From City Life to Ranch Living: How I Made My Dream of Moving to the Mountains a Reality

For the past 10 years, I’ve held a very clear vision. To build a life on our legacy ranch nestled in the Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho. I dreamed of waking up every morning to the sunrise, foraging, fishing and growing a bountiful garden that provides for us year-round. To heal and expand with the medicine of my horses and share those gifts with those called to receive.

(The view I always dreamed of calling home)

I knew I wanted to disconnect from technology to reconnect to my humanity and teach others to do the same through immersive retreats where nature is our co-facilitator.

The vision of returning to the land, activating my cowgirl soul, and living in unity with nature will become a reality 2 weeks from now.

25 years ahead of schedule.

This retirement dream is now our real life. Not “one day when we’ve figured it all out”. But today, when we figure it out moment by moment.

You see, I was born in Washington DC (yes, really) – right off Logan Circle on Rhode Island Avenue. The city was what I knew from day 1. And what’s been my norm now, living in downtown Baltimore City for 16 years and even having a 2+ year stint in Manhattan for grad school. City life suited me. And truly reflected my values for the majority of my life.

But something changed on a cellular level when I started to go on 10-day solo retreats to my great-uncle’s ranch after my mom inherited it in my late 20s. I had been visiting since I was a little girl, but never on my own. Being there alone was a “big girl” move and showed me just how differently life can be lived.

(My first visit to my great uncle’s ranch. First sweet taste of being a cowgirl.) 

On 100 acres of paradise, you can hear nothing but the sounds of nature. Everything moves slower by design. And you can’t help but have jaw-dropping encounters with animals, plants, and the majesty of the mountains.

It was a place I went to for respite. A retreat for my soul. And I made a promise to make it my home one day.

While it seemed like I was talking about this vision forever, I’m now realizing how quickly it’s all come together. By simply choosing it now and moving forward one step at a time, without judgment of pace.

As I’m closing up my time in Baltimore, I’m prioritizing two things: people and property. Ensuring I invest quality time with the people who have invested in me. And getting our city rowhome in tip-top shape for our tenants.

Those are the only real deadlines right now. Everything else is just a story.

While I’m in this reflective state of closing one chapter to start another, I’ve been thinking about what I’ll miss in Baltimore and what I can’t wait to be complete with. There’s a real duality.

🫂 I’ll deeply miss my chosen family in Baltimore. And I am so excited to be back living with our boys in Idaho.

(Our sweet, sensitive 3-year-old boys, Norby the Mustang and Ollie the Fjord)

🍽️ I’ll wish I could have delicious food from one of my favorite city spots. And I feel expanded when envisioning my first meal made from harvesting my vegetable garden.

(Our fancy farewell dinner at WyeOak)

🛀 I’ll miss having a spa-like bathroom with a soaking tub, steam shower, and bidet. And I’m grateful I have access to a natural hot spring to soak in.

(enjoying the natural hot springs)

🧇 I’ll miss meeting friends for brunch or catching the latest show together. And I’ll cherish cowgirl adventures where we catch the show that the sun, moon, and the stars give us.

(A day ride on the Continental Divide with my badass cowgirls and their steeds)

💧 I’ll wish I could run the dishwasher, do unlimited laundry or take a long, hot shower. And I’m looking forward to watching James in action as he carries 100% of our water from the natural spring to our tiny home.

(James doing his thing! He carried 9 TONS, (aka the weight of 2 elephants 🐘) the last 6 months we were there)

This transition out of city life and out west for good feels like the most natural and authentic shift we could take in knowing and living our values.

And as beautiful as these pictures are, there’s still much unknown, loads to fear and fixate on, and tons of evidence that we don’t know what we’re doing. 😳

I’ve been able to listen to those worries with love, forgive myself for focusing on fear, and choose again. Becoming an island of peace in what can feel like a sea of chaos.

This is it baby! Our one-day ticket to the mountains. 🤠So, why not do that joyfully and in gratitude? Instead of fearfully in doubt?

And that’s a choice you can make in your life too! And one that I’ve created a 4-day course on if you want my guidance to get there faster. Check out the details below.

Cheers to making your wildest dreams a reality! Let me be your evidence that it’s possible for you too. 💞

P.S.

Remember how I said that even if you’re riddled in worry, you don’t have to live with fear and doubt? Instead, you can shift to joy and gratitude? Well, I’m about to launch my 4-day How to Be an Island of Peace in a Sea of Chaos course to teach you exactly how to do that. 🏝️

It’s designed to be simple, practical, and actionable so that you can ground yourself quickly and sustainably no matter what’s going on around you.

And I gotta tell ya, this is some of my best work yet! 🎶James has become my mix-master producer, bringing the practices to life like never before.

Would you like to be the first to get access to it at a discounted rate?

Sign Up for Early Bird Special Here