Eight years ago, I moved from Canada to Southern California. Never in a million years did I think that I would one day end up in Kansas City, much less Kansas itself. My only experience with the state was through The Wizard of Oz, and there was no way I was ever going to live anywhere I could get scooped up by a tornado—sorry for the cliché!
Anyway, I loved my time in California. I spent five years in Los Angeles where I met my husband. After we were married, we moved to Orange County where we thought we would settle and start our family.
But last year, when my husband and I found out we were pregnant with our first baby, something shifted. We started analyzing life at a deeper level and asking all those fun existential questions: “What does life mean?” “Why are we here?” “What are we doing all this for?” It became apparent that the life we had created was not the life we wanted to take with us into this next chapter. Many deep conversations led us to the decision to move out of California. So after baby arrived, we put our house on the market, packed up our little California life, and made our way out to the midwest.
Tip: If you ever want the longest flight of your life, try it with a ten-week-old baby, two slightly sedated dogs, six pieces of luggage, three carry ons, one stroller, and one Pack ‘n Play.
It’s been several months now that we have lived in Kansas City, and I can tell you without a doubt that it was the absolute right decision for our family. We love it here. I have found people to be so friendly and kind. I love our neighborhood and the sense of community. I love that I see kids playing on the street and how people wave as you drive past them. I love the weather (yes, I am saying that even coming from California!). I love the seasons and the fresh air. I love a good rain storm with the rolling thunder. I love the greenery in the spring and all the parks and nature to explore. And I love the KC Pride that people exude!
The life that I thought I wanted in my twenties is a far cry from what fulfills me now in my thirties. My husband and I often laugh at the fact that we’re now married, have a baby, a house, dogs… like somewhere along the way, we blinked and grew up. Life is moving really fast, and with a baby, it feels even faster. But I am so thrilled to be in this season of my life. I will cherish the memories that I have from living in California, but I am truly excited for this new chapter and to call Kansas City my home.
