The word is out. I am moving to Austin.

The land of my sister, swimming holes and sunshine. A place that feels like a nicer, albeit HOTTER version of Seattle/Portland. A city where horses are sometimes tied up on the side of the road and you can feel the heat radiate into the core of your being. I have spent a few weeks in Austin. Leisurely eating watermelon and mango in the back yard, swimming until I turned into a prune and wandering through an abandoned warehouse turned farmer’s market. I have felt the community and kindness in the people of Austin. I have felt and understand why it is the number one place in the USA for young people to move to.

I am so ready to throw myself into this place, immerse myself in the city and get my hands dirty in the soil. This place is excited about food, I am excited about food, it will be a magical relationship.

My decision has come as a surprise to many people. Most people just ask why. Why would I want to leave a place where my family and friends are? Why would I want to leave the Pacific Northwest when it is one of the best places to live, in the entire world? Why oh WHY would I want to live in a place that is so so so hot?

Here is why:

1)      I locked down a great opportunity to apprentice on an urban farm in Austin called Urban Roots. It is a non-profit organic farm in East Austin that hires teenagers and teaches them how to farm. I will be working there 12 hours a week with the farm manager, picking his brain and learning the in’s and out’s of farming. This makes my heart swell to a point I can’t explain as I want to grow up to be a farmer. Couldn’t have found a cooler place. Couldn’t be more excited. Hip Hip.

2)      These people are there.

I don’t know if you know this, but these people rock my world. They do this for the following reasons: that lady is my sister. My sister is like what happens when you combine sunshine and puppy’s paws and good bluegrass music put it into a bottle, shake it and out pops a human. Meaning, she is a combination of all that is good and right with the world. She is my other half. When I told her I was moving down she said, “Apart we are a disaster, together we are unstoppable.” My thoughts exactly. And that other dude? That guy is ok I guess. Whatever. (hehe. I kid, I kid. He is the combination of deep laughter, beautiful art and feeling like a little kid again. Joyful.)

3)      9 months of sunshine. When you live in a place that is 9 months of rain, switching to a place that is opposite of everything you know (weather-wise) is a brilliant and scary thing. I can’t wait to step out my door and feel the heat in the evening. I can’t wait to find a place to swim at night. I can’t wait for trips to the beach and to dip my toes into the gulf. I can’t wait to have my freckles all year-long, and only need sweaters every once in a while. I know I will miss the rain, the green, and the magical northwest fall and winter. I get that. Here is the kicker; Seattle will still be there in a few years. Crazy, I know.

4)      And finally, there is this boy… But that is a story for another time. Bottom line: sigh.

Here is to new changes, shaking my life into a new place and throwing caution to the wind. Here’s  to the universe acknowledging the brilliance of all of this and granting me opportunities and bliss in a way I didn’t even know was possible.

Cheers.

The Perfect Margarita

1.5 oz tequila (don’t fool around with this. Get good stuff. 100% agave. Worth it)

1 oz Triple Sec

1 oz fresh lime juice

A dash of agave syrup (optional)

Salt!

• Get yourself a martini shaker and fill with ice.
• Combine all the ingredients into the shaker and shake shake shake.
• Rim your glass of choice with lime and then dip into coarse salt.
• Pour in the chilled margarita and enjoy. Continue to enjoy when you move onto your 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th. I mean, we are celebrating after all.