It’s Not Goodbye…..It’s Till I See You Again!!!!

Wow! What a wonderful journey I have been on for the past 1 ½ years living the dream in Park City, UT. As most of you know I came to Park City in June of 2010. Having driven 2,500 miles from Palm Beach Gardens, FL to UT was just the first of my challenges. So here is how I have spend my time here. This is my Park City story......

Well, since I did not know a person here I needed to meet and befriend some new people for both business and personal relationships. Where do you start when I could barely navigate my way to Salt Lake City? I searched the Internet for business networking groups and used classified ads to find friends who enjoyed mutual activates. Now would be a good time to point out if you do not love outdoor activities this is NOT the state for you! I quickly made a few friends who loved tennis as much as I do. Through these relationships I was able to meet other people who liked other activities I also enjoy. So step one was getting accomplished. As I began to really look at the people around me in Park City I noticed some significant differences between me and them! First off I do not mean to generalize an entire town of people but it seems to me almost everyone was (extremely) fit , wealthy and white! Well, I was batting 0 for 3 in the scenario. I took a hard look at myself knew of one of the three scenario’s I could change. When I got here I was a bit overweight. Over the course of the next couple of months I was able to shed almost 30 pounds! So now I am hitting 1 for 3 not bad for a middle class tan kid from FL. Now fast forward to Summer 2011…..

Having been here for an entire year and having friends and business associates I was feeling much more like PC was where I should be. The lifestyle out here  revolves around being out in nature. Hiking became more than just something to do to stay fit it became a lifestyle. I have hiked to places probably only about 1 percent of people of this country have seen. I have sat on the edge of cliff and watched an  Bald Eagle glide by within 10 feet, hiked to hidden lakes in the middle of nowhere and ventured upon a couple getting amorous at 11k feet (oops sorry….Awkward). I have seen moose and deer and other wonders of nature. Many of you have seen the pictures on FB I have posted and made comments on beautiful isolation the place offers. I will be the first to tell you that you must earn every great photo opportunity out here. I have fought hikes so steep I wanted to give up and retreat but I never did just knowing the reward is in not only the struggle to get up the mountain but what awaits your arrival at the top. So, now as I get ready to depart for Florida for the winter I would like to sum up what have been my most rewarding moments here in Park City.

The first most rewarding is on the business level. This fall in found a BNI chapter here in PC. Over the last 4 months I have been welcomed into the Park City business world. Each and every person I have met in this group means something very special to me. They have made me feel like a local! PC is a very close knit society and I am now a part of that group. So I want to dedicate this paragraph to everyone I have met at Business Elevated! I will miss seeing you at Park City Hotel and PC Roasters. I will not forget what you have done for me and I will miss you.

Next greatest moments I have enjoyed was earlier in this summer waterskiing with Luke and his family and Matt. Now, let me be honest the first time I jumped into the 65 degree water at Jordanelle State Park I thought I was going to die! Having lived in FL and enjoyed the 80+ degree water there is nothing like a true reality check once you body hits 65 degree water. We spent hours on the water just skiing, tubing, exploring our surroundings and talking about life in general. Good times and look forward to a repeat next summer. Till I see you again!

Let me try and summarize my experience here in Utah. When I first began to share my plans on moving to UT with some FL friends they felt this quiet sometimes shy kid did not have to tools to make it here. I think they are dining upon their words and thoughts now.  

Here is my summation of my last 1 1/2 years in UT. It has been the most rewarding, challenging, exciting, frightening, enlightening and most exhilarating experience in my entire life! I have a new found love of life and I thank everyone who I have met here that has helped me find this new life both personally and professionally! I am no longer just living my life I am achieving my DREAM life. It’s not goodbye It’s till I see you again!