Five weeks ago, Mike got a job offer.
Four weeks ago, Mike accepted the job offer.
This summer, we are moving. To western Massachusetts.
It’s taken me this long to be able to talk about without feeling a little sad, to be honest.
Yes, it’s colder and snowier. Yes, it’s far away from our family and friends. Yes, it’s more expensive. Yes, its name is really hard for me to spell.
We’ve known all along that his job would probably relocate us far from our families, but now the time is here and I’m sad to be moving my kids away from their grandparents. But in a really tough academic job market, we are just thrilled that he landed a job. A tenure-track, 9-month (!) position. We’re hoping he’ll be home more (WOO!) and his salary is going to more than double (WOO WOO!).
PLUS, now we get to explore New England! We actually went to western Massachusetts on our honeymoon and again when Gabe was 9 months old. We’re going to live where we vacationed!
I’m excited about embarking on a new adventure as a family. I moved a lot growing up (every three years, to be exact), so I’m no stranger to pulling up roots and replanting them. I know there can be some major challenges, but also a lot of fun exploring a new home. And did I mention he gets summers off?
The job is 1.5 hours west of Boston and we’ll be visiting the area next month to see what cities and neighborhoods feel like a good fit for our family.
In the meantime, I’ll spend the next few months decluttering (the only perk of packing and moving!) and stressing about house hunting again.
If anyone has advice about western Massachusetts (specifically Springfield, Northampton, northern Connecticut), please let me know!
Massachusetts, you’ll be getting four very excited and nervous residents this summer. Just please have a milder winter next year, yeah?
Oh! Congratulations! I know the move will be a change but I really, really love New England and I think you will too. :) xoxo
Thank you! I sure hope so. :)
Hey, congrats! And good luck with all the home-finding and whatnot! A new adventure, woooooO!
Thank you! Adventure is exciting.
CONGRATS! Very exciting :)
I’m in the Albany NY area (just a skip and a jump) so I don’t have info on Western MA specifically, but we love it here.
Welcome to our little corner of the country. :)
Oh, that’s great to hear! Thanks! :)
This is so exciting, Ashley! I think it could be much worse than Massachusetts (love Boston!), although I was secretly hoping you’d be moving closer to the West Coast ;)
Congratulations to Mike!
Totally could be worse than Mass! ;) Heh.
Congratulations! Best wishes for the upcoming move. I live on the other side of the state, so not a lot of advice about Western Mass, but good luck and I hope you’ll like living in Massachusetts!
Thank you! I hope we will, too.
Such fun news! On to a great adventure. Congratulations, Mike!
Congrats on the move!!! Very familiar with the area up there – Northhampton is THE BEST and super cute. I’d avoid CT for tax purposes – MA is slightly better there. I don’t know as much about Springfield but I do know the surrounding areas are nice. Good luck! If you have any questions let me know – i have a whole network/family up that way xox
Thank you, Heidi! This is helpful. :)
Long time reader, first comment! :) I went to college in Northampton and it is an AMAZING town–so cute and tons of great shops and restaurants. I think you guys would love it there!!
Did you go to Smith? I’m excited about the pool of potential babysitters if we live there. ;) Ha. Thank you so much for reading!
Oh, how exciting! I can relate to the bittersweetness, though; growing up we moved every few years until my mom told my dad we had to put roots down (and we’ve been here in the Lou ever since!). I bet Kelly from Red Sox Girl has some insight for you being in/near Boston herself.
Wishing you nothing but the best and look forward to reading about the move/changes, as you wish to share them.
And huge congratulations to Mike! Lots of hugs and good home hunting vibes <3
Yeah, I’m definitely looking forward to finally meeting Kelly! :)
How exciting!
We have lots of doctoral Religious Studies friends here at the University of Virginia, and- wow- the job market is…nonexistent. There aren’t even any jobs to fight over! So- all that’s to say- way to go Mike on landing a tenure-track position! And it is certainly a family affair- so way to go Ashley, too!
We are getting ready to move in a month or so, so I am also doing the purging and such. But we’re only moving across the street so it’s not *quite* the same.
Ha! Across the street would be nice. :)
Congrats on the new job & move! How exciting! It’s so neat that you’re going to live where you vacationed! I know you guys are going to have a ton of fun on your new adventure! Hooray! Good luck with the move! xoxo
If we drive from Chicago to Cape Cod to visit my family, then surely the drive from western MA to Ohio is do-able, too, right?!? =) I know it’s going to be a change, and probably a tough change at times. BUT, hopefully a wonderful change at times, too! And, hopefully a phenomenal change in the long-run.
