Moving Machine

I know that I said in my last post, which was posted in February (smh), that I'd expand more on moving from Orlando later. And I guess later became 4 months later. But, I'm back and ready to fill you all in on the last 4 months of AK crazy. First up, location update.

As most of you probably know, I worked for a company based out of Athens, Georgia called Landmark Properties. Landmark develops, builds, and manages student housing apartment communities in college towns across the US. Which is why I moved to Orlando in October of last year. I was working for Landmark as a Customer Service Specialist at their corporate office but wanted to expand my experience in the housing industry and gain on site experience. The closest option to home was Orlando so I took it. Right after I accepted the position, I found out that the owners of the property (third party management - ownership hired landmark to manage the property) were putting the property up for sale which most likely meant that Landmark wouldn't manage it any longer. During the due diligence for the sale, Landmark moved me to Boone, NC to be the assistant property manager at our property there. And on a scale of 1 to Jessie Spano, I was definitely Jessie Spano on the excited scale. Boone was my DREAM. 

I packed up my tiny house and moved everything I could to Boone the last weekend of February. The move from Orlando could actually be an entire blog post itself because it was a terrible experience. I remember sitting on the floor of my bedroom crying my eyes out the night before I was supposed to leave Florida. I couldn't get my bed frame apart and I was d o n e with moving and cleaning and packing. D o n e. But, I'm stronger for the struggle. I'll say that. And if you ever need me to move an entire couch by myself, let me know. I can get it done.

Boone was a breath of fresh air after the hustle and bustle of Orlando. The views were gorgeous Simply gorgeous! The weather was perfect in every way. I even had to buy more clothes for the cold because I was ill-prepared.

Three weeks after the move, I returned to Florida for a week of Disney and I didn't realize how much I would miss the place I hated so much. While we were at Disney, I received an email from a company that had been trying to hire me since June 2017. I interviewed for a position before I moved to Orlando and it didn't work out. But they kept reaching out to me every single month asking if I would be interested in different places. Finally, in March 2018, he emailed and asked if I would be interested in an open position in Athens, GA. That was my place. My home. I couldn't say no, even if I had just moved to North Carolina.

Cardinal and I talked back and forth regarding the open position and I even interviewed with the manager in Athens. Ultimately, she decided to choose an internal candidate that also applied for the position instead of me. And I was okay with that. After all, I did really like Boone and wasn't really looking to leave. And, I had been praying that God would open the right doors and close the wrong ones. That my anxious heart would have the utmost peace throughout this process and that I'd trust His plan.

Not even two days after I found out that I wouldn't get the position in Athens, my friend Brad (who also works for Cardinal) calls to ask what I think about Milledgeville, Georgia. My response was something along the lines of: "What do I think about it? It's Milly. It's where the crazies go. What about it?!" He told me he had a Community Manager position available there and he thought I would be perfect for it. HEY BRAD. I DON'T WANT TO BE A CM. I'VE TOLD YOU THIS A MILLION TIMES. Spoiler alert: I'm a CM. With Cardinal Group.

I interviewed with several different people for the position in Milledgeville and even came here to see the property and interview with the current manager. (Quick back story, I also had an interview the same day at Landmark's corporate office in Athens. The interview was t e r r i b le and I wanted to die.) I prayed the entire drive from Athens to Milledgeville that God again would give me peace and open the right doors and close the wrong ones. I'm here to tell you that I have never walked into or out of an interview with more peace. The day before the interviews, if you had asked me what I was going to do, I would have told you that I was planning to take the accounting position with Landmark. I wasn't really interested in leaving, but I couldn't turn down the opportunity to interview. If you had asked me what I was going to do immediately after the interviews, I would have told you I wouldn't take the Landmark position even if they offered it to me. I got back in my car after an interview and lunch in Milledgeville and knew that's where I needed to be. And here I am.

This cute little town does remind me so much of Athens, just on a smaller scale. I've found my favorite restaurant and it's probably where you'll be able to find me on any given weekend that I'm in town. I'm working on finding a church because I need Jesus and people here, y'all. I basically have no co-workers, aside from my part time leasing staff that are all 21, so I literally have zero friends here. It's real fun. I want a boat (and someone to drive it) so I can live on Sinclair. It's really the most perfect location. An hour from home. An hour and a half from Athens. Two hours from Atlanta, with traffic. The only thing we need is a Target and I'll be set!

I never ever wanted to move 3 different times to 3 different states in 8 short months.
I wouldn't ever recommend it. I wouldn't ever want to do it again.
But I sure am thankful for the people and the places and the growth it has brought.