Why I moved my career from NYC to rural Oregon in a town of 267 people.

Two of the most common questions I get asked are, “Where are you from?” and "Where do you live?"

In my travels, I’ve typically find that these answers are mostly the same for people. Although since the pandemic, I meet far more people who have moved to a different city, state, or even country than where they grew up.

I fall into this category. Since relocating 3,000 miles away from New Jersey, which I called home for 28 years, to the central Oregon coast in a town with 267 people, my life choice has been tough to explain to people in my personal and professional networks. What could possibly drive a "city girl" to rural Oregon?

The Beginning.

Long before the pandemic, I knew that New Jersey would not be my forever home. When I was in college, I always pictured myself in sunny Southern California. I spent quite a bit of time visiting friends and family there, and loved it, but it never felt like home to me.

The pandemic sparked my interest in road tripping. I went on my first big road trip in November 2020. It was me, my bike, my laptop, and a hockey bag full of clothing packed into a 2008 Honda CRV. I traveled 5,000 miles from New Jersey to South Texas and back, all by myself, in 4 weeks. I visited 11 states and 20 cities; when I got back, I was expecting to move to either Little Rock, Arkansas or Austin/San Antonio, Texas.

But, before I made my final decision, I knew I had a little more exploring to do. I was in no rush to move – at the time, I was living in the bustling city by the sea called Asbury Park, NJ, a vibrant, diverse and lively coastal NJ town. My only complaint was the frigid, windy winters.

The Next Chapter.

In June 2021, I was ready to embark on my next big adventure. On my 2020 road trip, I didn’t like the burden of working while traveling – it limited the time I had to explore new places, and it made me hyper-aware of how much my work life interfered with my personal life. Even when I wasn’t “on the clock” it was impossible for me to separate from it entirely.

So, before my next trip, I quit my full time job after almost 4 years with the company to prioritize travel. I planned an epic road trip for the month of July to the Pacific Northwest, which changed the entire trajectory of my life.

The Turning Point.

I started my adventure in Eugene, Oregon and rented a car. I drove straight out to the coast to Route 101, which is one of the most beautiful, scenic drives in the U.S.

I had two days to myself before meeting up with a friend in Portland for the rest of my trip. On day one, I stayed in a coastal town called Yachats known for scenic views and good food. On the second day, I drove up to a little fishing village called Pacific City because I read about it in a road trip book that I got for $3 on a discount rack at Barnes & Noble. While there, I officially fell in love with the west coast, the small town, the evergreen forests, the mountains, the wildlife, and the sunsets.

One of the things I liked most about Pacific City was how “unplugged” the town is as a whole. In the summers, there’s hardly cell service because the town’s outdated infrastructure is not designed to support so many people. Also, the true locals (now friends) predominantly work in the trades –?fishing, carpentry, construction, hospitality, and farming among the most popular. So, my job (working remotely as a publicist for high technology companies) was a pretty foreign concept. I’ve had conversations that have netted out to, “I type and take phone calls for a living.”

A 20th Century Love Story in the 21st Century.

Another thing I fell in love with was my partner, Anthony. We met at a local dive bar the night I was in town. Anthony has lived in PC for more than 25 years. He’s a high-end painter and drywall contractor by trade, but we connected because his energy, travel bug, and spontaneous nature matched mine. Despite our very different life experiences, our connection was undeniable and instantaneous.

The next day I was headed out of town to pick up my friend and continue my adventure. We said goodbye and I embarked on the rest of my 2.5-week, 4,000-mile adventure from Oregon to Washington to Idaho to Montana to Wyoming to Utah.

When I got back to New Jersey at the end of July, Anthony booked a flight to come see me not even 2 weeks later. He met my friends, my family, and experienced all that my home state had to offer. By November, he was in NJ for the third time and we were getting read to drive my Honda CRV one way to Oregon – my new home!

So why did I move?

I love New Jersey. My family and a lot of my friends still live there. I built my career living there and working in Manhattan. New Jersey has some of the best food I've ever tasted and everything you need is within 10 minutes of you at all times. It is also a cultural hot spot. Asbury Park, for example, is a bustling town rich with music, arts, architecture, history, and culture. Every night, no matter the season or the weather, you can hear live music. That, plus the bagels and pizza, are the things I miss most.

I moved to Oregon because I could. I found a career that allows me to travel, live wherever I want, and earn a good living. I live in a beautiful town with a tight-knit community that feels like home, and every time I close my laptop, I am forced to separate myself from my work; outside of my home office, my work doesn’t really apply here.

I also moved to Oregon because I knew that if I didn't, I'd look back later in life and wish I had. I also love a challenge and this one sounded like it would be a lot of fun.

The hardest thing about living out here is being so far away from my parents, who are still on the East Coast. But, we stay in regular touch and I am able to visit them for weeks at a time because of the flexibility that my job offers.

I’ve been in Oregon for over a year now, and I've had ample time to reflect on my decision to move; I have no regrets. I still love New Jersey for its people, its food, its music, its culture, its convenience...but I no longer feel stuck and I've learned to really appreciate all of the wonderful things it has to offer when I visit.