Where do we go?

My oldest brother has a girlfriend who is only about 4 years older than me.  Her name is Alex and she was the most unlikely person to spend my first "chic" road trip with but I'm so glad I did.

It's been very hard for Mike and I to go about doing separate things in the past 2 years.  Everything we've done has very much been together.  I was asking myself, "do I trust him enough at this point to leave for 4 days?"  Is he going to be ok?  Am I going to be ok? Are we going to have another incident?  The only way I can answer these questions was by giving our relationship the opportunity to spread our wings.  A huge part of rebuilding a relationship after infidelity is there comes a point where you HAVE to allow the other partner the opportunity to instill trust.  Putting us in a position to test our faith and trust in each other.

This trip came out of nowhere for me.  I recieved a text from Alex asking if I would be willing to go to Virginia with her and check out some neighborhoods with her, Hampton Roads area.  I knew she had been looking for a teaching job but I didn't know how set she was on moving to Virginia or her ties with that area.

Now that we have bonded and experienced things together this makes me sad.  I don't want to give her up.  See my brother will not move to Virginia and she is very much a part of our family now.  She understands the strange dynamics of our family and fits right in.  I never really had a "sister-in-law" (other brother is gay and I have 4 brother-in-laws; my 2 sister's husbands and my husband's brothers) and certainly not one that enjoys so many of the same things that I do. 

I'm realizing there was a serious reason for me to go on this trip.  Call it destiny or whatever you want but I totally and completely fell in love with Virginia.  "Virginia is for Lovers!"

Mike and I honeymooned in Virginia.  We stayed at a bed and breakfast in the neighborhood of Ghent.  (Page House Inn - I highly recommend.  They treated us so well!)  All we got to see when we honeymooned was the Chrysler Museam, the Hague, Virginia Beach and a few restaurants. I got to see more of the neighborhood this trip.  It's a beautiful, historic area filled with more of a trendy, animal friendly, healthy lifestyle.

Mike and I also spent time visiting Williamsburg and Buckroe Beach in Hampton a few years back.  I wanted to see Williamsburg as an adult and it was so different than when I went as a child.  Virginia and DC are probably our favorite places in the U.S.  So when Alex said she wanted to explore Hampton I kind of had an idea of the area already.  Mike and I keep going back to that area and we forever will.

I think my next post will be more of the actual activities and photos of our trip but this one is mainly about how this trip affected me.

I missed Mike terribly but we survived.  Mike hung out with his best friend a lot and went fishing with one of his coworkers.  He needed that.  I needed girl time.  I came home with a renewed sense of confidence and direction.  Experiencing something I never had before, thoroughly enjoying it, and our "reunion" was amazing!  This trip left me with a sense of "where are we heading?"  (As many of my experiences do.)  What goals do Mike and I have in life?  Is Western PA going to provide us the means to get where we want and fully live our lives the way we intend?

I can see us walking the neighborhoods in the afternoon, discussing and enjoying the federal and colonial architecture. 

I can see us on a sailboat in the bay fishing, enjoying the Atlantic and the wonderful year round temperatures.

I can see us dancing at one of the MANY year round festivals enjoying the lively music and the company of friends.

I can see us strolling through the artsy shops and talking to the local artists.

I can see us on the beach during sunset, loving each other's company with a picnic dinner.

I can see us visiting the MANY historical sites, including a trip to DC now and then, learning as much as we can about what made this nation so great.

I can see us helping urban children find their place in the world.  I will work counseling at a private foundation while Mike either goes into legal government work or therapy.  (He's going to decide which way he wants to go with more research.)  Or we could start a foundation of our own.

These are things that are not readily available where we live now.  We are in the beginning discussions of moving to Hampton Roads.  Why not live in a place that means SO much to us?

I am going back to school.  Hoping to start in the Spring.  If PA doesn't open more doors for us by the time I am done with my 2-3 year degree we're going to move on and live in an area that will.  Of course I would miss my family and I know Mike will miss his extended family but I think it's time for us to spread our wings and not just be, but LIVE LIFE.