Breaking up with Boulder

It's not you, It's me...

I am moving and it feels kind of like breaking up.  Boulder is beautiful, treats me well, gives me everything I need, and is perfect in every way.  Although I still love Boulder, things have changed.

In September, Leah and I will be leaving the perfect weather, convenient climbing and hundreds of amazing friends to explore a new phase of life in Knoxville, TN.  Leah got into a Physicians Assistant program at South College in Knoxville, TN and I have decided to follow her out there.  Although I haven't found a job, and we don't know where we will live, it feels like the right decision.  In a strange way, it feels like I am going home.  My mom and dad grew up in Memphis, and some of my extended family still lives in Tennessee.  It seems fitting to return to my roots, and learn about where I am from. 

The Bubble has been good to me.  I moved here in 2002 with one objective- to climb.  More specifically, to climb at Rifle.  Since then, I have climbed all over Colorado, and the surrounding states.  In the last 12 years, I have climbed far more routes than I ever dreamed, and with "new" areas being developed yearly there is no end in site.  However, it's time to follow my heart instead of my obsession for climbing.

The plan is to quit our jobs in mid July, throw all our stuff into storage, and hit the road for the month of August.  Originally, we planned to chase good conditions in Squamish, but we realized that it's 44 hours round-trip from Boulder to Squamish, and another 19 hours from Boulder to Knoxville for a grand total of 63 hours of driving.  This seemed a bit stressful and expensive.  So, we decided to explore some high elevation areas in Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah instead.

Starting over is scary.  When I moved to Boulder, I had a modest savings account, no job, no place to live, a few friends in town, and a 1998 Honda Civic hatchback crammed full of stuff.  In many ways, this move feels similar.  Despite a much healthier savings account, and too much stuff to fit into my 1994 Civic, we are casting ourselves into the unknown in pursuit of a dream.

The P.A. program is two years long and will bring some major changes to our lives.  Leah will be extremely busy, and neither of us will know a soul in Knoxville.  Although I am very excited to spend an extended period of time in the Southeast, I am a bit nervous about the heat and humidity during the Summer. I guess I have gotten a bit spoiled by the perfect conditions in Colorado.  On a positive note, I may finally get a cool accent, and possibly send BOHICA.

I'm doing it y'all!

We have no idea whether we will return to Boulder.  Maybe we will miss the eternal sunshine, accessibility to rock, modern gyms, close friends, and quirky stuff that makes Boulder an amazing place to live.  What ever happens, Boulder and the friends I have made here, will always have a huge place in my heart.

Knoxville.  I will imagine the Flatirons.

Knoxville, here we come!!!