Happy St. Patrick's Day
The Trail That Lead to Gold: Jodi’s Story
A plan to leave. In 2015, the industry my husband works in was turning towards the West. We planned to make 2016 the year we would leave our childhood home of Duchess County, NY and our extended families. We would move our two boys, 18 and 9, and a dog, to where my husband’s work would flourish—Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Life changes. In January of 2016 my father passed suddenly. I felt I could no longer leave my family. I had begun a career as a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson three years prior, and I would be taking on the job of selling my childhood home. I would be leaving a job I was licensed for only in NY. I wasn’t ready.
A beautiful home with a sunset view. Then in March of 2016 we took a planned trip to Santa Fe. We saw where we would be living, which was a beautiful Northside home that every night showed a Western sunset dropping below the Jemez Mountains. I fell in love. We visited Santa Fe Community College, which offered the perfect Film program for my older son, not to mention the film opportunities here in Santa Fe after he graduated. My younger son was entering the fourth grade. He would be attending Atalaya Elementary. It was a great school environment that would embrace a nervous new kid.
Outweighing the opportunities. Once returning to NY, I had decided that the opportunities in front of us in Santa Fe far outweighed the opportunities of remaining “home.” Our house was filled with 40 years of stuff. We sold, gave away or threw away everything we had. We packed up only two cars, one for me and one for my husband. We decided to drive across country that day in August of 2016, taking a trail that would lead us to gold.
The search for the perfect home. We rented our first dream home for one and a half years, then decided we needed a place more permanent, so we started to look on the market for houses to buy. Through a brief contact, I was introduced to Emily Garcia, Real Estate Broker. Emily was able to find us the perfect home, one that provided that same Western sunset behind the Jemez Mountains that I loved and promised I’d never take for granted. House buying with Emily Garcia was an easy and pleasant experience.
Help Wanted. So, when an email was sent out to Emily’s sphere that she was looking for an Assistant, I thought, sure! I have the Real Estate experience and I enjoyed working with Emily as an Agent. I was hired and have been with the Emily Garcia Group for over 2.5 years.
The Present. My husband’s job continues to flourish, my older son, now 24, not only graduated Santa Fe Community College but also graduated from Emerson University with a Bachelors Degree in Film. My younger son, now 15, is happy beginning his high school career at Santa Fe Prep.
The Trail That Lead to Gold has led to a lot more. We found many new places and new people, new jobs and new schools, and new experiences that can only be had here. I may not have been ready for Santa Fe but Santa Fe was ready for me and my family, and welcomed us with open arms. I am forever grateful.—Jodi Urbanak
"May you have all the happiness and luck that life can hold—and at the end of your rainbows may you find a pot of gold."
—IRISH BLESSING