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I’ve always loved to travel. To see new places. To capture them in photos.
But of everywhere I’ve been, only one place has truly felt like home: Northern California. That’s where my soul lives. That’s why vacations aren’t enough anymore, I have to live there.
The Build-Up
To make the move possible, I started working two jobs. For a while, that grind felt doable because I had a clear goal. But after a month and a half, I quit one.
I realized I didn’t need both anymore, I was going to reach my moving savings goal with just one, and I could see it clearly when I checked my Monthly Budgeting Template.
The problem? The job I kept was the one I disliked most.
It was remote. Isolating. It drained me more every single day. I missed people. I missed getting out. Slowly, my mental health sank lower than I’d ever let it go. I stopped talking to people, because as long as I had work the next day, I felt inconsolable.
The Breaking Point
On my last two days off, I decided something had to change.
After days of talking about it to myself and processing everything in my journals, I quit.
The money to move could be made in other ways, but my peace couldn’t wait. I needed to put myself first.
So, I called my friend in Pennsylvania and asked if I could come stay awhile.
That trip was the best decision I could’ve made.
Pennsylvania Memories
Those days were full of everything I had been missing, adventure, laughter, calm moments that reminded me what it feels like to really live.
We explored, took photos, made memories that felt both simple and unforgettable. It grounded me again. It reminded me why I was working so hard to move to California, not to survive, but to live fully.
If you're interested you can read more about it here: A Spontaneous Trip to Pennsylvania — Finding Rest and Adventure.
Coming Back Stronger
Since that trip, I’ve gone back to my first job, the one I had quit before. It may not pay as much, but it allows me to breathe again.
And the best part? I’ve already reached my moving goal. Northern California isn’t just a dream anymore, it’s a plan in motion.
All because I trusted my gut.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes, your peace is worth more than the paycheck. Sometimes, you need to step away to step forward.
This trip reminded me of that truth. And it gave me the reset I needed to keep going, not just toward a move, but toward a life I want to live.