“Let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.”

Somehow, after 11 months of waiting for this day, it’s here. As romantic and wonderful as moving to Spain sounded to me eleven months ago, we now face the adventure we signed up for knowing that it’s not all rainbows and butterflies. We went through hell and back to get what we wanted with this move, and we’re still fighting on a daily basis to get all of the moving parts that are involved in this kind of adventure working together. It hasn’t been easy. It hasn’t even been fun, most of the time. The only thing that pushed us forward was the ever-present thoughts of “when we get there…” and “it’ll be worth it.”

Mike and I are entering this new chapter of our lives hoping with all hopes that the risks we took to make this move will work out. We hope that the sacrifices we’ve made in our everyday lives will lead to greater opportunities for us down the road. We hope that the challenges we face will make us stronger individuals and a stronger couple.

We will arrive at our new home tomorrow afternoon, which will be the beginning of a very different year for us. We might not be able to speak with the locals and I might not be able to have the independence of a car to get myself around, but we’ll also have incredible opportunities to meet new people, immerse ourselves in a new culture, learn a new language, travel to many, many new places. This year will definitely be whatever we make of it, and knowing me and Mike, you can be sure that we’ll make an adventure out of everything.

I’m excited to garden with space I’ve never had before. I’m anxious to see if the dogs can swim or if they’ll just drink the pool’s saltwater until they puke. I can’t wait to see Mike’s face when we bring home our first cured ham leg to carve up in the kitchen. I’m looking forward to the day where I can go to the local market and ask for what I need without thinking twice about the language barrier. I’m nearly shaking with anticipation for all of the possibilities laying out before us that I haven’t even fathomed yet.

I’m also scared to leave what I have behind. Over the past three years, Mike and I have grown incredibly close to my parents, since they moved to New Jersey. They’ve been our best friends, the two people we could count on more than anyone else in our lives. They’ve been there for us when we ask advice, whether it’s financial advice, personal advice, health advice, clothing advice or what the hell to do with the groundhog we found trapped in our yard. The bond that I’ve shared as an adult with my parents has been invaluable, and I will so miss their physical presence in our lives. I am so grateful for their unconditional support as we take this huge step, though I know it’ll be hard for them too. We love you, Mom and Dad.

So, folks: here we go. I hope you’re ready to read about my adventures, mishaps, highs and lows when it comes to uprooting our lives and living in a foreign land. No matter what happens in the next year or so, Mike and I have the dogs, who will love us no matter where they are on this Earth; and we have each other, which…we feel pretty much the same as the dogs.

Title quote by the wonderful and prolific Albus Dumbledore.