaceful, country back-roads. Compare that to Vassil's current commute which practically takes him 20 minutes to get through two lights, and if he dare take the highway, he is almost certain to encounter total gridlock.

This move, however, doesn't come without some downsides. The area is pretty far away from my "comfort zone" and everything I'm used to. We will have to learn new roads, find a new church, go to new stores, etc. Likewise, most of the friends I've made will live quite far from our new place. Which means it will be harder to stay in touch! And not something I'm happy about in the least! :(

With that said, we still feel like the move is the best thing for our family, and we are excited about our "fresh start" (as Vassil likes to call it).

And hopefully if you took the time to read this, you can see we are NOT moving to the boonies... just trading an overcrowded area for a more peaceful one. And we hope those of you reading this will be able to come visit us and our new house real soon!!!!

Jennifer