Hi! My name is Branden Harvey and I’m a storyteller focused on the good in the world. I’m the host of the Sounds Good podcast, the creator of the Goodnewspaper, and built an online community over 250,000 world changers around the internet. After already moving to Portland, Oregon once in my life, then deciding to move to Nashville, Tennessee for several years, I’ve decided to become a proud (and permanent) resident of Portland. But let’s focus on why I’m really here, to share with you some of my moving stories, as well as tool you with some tips to help you during this exciting, but nerve-racking, time in your life.
Why Portland?
Well, I always loved this city and even have some family close by, although when I first moved here in my early 20s it was more of a love/hate relationship. I also knew that this would be one of life’s many adventures that my wife, Sammi, and I would be able to share together. Plus, this city is filled with SO many delicious doughnuts.
When we were house hunting from across the country we heavily relied on Google Street View, which Homes.com has right on each listing, to help us visualize where we were in the city. We wanted to know how far our future home would be from our jobs, coffee shops, and more. As we were searching for a new locale, we also relied on the Homes.com Rent or Buy calculator to help us see if now was the time to buy a home or if we should continue to rent. Spoiler alert: we’re still renting, but knowing how much it will take to purchase a home was invaluable to us and I highly recommend this tool to all of my friends!
The Moving Journey
When we decided to move, we knew we wanted to downsize into a smaller, more intentional life, so we “Marie Kondo’d” our apartment (got rid of everything that didn’t bring us joy), packed up the truck, and on we went! Oddly enough, we also had to get rid of one of our couches once we got to Portland because it wouldn’t fit up the stairs. But, that’s part of the journey– rolling with the punches and being ready for whatever’s next.I’ll be honest with you, moving is hard work! Whether it’s across the country or across the street, it’s a mental and physical endeavor that’s unmatched. I seriously think we’re still recovering from packing up all of our belongings and making the drive from Nashville to Portland… and that was a few months ago. But, the end results is what you’re after: a new home.
It’s an adventure you can’t find anywhere else. Even if this new place doesn’t immediately feel like home, give it time. Transitions of any kind can be difficult, but life has a way of sneaking up on you and making you feel at home when you least expect it. While moving is scary, and there’s a lot of room for doubt and fear, remember you can always go somewhere else and you’re never stuck forever. There’s a whole world out there waiting for you and you’ll be glad you took that chance.
Until next time,
Branden Harvey.
Source: homes.com