Life Changes (Or How the End of the Space Shuttle Program Became the Beginning for the Rest of My Life)

Just four short months ago, NASA Tweetup provided me with amazing access to experience the launch of the last space shuttle, Atlantis STS-135, in Florida from the press area of the Kennedy Space Center. I got to meet so many amazing people from all over the world, both NASA employees and participants barring witness to this historic event. It was a privilege to be a part of it all.

Coming back to my "normal" life after such an surreal experience was not easy. I had been awakened from my slumber of everyday life. And I found myself examining the status quo of all aspects of my life. Deciding to make big life changes (moving, marriage, babies, etc.) can be easier to avoid and ignore when you are just stuck in the routine of everyday existence. Suddenly, Scott (my boyfriend of eight years) and I were having serious discussions about babies, moving, marriage, buying a big house together...things we've talked about for years. Talked about, but not acted upon.

At the end of July, Scott, his dog, my two teenage sons, and I all had a lovely vacation at a house in Traverse City, Michigan that we'd rented right on the lake with a private sandy beach right out the back door. Discussions continued with Scott about buying a house together (even though we both owned and lived in two separate houses just a street apart from each other.) As soon as we came back from vacation, Scott and I looked at a house we'd already fallen for online. It was over 4000 sq ft (twice the size of both of our current houses combined.) The next day we took my boys to see it too. We all loved it. This was now the first week of August and Scott was off to his own NASA Tweetup adventure for the Juno launch (How lucky were we to both get to be apart of NASA events?!) As soon as Scott came back from Florida, we made an offer on the house. Unfortunately we ended up in a bidding war for it, but we won it!

In September, we closed on the new house (still owning both of our other houses!), got engaged (complete with LEGO space shuttle prop built by Scott), and started planning for our wedding on November 11, 2011.

4 Month Life Changes Timeline

• Beginning of July - Last Shuttle Launch Tweetup
• End of July - Vacation in Traverse City
• Beginning of August - Scott's Juno Tweetup. See new house, make an offer, and prepare to move.
• Middle of September - Close on new house, move to new house, plan for wedding
• November 11 - Get married
• Near Future - Sell and/or rent out the other two houses we own!

Really amazing how the end of the space shuttle program became the beginning for the rest of my life.

And I'm still not done reshaping my future. All those hopes and dreams I've shelved away are being dusted off. I've always believed that happiness is found along the way and not at the end of the road. Enjoying the journey...that's how I keep choosing to live my life.