Eighteen months ago the possibility of working at Virginia Theological Seminary wasn't even a blip on the radar screen. Even though one of the first things I said when management eliminated my position at the Church Center was "Relocation is an option," the DC area wasn't even on the long list of possibilities. Yet here I am celebrating my first anniversary as VTS' Hospitality and Guest Residence Manager.
Is it perfect? No, of course not. I moved from a state with civil rights protections for lbgtq folks and same-sex marriage on the books. While I live in a fairly liberal area of the state, Virginia has neither. I've gone from an Episcopal diocese that's a bit left of center to one that's a bit right. Not to mention that I'm south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
On the other hand, I have a job I like, an apartment that is all that I could ask for, I'm making new friends (not to forget the friends already in the area!), I think I've found a church to join, and I'm dating. Every one who has known me for a while says I look and sound happier than I've been in a long time. All things considered, the move was a good decision.
There are still things I need and want to do. I still don't know my way around the local area as well as I'd like. Of course, I lived in Norwalk for close to 20 years and still had trouble giving directions to people asking where certain streets were. I will probably rely on my street atlas for quite a while to get places, especially in Washington. My apartment continues to feel unfinished, but I'm not sure any home becomes finished. Especially when it's a home that's lived in.
I intend to live in my home in all senses of the word.
