Plotting Our Move to Nashville – Part 1
The plane ride home to San Diego gave us a chance to reflect on this life-changing step we were contemplating. I first thumbed through a few pamphlets and town brochures I collected during our stay (including a guide of Franklin). Then, I drafted a pros and cons list of moving to Tennessee, followed by a pros and cons list of staying in San Diego. While I wasn’t entirely sure if my list was subconsciously swaying my decision toward a new adventure, I knew all points on both sides were truthful and accurate (and equally hard to come to terms with!). Next, I compiled a preliminary list of things we needed to confirm and do before we could put the wheels in motion. It was pretty daunting!
October 22nd was when we reached out to Brady’s brother, Shawn, who was getting his start in the real estate industry. While we weren’t 100% sure we were going to move, we wanted to put the framework in place as soon as we could, because we knew how complicated it could get on such a short timeline. Shawn got to work, while we focused on our next deciding objective.
Employment
The first big hurdle was employment. For the past six months, we both had been working from home because of Covid, giving us a glimmer of hope that we might be able to maintain our jobs from another state. I nervously called my boss and asked if there might be any way to work from another state. Luckily, my company agreed that I could maintain my job from Nashville, if I actually did move there. Next, Brady talked to his boss, who needed to speak with HR. After a few weeks of some encouraging emails, he got the final call. Unfortunately, his company would not be able to support an employee working in a state they did not operate in. That was the first discouraging blow to our plan.
Obviously, this news halted everything for us, so we quickly had to pivot to a new objective: find a job in Nashville for Brady. We were nervous, because all in all it’s pretty challenging to land an interview quickly, especially during that crazy COVID time, let alone in a state we didn’t live in. Oddly enough, I didn’t let it get to me (which is very out of character!). Deep down, I think I had faith that it would work out.
That night we researched, finding an extensive list of the best places to work in Nashville in his specific industry, hoping to find an easy transition to a new company. Next, I went down the line and found contacts from each of those companies to message on Linkedin. The next morning, Brady sent messages out one by one.
This is where I truly believe God stepped in. One of the first contacts Brady messaged wrote back right away, telling him that he had impeccable timing. Someone was retiring after 35 years, working in the exact same position Brady was working in at his current company. She set up an interview a few days later. Within one week, after multiple interviews (with me nervously listening outside the door), Brady had a new job lined up across the country in downtown Nashville. Divine intervention! His start date was either to be a week later (impossible) or a month later (better!). While we were hoping for a January move, it looked like we would be spending Christmas 2020 together in Nashville – December 16th was Brady’s start date! We were shocked, relieved and in awe that it worked out so smoothly.
For me, this uncanny coincidence and near-effortless search to secure a new job made it clear to me that God was supporting our big decision, and it was all I needed to know to confirm this was the right move for us. Scary, intimidating, and unknown – but right. It was November 16th – we had one month to sell our townhouse, pack up our life, tie up all loose ends, figure out move logistics and spend time with family before our journey moving to the South. It was really happening!
