Charleston, South Carolina

We, to my surprise, actually moved to Charleston, South Carolina on March 31, 2010.  Actually,we really started moving here three years ago but I digress....

About three years ago, husband Bill (William to me;  Bill to everyone else) pondered aloud where we would move after our Corporate careers were 'over'.  Since I didn't intend for mine to be over for many years to come, it seemed like a fun exercise in 'what if'....and I found that I was oriented toward LA and ACK and he was thinking east coast but warmer...and when we played the game of what it you want in your dream place, he had the folowing list:  warm, hisotic, less expensive, close enough for the kids to come, a place the kids would want to come, buying an old house would be nice and one in need of repair and renovation would be even better.  Well, a few months later, on a lark Thanksgiving trip to Charleston with Claire (daughter extraordinaire), we knew we had found 'the place' or he did and I think that was enough for me. So, the seed was planted, the Greenwich house was put up for sale and we began to look at Charleston houses.

To Bill, there was just a 6 block area that fit his sensibilities....and we actually found the house that seemed to have our name written all over it about 6 months ago.  In the intervening 2 and 1/2 years, much had happened.  My adored parents both died, we had a fantastic wedding in our backyard for Claire, and our creative and funny daughter Nik had moved back to Greenwich....all a bit conflicting pieces....but this house in Charleston, which needed such care and renewal seemed to call  us.  It was small, about half the size of what we knew, and the yard was, as Bill calculated, 1/10th the size of what the dogs (Westies:  Charlie and Winston) were accustomed to....but it had the potential, we thought, to be a jewel.

And on a cold day in February three events came together as if they were pre-planned and pre-ordained:  I graduated from a ridiculously rigorous masters couse in Bread Baking, our home in Greenwich was rented to a wonderful London family for two years and the divorcing couple in Charleston finally put their differences aside and sold us the house we were meant to have at a price it should have been months earlier.  And, before I could say, holy bread flour, we were packing (and packing and packing and packing) and got in the car and drove here.  We stopped to see Johanna (my wonderfully generous sister, who always supplies us, among other things, with the best salted oatmeal cookies and a ton of loving support) and made the 14 hour trip in just two days! 

About two hours out of Bethesda, a funny thing happened....the sun came out, the temperature rose to a perfect 74 and for the past 14 days we have lived what seems like a vacation.  A vacation in terms of sunny weather and fun restaurants....as well as a Chevy Chase saga of mishaps.....a Seinfeld collection of characters....and plenty of signs of the  Money Pit.  So, I decided to try and write down the highlights.....and since they seem to make me laugh, to share it....I still hope to bakemeacareer....just now sure how yet and know that the next six months will be more renovate than innovate....more looking for that positive perspective than having perspective....so check in with me if you'd like and I will keep you apprised of our progress, or regress, whatever happens!  What I do know is that Bill has not seemed this happy since the wedding.....the one in 1990!

sending love