Year 3

Wow! 3 years, I didn't think that I would have been on the east coast for 3 years. My goal was 2 years and I accomplished that. However, shortly after the first year I committed to being here for 3 years and now I am committed to being here until either the end of 2019 or beginning of 2020. I still love the DC metro area, but the longing in me to get back to the west is still there. While I like to think that I can go back to Idaho, I am not sure that will be a option. I will need a job before I leave DC and that job will have to be a good paying job. While I am not a career ladder climber, moving to DC has given me the ability to advance my career. I am finally in my dream job and I am being exposed to so many wonderful things that will only help me in the future. I feel blessed to have also been at my current job for almost a year now. My boss is amazing and I love what I do.

The third year brought some challenges that I was not prepared for. Shortly after I came back from Idaho in September of 2016, Anthony moved back to Texas. In January of 2017 Tuf and I moved into a apartment in Maryland and in February of 2018 I will be out here alone as Tuf will be moving to Texas. Out of the three of us that started this journey together, I didn't think that I would be the one that would be here for the longest. Sometimes I fear that I will never leave.

As I do with each anniversary I recap what happened during that year, so here goes.

• August - National Aquarium in Baltimore, Ocean City Maryland (love the ocean!), Second annual Idaho trip
• September - New Job!!
• October - Spent a lot of time alone (the fall was a tad hard)
• November - Karen visited, went to Ohio for work, hosted another Thanksgiving
• December - all things Christmas in DC - including the people's tree at the U.S. Capitol that came from Idaho!!!Watched Kimberley and Marcos marry live on Facebook
• January - Went to Tyler, Texas for Kimberley and Marcos wedding reception, moved to Rockville,
• February - Kimberley and Marcos visited
• March - Karen visited, Zach and Hailey visited for 2 weeks, we did so much from all things in the DC metro area to NYC to the Atlantic Ocean - this trip was truly special 
• April - No cherry blossoms this year, but we still saw the cherry blossom fireworks that were amazing
• May - Gravelly Point in Virginia, Niagara Falls!!, Saw 2 Great Lakes, Flight 93 Memorial
• June - Birthday
• July -  4th of July fireworks that I finally go to see - it was worth the wait! Hosted a pool party, saw Karla and Brent, Bumblebee got his first bath on the east coast

The third year allowed me the opportunity to bond more with friends from having lunches and dinners to hanging out at their houses to hosting my own party - it was good for me to be more involved in my east coast friends lives.

The third year was nothing like I thought it was going to be, but I know everything happens for a reason and now let's begin the 4th year!