From Vacation to Relocation: How a Trip to East Tennessee Changed Everything

📍 February 2022: A Trip That Sparked a Dream

In February of 2022, my family, best friends, and I took a trip to East Tennessee—and to say it was unforgettable is putting it lightly! We hiked scenic trails in Piney Flats, dined at cozy local restaurants, relaxed in the hotel pool, and soaked up the area’s charm. By the end of our visit, we were tired—but inspired. We decided then that Pigeon Forge wasn’t too far a drive. I had been getting a lot of information from my agent, new employer and others in the area, that I wanted to avoid the daily commute on 26 if possible.

💍 A Vow Renewal 

Back home, we shifted gears to focus on my best friend’s April vow renewal. I was honored to “officiate” the ceremony and be part of every moment. From planning to party prep, we poured our hearts into it and had a blast making her day unforgettable.

*📸 *Celebrating love and friendship at the vow renewal!

🚴‍♀️ Life in Motion: Searching for Home in Kingsport

Between biking adventures in Upstate New York and real estate searches in Kingsport, we stayed busy. The housing market was intense—homes were flying off the market, and cash buyers made it hard to compete. We missed out on several before finally finding what would become our home.

*📸 * Back in NY—but dreaming of Tennessee sunsets.

📱 The FaceTime Home & A Leap of Faith

We started to feel a bit discouraged and ended up settling on a home we didn’t really love. A friend in the area was kind enough to attend the showing for us and FaceTime us during the walkthrough (which I would not recommend). On screen, everything looked much bigger than it actually was in person, and we didn’t get a true sense of the layout or feel of the home or the area. Still, it seemed like a good option at the time, and with how fast things were moving in the market, we were worried we might not find anything else. So, we decided to put in an offer—even though it was a multiple-offer situation. Honestly, we didn’t think we’d get it… we’d been through that disappointment before.

📦 Packing Up & Moving On

With our offer accepted, the countdown began. I started packing weeks in advance—if we didn’t use it daily, it got boxed. If we didn’t remember we had it, it was donated or tossed. It was a whirlwind, but it felt like the beginning of something new. Our animals didn’t know what was going on!

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✨ The Journey Continues…

That season was a whirlwind of emotions, decisions, and new beginnings—and I can’t wait to share what came next. Stay tuned for the next part of our relocation story!

Until next time,
Amanda Murray 💛