For several years, Maynard and I talked about moving from Arizona to somewhere in the South. The Arizona heat today is far different than it was when we each moved to Arizona with our respective families. Excessively extreme heat, a severe drought impacting residential and commercial water access, an elevated cost of living...these were critical issues weighing heavily on our minds.

At the end of 2025, we decided enough talking, it was time to put desires into action. And so, as of June 2026, we live in the Columbia area of South Carolina. It's a big change in many regards. Yes, it's humid, but the couple of "spicy" days we've experienced still don't compare to the daily 110+ degree summer days in Phoenix. The mornings are in the 70s, and we can enjoy our coffee from the porch swing among the trees shading our front yard.

Columbia, SC is growing. The secret is out: South Carolina is the place to be. The housing market is increasing rapidly; we believe we got here just in the nick of time.

One of the benefits of moving here is we finally have that dream studio we've always wanted. Large, with room to create, print, and grow as artists, it gives us everything we couldn't have in Arizona.

I will miss certain things about Arizona. I will miss the Salt River wild horses, the amazing bird sanctuary at the Riparian Preserve, the incomparable sunsets, the vast and diverse landscape...but I am so excited to begin exploring South Carolina. Cypress samps, rivers, a new biodiversity. I'm no stranger to the South, having grown up in northern Florida, but it's been a minute since I've lived in this region.

Life changes, and art evolves. We chose change, and I can't wait to evolve.