What I'm Excited For In Ohio

Wow, so much has happened in the last two weeks! Joy has a job, I finished a week-long wilderness therapy trip, and we're now moved and settled into our place in Oxford, Ohio! Since Joy came half a week before I did with the movers, I was all by myself as I drove away from Chicago on Tuesday night. I couldn't help but reflect on some of my favorite memories from Chicagoland, but also had a sense of excitement as I began a drive to my new home. Here are five things that I am most excited about as I make the move:

5) Living in a College Town. Right now, the streets are peaceful and the restaurants and bars are quiet. Well, in about a week, 18,000 undergraduates will flood this small town as another school year begins. There is a definite sense of collegeness about this town, and it's fun to be a part of it from a little distance. I'm still involved in the school as a graduate student, but nearly so close to it that I need to be closing the bars at 3am. Still young to enjoy the energy and activities, but old enough that I don't have to deal with all the college drama. Sounds great to me.

4) Our Apartment. We had looked at a few apartments during one of our visits to Oxford this summer, and let's just say they left much to be desired. We were pretty discouraged as we saw pipes hanging from the ceiling, mustard-yellow appliances, and stains all over the carpets and ceilings. Plus, I couldn't imagine life without a dishwasher. Well, just as we were about to sign a lease, Joy decided there simply had to be a better option. After some intense internet searching, we found a place that looked and sounded great. We didn't have time to visit and check it out in person, so we signed the papers thinking it simply couldn't be worse that what we'd already seen. And it's so much better than that...it's wonderful. We've spent lots of time already making it feel like home, and it has a great guest bedroom, so you can feel free to come visit at anytime!

3) The Program. There are so many unknowns that swirl through my mind when I consider what this Ph.D. program will actually entail, but I'm actually excited about figuring it all out. In a lot of ways, I feel that I am in way over my head and have no idea what I'm doing, but isn't that part of the whole point? I sure hope so.

2) Traffic. Gone are the days of endless Chicago construction, bumper to bumper traffic at midnight, and constant road rage. I've been flying down some of the country roads, and there has not been one stop light that I've had to wait at for more than one rotation. Fantastic.

1) The Great Adventure. As Steven Curtis Chapman once put it, it's time to saddle up our horses. While there is so much we will miss about Chicago, Joy and I are truly starting of on our own here in Ohio. Neither of us know anyone or where anything is, and we are figuring it all out together. There's something creative and romantic about it all, and we're ready to give it a try and see what happens!