Oddly, I didn’t mind.

Our dream home came to our attention a few days before Christmas Eve, 2020. It was about as far west from the city as we could go and still keep our current jobs and see our families. When we walked in the front door, it actually felt like “coming home,” as cheesy as that sounds. We wrote an offer later that day, the day before Christmas Eve - which was to our advantage since our competition was likely wrapping gifts instead of writing real estate offers. Plus, since the market still hadn’t reached the “crazy level” of having to offer life savings, first-born children, and perform insane stunts required by the historically competitive market, we were able to offer a reasonable price, get our offer accepted, and move in about a month later. It was a true pandemic-home-buying miracle and set the tone for what has been an amazing experience in our new town.

The month that followed was probably one of the single most stressful times of my life due to the move and personal reasons. But somehow, my husband and I muscled through. We packed, prepared to move, worked through the financial logistics, and finalized moving plans.

And again, I was surprised to find myself still not freaking out about leaving the city.

The pandemic hadn’t been kind to my family… I lost both of my parents in 2020 - my dad in May and my mom in early December. So, in addition to all of the house commotion and activity, I was pretty much hanging on by a thread. But, the thought of a new beginning was powerfully moving me forward, and both my husband and I were thrilled to embark on a new adventure in a new town.

Yet, I have to be honest - the day we signed on the dotted line, I was excited but just exhausted from 2020. I was genuinely glad we were moving but still wasn’t honestly sure what our new town would be like. In the back of my mind, I wondered how it would compare to city living - what would I miss? It helped that COVID had taken the immediate need for things like nail salons, gyms, and basically any social areas out of the equation; I didn’t even think of those. But I did think about all the stores I used to frequent in the city and wondered where I’d get my supplements, gluten-free food, clothing, and other things that had been so readily available and close by. And though it seemed like we’d never get out of COVID at the time, in the back of my mind, I wondered what our new town would look like when things returned to normal. (Whatever normal would be…)

All I have to say is wow, was I pleasantly surprised.

Our new city- Oconomowoc (which took me six months to learn how to spell) - was anything but the “small town” I’d been expecting. Rather, it was the small town full of big things and some of the nicest people I’ve ever met… literally on every corner. Our new home is a great example of a town that knows what it takes to evolve and grow, even in the midst of a global pandemic. The shops are amazing, and the restaurants (I’m talking to you, Sobies and Twisted Fire) are fabulous, and we soon became “carry-out regulars” at many. As we put our house together and realized we needed a few additional furniture items, I figured we’d have to order online or hit a big box store to get something cool that would go with our decor. Nope. Within a half hour of shopping downtown Oconomowoc with my interior designer sister, we found literally all the items we needed - on sale, and with the special bonus that they were delivered (by the owners of each of the two shops) later that day and the following morning. I mean, come on. And now, when I go into those shops (The Well, Violet Blue, and The Gallori), the owners know me. A true small-town feel that makes all the difference in the world. After those initial experiences, I vowed to slowly say adios to my pandemic BFF Amazon in exchange for a much more intimate relationship with real people in my real world. And, as the world began to open up in 2021, I found a Sweatshop Hot Yoga that’s now my go-to place for zen, yoga, and seeing awesome people/friends.

The bottom line is my new town has so much to offer in terms of things to buy, places to get great food, and places for recreation/enjoyment.

The fact that local people own these places makes them even better, and has really shown me the importance of buying local. By patronizing local businesses, I buy the same things I could buy online or elsewhere, but I’m helping a local business owner stay afloat. I’m helping keep their dream alive, feed their family, and send their kid to college. I see how hard they work and can appreciate the ups and downs of owning a business, where there’s a competition to contend with online and many challenges. Because I appreciate all my new home has to offer, I’m happy to support it in any way I can, like keeping things local as much as possible. It feels like the good-karma way to shop and live.

And, it turns out, I have a chance to help local businesses as I prepare to hike the Camino de Santiago in Spain this fall. Instead of getting my hiking gear online, I’ve pledged to get everything I need locally… either in my new hometown or nearby places. I’m excited to share what I find as I get my gear in line for my upcoming trip. I’ll tell you all about it as I “shop local to hike global.” (Spoiler, the rock stars who have helped me figure out and get what I need include: Sherper’s, Clear Water Outdoor, and Performance Running Outfitters.) Watch for future posts that show my great finds!

In the meantime, next time you have the urge to pick up your phone and order something… think about where to get that item close to home. It might take a little bit more effort, but it’s worth it!