Well, we did it. For better or worse, we pulled up the stakes in NC and bought property in MI, moving here full time in July. As a Montana native, I am no stranger to incredible country and inviting communities. After living and working all over the US and abroad with my active-duty husband, when the chance came to settle down in Leelanau County we jumped at it-- knowing from experience there are few places that could rival it. The challenge now is figuring out how to make our vision, a reality.

They say home is where the heart is. Problem with that is, your own front door and a roof over your head are still requirements. So we are building and dreaming and hoping, and maybe soon that front door and that roof will be real. In the meantime, as cliche millennials do, we have holed up in my husband's parents' garage and decided to live on the edge, not having all the question marks answered, but confident in our vision. Carpe Diem and our kids' college funds be damned. Who needs a 401K when you can live #upnorth?

Similar optimism and enthusiasm marks the way in which I have approached my diverse career opportunities over the last ten years... and how I am surveying potential new career moves here. Though my degrees are in Journalism and Spanish, most of my experience is in the Marketing and Public Relations fields, most notably as the Marketing Manager for two different companies in vastly different industries. I have also been a freelance journalist for the past 6 years with consistent bylines in both national and regional publications. It is my background living and studying abroad, however, that makes me really passionate about international relations, the South American and Spanish cultures, and moves me to connect people and stories in virtually any industry I find myself.

I don't know yet where my passions and the needs of this community might intersect, but I trust that I have something to offer and that Traverse and Leelanau County have something that could challenge and excite me. We are fresh transplants, but it doesn't take long to gain an intense appreciation for the quality of life here and the boundless potential. And no matter the question marks ahead, I can take that to the bank.