I’ve lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for so long that when I tell people I am moving to Utah they squint at me incredulously.
“UTAH!?”
Once you have found your way to the liberal, beautiful Bay Area—a bastion of alternative culture; the epicenter of healthy living; a magical feat of nature, rife with rolling headlands, redwood forests and the magical sea—it’s hard to rationalize leaving. And, like most people, I always thought of Utah as simply a landlocked place full of Walmarts and Mormons.
If you had told even me-from-last-year that I would be moving to Utah, I would have laughed maniacally. But then I met this guy:
Actually, I met him 16 years ago. But that’s a story for another time. Anyway, I’m not gonna lie, he is 100 percent of the reason I am moving to Utah.
Fortunately, it turns out that Utah is actually pretty cool. For instance, Utah has this:
Little Cottonwood Canyon, about a mile from where I live in Utah.
And this:
Sunset from the Silver Fork Lodge in Big Cottonwood
And this:
Dog Lake, a 3-mile hike uphill through Snow in Big Cottonwood Canyon
And this:
This is a moose. Just take my word for it. One of three moose I saw last weekend, all from mere yards away.
And lots of other things that I haven’t experienced yet, but am really looking forward to. The truth is, we live in a beautiful country, and there is so much to explore. If you’ve ever driven cross-country in a car, you know this. The coasts are epic, but there is stuff in between, too.
Here’s something awesome about Utah: men still hold the door open for the ladies. Call me sexist, but I’m into that kind of basic human kindness. Doesn’t really happen here in ultra-liberated Marin County, where you’re far more likely to have your toes run over by a speeding Beamer than to have a man actually hold the door open for you.
I’ll be hitting the road in June, so between now and June, I’m going to do my best to love Marin and San Francisco as much as I can (but not the East Bay, sorry), soak it all up, enjoy the company of my incredible friends, breathe in lots of sea air, and make some final fond memories. Then I’ll be relocating myself and Outside Eye Consulting to Sandy, Utah. Whoa.
Best luck Joslyn! Hope to see you soon!
Thank you so much, Perri! I hope you are well!
So so so happy for you!
Thank you!
That is amazing, congrats lady! I dated a guy from Utah once and he was from American Fork – I spent an awesome week there. Some of the most stunning/epic/majestic mountain views I have seen in my life (and I lived in Colorado).
To add on to your comment: “The coasts are epic, but there is stuff in between, too:” I would add “there is EPIC stuff in between, too.” Lots of it. But people are usually too busy flying over to take notice. When I was in the Bay Area in September, I LOVED the redwoods, and the sea views, and the culture, but I also had a panic attack (at the amazing Lagunitas Brewery, of all places) after driving down the 101 during rush hour. It was awful.
I think you’ll love Utah
Good luck to you!