New Jersey has been my home my whole life and pretty much the same county even. Our journey traveling around the US has really opened my eyes to what could be. Even knowing NJ, especially our area, is one of the most expensive places in the country to live, it’s home. However, I think I have found where my heart would love to call home…the Santa Barbara area.

Needless to say it also shares the title of one of the most expensive places to live in the US. Worse off, it’s on the opposite coast from all of the people I love. What draws me to this area of SoCal? The salt life, the perfect year round weather, you’re within reach of everything you could need, want, and not know you wanted, there is so much to do, and it’s just perfect all of the time!

We were originally camping up in the mountains (pix above) of Oso (for those moms tortured by Agent Oso sorry for the memories this rehashes for you). Being up there in the mountains provided some killer hiking but we were so secluded from all of the good stuff. So we moved to the beach (if you didn’t know this yet…IG!) and are LOVING it!

So, I did what any right-minded woman would do and called a realtor to put our NJ sticks and bricks up on the market and started looking for a new sticks and bricks here. Just kidding! For our time here, I am just going to soak in all of the beauty, weather, salty air, great stuff, culture, and perfectness. The girls are definitely enjoying it here and Shaun is off paragliding and getting certified and there is four very happy Hammans 24 hours a day! We checked out the Santa Barbara pier and Channel Islands National Park, both gorgeous!

Currently, I am sitting outside, listening to the waves crash, every so often getting a light sea spray, soaking in the Vitamin D, watching the girls explore their findings from the beach this morning, all while the palm trees sway above, the boats and surfers sail by and I savor it all!