Our life took a huge detour in 2022. I was asked to move to Texas or Minnesota for work. My company wanted to cut costs and did not want to keep the San Francisco office running. It was a big decision, so Danielle and I went on a weekend trip, took a hike in the Pine forests of Northern California, and, among the redwoods, we decided we could not have the life we wanted in either place. So I let my company know I would be leaving. We knew exactly where we wanted to live. Our dream. Oregon.
We both got to work furiously finding new Jobs. My last Day was March 31st, by June 1st we had secured employment and entered escrow on a home.
2022: The Great Migration
The Theme:
Fulfilling a dream that started with our first vacation to Oregon together.
On June 30, 2022, I loaded up a campervan and started the long haul north. It wasn’t a glamorous movie montage; it was a lot of coffee, a much-needed nap in the van somewhere along the I-5, and a quiet arrival in Silverton on July 1st. I had four days to get the house ready with new floors, turning on the electrical and water, and missing my wife in the silence of our new home before Danni arrived on the 5th to officially start our Oregon chapter.
2023: The Year of the Dog
The Theme:
Expanding the pack and finding our rhythm.
If 2022 was the move, 2023 was the homecoming. Summit Lupo Paine was born on November 17th, 2022, and on January 29, 2023, he officially joined our family. He has been the ultimate "welcome home" gift and the perfect bridge into our new community and the trails around us. Career paths evolved during this time, accepting new challenges that allowed for more time to actually enjoy the scenery we moved here for.
2024: Highs, Lows, and Local Rhythm
The Theme:
Deepening connections and navigating the waves.
2024 was a year of profound contrast. We hosted family from both sides, showing off our new corner of the world, and took an epic van road trip up to Whistler and back down the Pacific coast. However, we also faced the heavy loss of Danni’s mom in April. We sought balance kayaking at our local lake, and I made the "Oregon life" permanent with some new ink: a pine tree with circuit board roots—a nod to where I’ve been and where we are now.
2025: The Great Horizon
The Theme:
Reconnecting and exploring from coast to coast.
In 2025, we put some serious miles on our shoes. We celebrated a graduation in New Mexico, revisited old stomping grounds in Napa, and finally checked Acadia National Park off the bucket list. Thanks to some professional opportunities, we even managed to turn a work trip into a week of soaking up the sun in Waikiki. It was a year of huge miles and even bigger memories, reminding us how much we love to explore—and how much we love coming home to Oregon.
2026: The Present & The Path Ahead
The Theme:
Rooted in Silverton, Reaching for the Mountains.
So far, 2026 has been about enjoying the life we’ve spent the last four years building. We’ve stayed local, finding peace in the trails of Silver Falls and celebrating my birthday at an oceanfront cabin in Newport with our friend Clark. We even dusted off our formal wear for an adult prom fundraiser—a sign that we are officially locals now.
Coming Soon: Glacier National Park
The dust hasn't settled on the campervan just yet. This June, we’re heading to Glacier National Park to meet up with friends for a dual-campervan expedition. Stay tuned—the next post won't take five years to arrive!