Thank you for visiting! I am so happy you are here and following along on this exciting journey. When I first thought of starting this, I wasn’t entirely sure how or where to start but knew I wanted to document this experience and a blog seemed like the best way to do so!
So let’s get to it. Why the Chesapeake Bay, and am I crazy for buying a house during a pandemic?
Growing up in Maryland many of our family vacations included traveling to different areas along the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean during the summer. We would rent a house for the week and try new beaches up and down the coast, each one creating new memories and slowly, unbeknownst to me, building my love for the water.
Admittedly, my sister was much more of a beach girl when we were young. She would always ask my parents to go to the bigger beaches along the East Coast in order get the full experience. (Think Miami, Ocean City, Outer Banks, etc.) Myself on the other hand, enjoyed the calmness and peacefulness the lakes and bay offered. Don’t get me wrong, the beaches were very nice and fun to visit, but I often felt the craziness and excitement of those large beaches took away from the peaceful calming the water had to offer.
While I didn’t know it then, I now know that the reason for feeling that way was due to what those vacations meant to me. They weren’t just about “going to the beach” or “getting a tan,” they were playing games after dinner, making homemade pizza from a kit that we picked up at a local store, sitting on the porch and listening to the waves at night, but most importantly, slowing down and having time together as a family – without the distractions of school or work. To me, the water represented quality family time and going to a less crowded area allowed us to connect more.
It’s funny how they say, “we didn’t know we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.” At the time, these trips seemed so silly and insignifcant in a way, but now they hold a special place in my heart that I will never lose.
In my daily life now, I find myself longing for the stillness of the water and the memories from those trips. To this day, when I need to make a big decision or I am struggling with something I often find myself seeking out a body of water to reflect at and work through issue or decision I am facing.
All of that said the question still remains, why now? Why go through all the red tape and financial stress to purchase a house, out-of-state, during a pandemic?
Simply put, because 2020 has been a year…!!! It has been a time of reflection and growth, of struggle and strength, and most importantly, 2020 was the year I *truly* learned nothing is promised and everything can change in an instant.
The world shut down. There was a toilet paper shortage. You couldn’t leave the house without the fear of getting sick. Everything changed…
This house, without knowing it, has been a dream of mine for quite some time. While I may not have known what the exterior would look like, the lot size, color scheme, or even the town it would be in, having a house where friends and family can gather is something I have always wanted. After seeing the tragedy and pain 2020 has brought, as well as the uncertainty of COVID, I decided I wanted to stop putting my dreams on hold and do something that I’ve always wanted to.
Which brings us here…my little fixer upper on the bay. It has always been a goal of mine to restore a house to its full potential, and have a place to make memories that last a lifetime. I cannot wait for you to follow along as we bring this house to life!
The Chesapeake Cottage 