Going Back to Cali

Let’s just say this: our move back to California wasn’t exactly part of the plan, but when has life ever stuck to the plan?

Originally, we told ourselves we’d move back to LA eventually. But after spending a week in LA and OC with my friend, Tayler, and experiencing glorious beach days, ocean view golf, and Star Wars tattoos, I found myself falling back in love with LA. We made an offer on the first house I toured. It got accepted. And now… we’re moving back to Cali!

Back in 2022, we made what felt like a bold but smart decision: sell our LA home at a great profit and buy a house in Texas for my mom. (Plot twist: a few months in, she decided she missed LA and moved back.) So we rented out the Texas property and decided to shake things up by heading further east to Raleigh, North Carolina. Our close friends were living there, and honestly, the idea of exploring a new part of the country sounded exciting.

Fast-forward three years and several soul-searching conversations later, we came to a clear realization: we missed LA. We missed our families, our community, the vibrant art and food scene, late-night hangouts, aviation museums, great shopping, and our hosted dinners with friends. As a couple without kids who prioritize culture, connection, and travel over square footage or school districts, our lifestyle felt out of sync with suburban living. We belonged in the city, not the ’burbs.

We’re currently in a 60-day escrow (cue the nonstop stress, open houses, and mild chaos). We get the keys to our Spanish-style bungalow in early September. That means packing up, organizing the movers, and selling our Raleigh home at the same time. It’s a lot. But it feels right.

So yes, we’re coming home. I’ll be sharing our journey back: road trip adventure, packing tips, house updates, the redesign of our Spanish bungalow, and all the real-life moments in between.

This chapter is about returning, but also about rooting. I don’t know if this will be our forever home, but it already feels like the right one for right now.

Stay tuned.