I think the timing is actually really quite excellent. Gabe will be in Kindergarten (!!!!) soon and that will be a natural excuse for you to connect with other parents. You might even find that you’ll make your own friends outside of the academic world in which Mike will most certainly make friends (so says the daughter of an academic!). Plus, western Massachusetts is beautiful!!
Congratulations to all of you!
Totally doable. Not worried about the driving, just sad to miss out on the grandparents seeing the kids weekly, of course! We’re excited to start the adventure, though.
congratulations to mike and your whole family! sorry its not somewhere a little warmer, but maybe you’ll just have to make your mid-winter vacation a little longer, or better yet, go on two ;)
I like the way you think! :)
Congrats and welcome to MA!! I have family that lives in Granby, CT and loves the town. I grew up in Southern CT, so don’t have much to report on the upper area of the state. Good luck with the move!
Congrats, friend! I’m sorry to hear that Ohio is losing you guys, & I’m also sure you’re having a bit of a hard time adjusting to the idea of living someplace you don’t really want to be – you know I know THAT feeling – but I hope you’ll be able to find adventures & happiness in your new state/town. And you’ll be close enough to Portsmouth, NH, that you’re going to HAVE to make it a weekend trip when the weather’s nice, OK? Promise me!
<3
!!! Congratulations to Mike… I am so thrilled for you guys! Of course, I’m also VERY sad you’re leaving our little corner of the world, but I totally understand about needing to go where the jobs are. You & your boys would thrive no matter where you ended up, though. :) I hope you will find a great new place in MA and have lots of cool new adventures together! xoxo
You’re heading to my home state, which I love and miss so very much! A great friend of mine from college is in Northampton and loves it – I grew up an hour from Boston.
You can’t really go wrong with any of the places you mentioned – so glad you get to live in (and explore) such a wonderful place :)
This is so exciting! And yes winter will be hard but FALL, oh fall will be simply divine! I’m excited to follow along with you all as you explore and decide on a new area!
Welcome to Massachusetts!! I live in Boston so I don’t know too much about western MA but I’ve visited friends at UMass Amherst a lot over the years and loved it. The drive out there was my favorite part, so pretty! Especially in the fall :)
Congratulations to Mike! I stayed in Boston, MA for 3 years and went to grad school near Albany, NY before that. I love that part of the world. I am sure you will have fun. Good luck on all your upcoming exciting adventures!
Thank you!!
Congratulations to Mike! I grew up in New Brunswick, and we spent many a vacation in the Boston area. I’m not familiar with western MA but I’m sure it’s just as beautiful :)
Oh yay, congrats! That’s so exciting! I know it’ll be hard leaving family but what a fun new adventure for everyone! xo
Adventure! Whee! :) (Impressed you’re managing to read and comment while buried under a baby! <3)
Congrats! It all sound really great! Good luck and all the best! <3
We just moved from that area less than a year ago. We lived down the street from Smith and taught in Springfield and in Amherst. It’s beautiful there! Springfield can be tough but there are some wonderful people and amazing Puerto Rican food! Favorite coffee shop in Northampton is Woodstar, favorite dinner was Local Burger and Hinge, and favorite stores are Pinch and Raven Books. Amherst has a great breakfast place the Lonely Wolf (I think that’s what it’s called). Great farmers markets in Northampton and Amherst. Favorite day trips North Adams, Williamstown and Stockbridge/North Barrington. Oh, and you’ll be near Tanglewood, make sure to check out a show! Lot’s of hiking in both areas! (The ice glen in Stockbridge is pretty cool) We spent three years there and really loved it, hope you enjoy your new adventure!
Congrats! Have a great time there! :)
Congratulations! Northampton and Amherst have your name written all over it. Cute downtowns, an artsy community vibe, lots of great small businesses. Love it.
Man, I should have so asked you about this sooner during your visit!! I will miss you!! Congrats Mike!! Such good news!
This is so nice! Congrats! It is always really exciting when moving to e new place! :)
I just stumbled upon your blog today, and I’m so jealous that you’re moving to a place I left my heart! My wife and I met at Smith, and a lot of our friends stayed in the Noho area after college — we go back as often as we can. It’s such an amazing place to live and raise a family, and one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever lived. My blog has a handful of posts about Noho, if you’re interested!
We’re also in the process of moving– although within our neighborhood, not very far! — so I’m looking forward to you blogging about your move for both reasons!
Woohoo! I love to hear about people who loved the area. :) Makes me excited.
I will definitely go check out your blog now – thanks!!