My husband and I have lived in many places throughout our lives, both individually and as a couple. Moving was just something we did as a way to accommodate a new and always forward-looking life plan.

From college, I headed to Washington, D.C. for graduate school and stayed four years until I moved to New York City for professional reasons.  There I met my husband, Jeremy (a transplant from Denver, Colorado via New Haven, Connecticut), started a family, moved to several different apartments in several different urban neighborhoods as our need for more space dictated, and finally, moved to Westchester County where we stayed for twenty years, raising our children. Our desire had always been, however, to live a more peaceful lifestyle, away from the mania of the city and the suburbs. With our children grown, we embarked on our dream.

The first time we drove through the town of Pawling, this very special place whispered to us…beckoned to us…and we somehow knew this was where we should set down new roots.   We made the move last May and were immediately met with kindness and friendliness from every direction.

Now, if you have lived here for awhile, or even all of your life, this kind of hospitality probably seems pretty natural and normal to you.  It isn’t, really.  If you had a history of transplanting yourself to various communities as we do, you would know immediately that in this little town, something is different…and wonderful.  The walls are missing; the barriers are down.

People who don’t even know you say hello to you and smile at you as you walk down Charles Colman Boulevard.  Shopkeepers have whole conversations with you as you browse among their wares. Everyone we’ve met has been open and helpful.  In fact, I swear the air smells sweeter here and the sun shines brighter!!!

We have gotten to know some truly remarkable people whom we may now count among our friends.  I have had the opportunity and privilege to get to know some of the teens from Pawling High School and Trinity Pawling, as I work with them on various Pawling Public Radio projects.  They are bright, articulate, motivated, and eager to learn something new and challenging.

Jeremy and I are so happy to be a part of this lovely community…this beautiful little corner of the world.  We thank you all for your very warm and heartfelt welcome.  We are finally home.