You moved here from St. Augustine, Florida?
Yes, yes I did.
my hometown - St. Augustine, FL
But why?
That's a long story, and you have not reached the friendship level required to unlock this answer. Just kidding. No, but really, it is a long story. The short version is that I worked as an Innkeeper in St. Augustine when I got back from traveling, and again in Lexington, Virginia when I went back to school. So I like Innkeeping and I kinda missed it.
Bayfront Westcott House, St. Augustine, FL
Abigail Inn, Lexington, VA
I graduated a year ago, and I moved back home. It was the right move at the time, because both of my sisters were about to have babies, my dad had another heart attack, and then a hurricane hit. But after all the hubbub was over, and my initial post-college plans fell through (repeatedly), I decided that I needed a fresh start somewhere new, and I started looking for innkeeping jobs. I looked into several options while on a roadtrip with my mom and brother this summer, and just when it seemed I'd hit another dead end, we took a last-minute trip another 8 hrs. north to Connecticut, to meet a guy I knew nothing about in a town I'd never heard of.
The Bevin House, East Hampton, CT
I fell in love with the house and hit it off with the owners, and a few days later, I started planning my move to CT. And yes, that is the
short version of the story.
(If they are still awake...)
So do you like it here?
Uh, yah, I friggin' love it. I spent the first 3 months doing a ton of exploring (see my other posts), and there's so much to see and do here. Plus it's beautiful. Plus, Autumn and then Snow.
So what do you do, exactly?
All kinds of stuff. I cook and serve breakfast, I clean the guest rooms, I answer the phones and email and do some of our marketing stuff. I check people in and out, I adjust the lighting and the music and make sweets for the guests to make things cozy, I help decorate for holidays, I help with events, I do inventory and grocery shopping and do little things like feeding the goat or taking out the trash or bringing in the mail.
Do you clean the whole house?
Most of it, yes. I usually clean the guest rooms the same morning after people check out, that way they are ready to go for the next guest at a moments' notice. And some areas that get used a lot (like the kitchen and the dining room, and anywhere Cracker--our mascot--lies to lay) need cleaning every day. Sometimes it takes a few minutes, sometimes it takes an hour or more, depending on what's been going on, like if we are preparing for an event or cleaning up from one. As for the rest of the house, I usually focus on one floor a day, and I just keep going up and down through the house. Sometimes it's actually fun. Other times, it's well... work.
So what is your schedule?
Well, every day is a little different, and that's kind of the best part. Sometimes I'm up early to cook and serve breakfast, and then I'm usually cleaning and doing laundry. Other days I get to sleep in a little and start when I'm ready. Check-ins usually arrive between 3-6, so there's a little flurry of activity involved with prepping the room and checking them in, and then sometimes I need to run errands and do prep for the next day. But usually there are at least 1 or 2 totally quiet days where after a few morning chores, I can take the rest of the day off, and I definitely take advantage of the down time, because you never know how long it will last. I don't have "hours" and I don't clock in or out. When it's busy, I work overtime. When it's quiet, I get some time off to read, write, and explore (or binge-watch something on Netflix ;)
How involved are the owners?
They are very involved in the sense that they live here and they are totally supportive. Dean is constantly fixing, updating, and tinkering with things around the house, and he spends hours in his office going over the bills and the marketing and all the details I pretty much take for granted. But they are also both very busy people--Jess works crazy hours with her job as a teacher, and Dean always has multiple projects going. Plus they are super popular and social. So they are not involved in the sense that they are here working with me on a day-to-day basis. I actually prefer this, because there is no hovering or micro-managing--they trust me to set my own hours, cook what I want, clean how I want, and be pretty independent.
But do you like them?
Yes, I pretty much love them. And I'm not just saying that because Jess reads this blog. Jess is super sweet and funny and smart, and my mom has practically adopted her. She and I can sit and talk about our day and complain to each other and watch "This is Us" or go grocery shopping, and it's just comfortable. It's like I've known her for ages. And Dean is funny and weird and probably the most hard-working person I've ever met in my life. He's also cool under pressure, which is an awesome quality in a boss. I feel like if anything ever went wrong, he'd know just what to do and Jess would know just what to say. They're the perfect combo. We have dinner together a few nights a week, and sometimes we hang out and watch a movie. Cracker's alright too, but if he would stop shedding, I'd like him a lot more.
Who could not like these characters?
So is this, like, permanent?
Nothing is ever permanent, and I learned a long time ago not to worry about things like that. Most of the best things that have ever happened to me were complete surprises and temporary things, and that's okay. I've signed a year-long contract with the owner, and I intend to stay at least that long.
But what's your plan?
I honestly don't have one. I'm trying to just work hard, be open minded, and to embrace the opportunities around me. Since moving here 6 months ago, I've visited over 80 attractions--cute little New England towns, state parks, museums, and random hole-in-the walls. I've met dozens of interesting and awesome people. I joined a local Writer's Guild. Heck, in November I wrote a novel! I feel like I've come back to life up here, and I absolutely have no regrets about the move. I do have several passion projects in the works--but there is no telling where they will lead, and for now I don't even care. It just feels good to be inspired and creative again.
But don't you miss your family?
Of
course I do. I think some people are under the misconception that I moved to get away from my family, but we are actually very close. I get along great with my parents, my siblings are my best friends, and I miss my niece and nephews like
crazy. But (so far) I do not miss them in a sad way, and I do not feel lonely at all up here. We talk on the phone, we text randomly throughout the day, and I still feel as connected to them as I always do. Plus, most of them have already been to visit, and that's really the best of both worlds--sharing the place I love with the people I love most.
Were they surprised when you told them you were moving to Connecticut?
Honestly, probably not. I have been known to do some pretty crazy and impetuous things--especially when I'm feeling unhappy or stuck and I need a change of pace. They miss me, but in general they have been very supportive and excited for me.
Weren't you nervous about moving so far away, to a place where you didn't know anyone?
Not really. I had gotten to a point in my life where I felt so
stuck that I had to do something drastic. And though I am not social or outgoing, I thrive on change, and I love being thrown into a new realm every now and then. It forces me out of my comfort zone and wakes up parts of my life that were dormant, and opens my eyes to new possibilities. And did I mention I've met some awesome people?
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If you have any further questions, feel free to ask, I'll do my best to answer. In conclusion...
I've been told by several people that moving here and starting a new life was brave, but to be honest, everything felt so meant to be that it didn't feel like a risk. It didn't feel scary, so I don't feel "brave." From the moment I saw the Bevin house and met Dean & Jess, I knew this was where I wanted to be. Now I can see that it's also where I
needed to be. I'm grateful for the experiences (even the bad ones) that got me to this moment. And I can't wait to see what's next...
