After spending 17 months living on the road like a modern gypsy, I have finally found my home. I’m not too surprised with where I have landed. In my heart, I always knew, but it didn’t make practical sense so I discounted it in my mind. For that reason, I needed to be sure before I made a commitment to settling here. Having tested so many places, I confirmed this is the place I want to be. And, once I made the decision about the location, the universe almost instantly showed me my dream home (thanks to a bit of help from my sister!). I told my sister specifically where I wanted to live and within just a few days she sent me a link to a townhome in Mill Valley, CA and said “you must go see this place, it’s totally you!” She did this from across the country, in Connecticut, not knowing anything about the village. It helps that she is an interior designer so she could see all the possibilities for the space. She spent the past week with me designing the interior of my new home for the new me and my new life. We started from scratch since I got rid of most of my furnishings when I left my home in Tahoe and the remnants no longer fit my new lifestyle. She admitted that she had no idea about my modern tastes. It is a whole new look for me!

My townhome is located two blocks from the center of the village so I can walk to coffee shops, great restaurants, boutiques, the local grocery market and even theaters. Hiking and biking trails are also nearby. It is a vibrant village with a strong sense of local community. There is easy access to the freeway and getting into the city by ferry. I’m excited about engaging in the community activities and all the village has to offer. I’m also looking forward to getting back into some daily/weekly routines, like exercise.

Today, I stocked my adorable galley-style kitchen so I could get back to cooking my own meals. I have really missed having my own kitchen; and, what a relief to be able to put my clothes in a closet knowing they have found a home as well! It took a while, but eating out a lot and living out of several suitcases became tiresome.

My new home has two bedrooms, so friends and family are welcome anytime! However, it will be a number of weeks before all my furniture arrives. For the time being, I basically have a bed and a kitchen. Minimalistic is an understatement, LOL!

Even though Mill Valley, CA will now be my home base, I am fortunate to have a reason to continue “commuting” to Nevada to spend time with my work team in Reno and I plan to stay in Incline Village whenever I can to see my friends there. The hardest part of making my decision to return to CA was knowing I would be leaving my friends in Incline Village. My friends there have been such a blessing to me and I will do what I can to maintain those relationships!

So, this part of my journey is over, but a new one is beginning….

Sisters! Check-out my sister’s Instagram to see her beautiful design work: Teresa Fortuna — @simplicitydesignct