Well, its official. I am quitting my job and moving out of NYC. Rick and I have decided that this town just isn't for us. If you know me, you know that after college I was never quite happy with the city...maybe it was the commuting on the subways, or the constant noise (probably both)...either way I have had my fill of New York City. I cannot wait to leave! There are sad things about leaving though...I will be leaving a wonderfully full filling job and many close friendships. Every time I am around my friends these days, I get very sad and almost think about staying. But I think my friends want me to stay sane so...I will go!

So where are we headed? That was a question that we thought through and through many times. For me, I have really come to understand in the last month or so that I really wanted to be somewhere that was going to be beautiful and accessible-meaning that we could do a lot of outdoor activities. We had heard a lot of good things about Portland, Oregon and thought that it might be worth a look. The big negative against going to Portland was that we did not know anyone there. After much conversation, we decided that we are going to try and move to Seattle...a city that is far far away from New York and feels like it too! Its green and lush and everyone is so laid back. And contrary to popular belief, Seattle is not the rainiest (in terms of actual accumulation) city in the US. It does however rain the most often:) But I don't mind. I lived in Ireland for six months and loved every second of the rain there...I think that Seattle has a very similar climate to the Ireland coast where I studied abroad. That is just fine to me! The idea of being there, and being able to be surrounded by water and Mt. Rainer...ah that just fills me to the brim with excitement. Woot!

In other news, I went to visit Meghan in Montana. The trip there was an ordeal (in that it took forever) but it was so great to see Meghan in as close to her element as I have ever seen her. Her friends and her life there suit her to the tee. I am so jealous that she is constantly surrounded by all those lovely mountains...that she can go hiking or to the hot springs or camping...that's where I felt my kinship with the land of my birth. I really felt connected, that I belonged there. At one point, Meghan and I went to Georgetown Lake. I knew (and not because I had been told but because I actually remembered) that I had been there before. It was a really odd sensation. I grew up so far away from all of this but there was a part of me that still remembered and really loved being where my parents and siblings and I had spent a lot of time twenty years ago. Ahh...good times!

Above are some pictures from my trip to The Big Sky State.
1. Meghan climbs Waterworks Hill in Missoula.
2. Don't worry Mom, we won't be anywhere never bears;) ...on the hike to Holland Falls.
3. The view from Holland Falls.
4. Meghan and I pause on the (treacherous) trail to some hot springs.
5. Georgetown Lake
6. The Historic Willa movie theatre in downtown Missoula.