the next chapter

Here I sit in the Austin airport (such a great airport, so easy with just one terminal!) after what has been a productive, exhausting, exciting and fun week! I came here to seek out my next move, ensure I felt a connection to the city and the neighborhoods where I saw myself residing and ultimately finding a home to rent for me and KoKo. I must say I succeeded on every level - I fell in love with the city even more, even the parts that still feel different and unfamiliar from both the east coast and the west coast, and all the parts that make Austin so creative, unique, laid back and just all around great. So with that today I signed a 13 month lease for the most adorable house that sits on an incredible plot of land inclusive of a view of the greenbelt, a full deck and an incredible screened in porch. And that's just the outside! KoKo will be beside himself with the huge oak tress that I'm sure will be home to many of squirrels, and anything else roaming on the other side of the fence (here's hoping he obeys "the fence"). Inside is room for an office and a guest room and a cozy living room. Not bad for the same rent I pay for a 1BR apt in LA. I just can't wait to make it a home!

I can't say how honored I am to feel all the love and support surrounding this next move. The outpouring of texts, emails and social media comments all so supportive - thank you! Of course it's been met with the obvious question of - why leave LA? And for the last 4.5 of the 5 years I've spent there I would've ask the very same thing. In fact I never used to understand why or how anyone could ever leave. But ultimately I realized that while LA is still as great as it's always been - I've grown. And in many ways I've outgrown LA. I've been through so much over these past 5 years - case in point the content of this entire blog - and through that process I've come into my own and more aligned than I've ever been with the vision I hold for my life. And right now, having a home (and hopefully soon buying one of my own) and being in a funky, laid back, friendly, authentic, booming small city feels exactly inline with what I want. Sure I'm going to day dream about the sunsets over the ocean and the perfect weather every day but at the end of the day that just wasn't enough for me anyone. I'm seeking the depth and authenticity that I'm able to put out into the world and I'm ready for more of that to come back my way.

So here we go - the 30 day countdown to leave LA begins. I think I'll look to capture 30 photos (look for this on instagram/jenostrich), one a day, of the things I most want to remember about LA. Places, faces, views, whatever - that will be my way of commemorating this final month of what's been one hell of a journey!