For most of my life, I lived in the Shenandoah Valley. It was home for over 50 years—but I always felt a pull toward the coast.

In 2020, when I was working remotely, I realized something that changed everything:
I could work from home just as easily near the beach as I could in the Valley.

So I made the move to Hampton Roads.

Starting Over (More Than Once)

At first, I continued working remotely, and eventually transitioned into a hybrid schedule when offices reopened. I truly liked my job and the people I worked with—but something started to feel off.

If I was going to build a life in a new place, I needed to actually be part of it.

That meant finding work closer to home—and that decision led to more change than I expected.

Over the past few years, I’ve moved more than I ever thought I would, trying to find the right fit both professionally and personally.

Now, I’ve been outside of Richmond for over a year and started a new position about six months ago. It’s everything I hoped for—challenging, meaningful work, and a great team.

But even with that piece in place, something was still missing.

The Hardest Part: Building Community

Finding a job is one thing.
Building a community is something else entirely.

Between:

• Long commutes
• Full workdays
• Traveling on weekends to help my parents transition into a retirement community
• And being naturally more introverted

…it hasn’t been easy to meet people or feel truly connected.

And I don’t think I’m alone in that.

Starting over in a new place—especially later in life—can feel isolating, even when everything else is going well.

What I’m Doing to Change That

I’ve realized that community doesn’t just happen—you have to intentionally build it.

So I’ve started taking small steps.

Volunteering (Even When It Feels Uncomfortable)

One of the first things I decided to do was volunteer with the
👉 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
https://dwr.virginia.gov/

My first event is this Saturday at a Henrico 4H program, where I’ll be sharing information about Virginia wildlife with middle school students.

I’m excited… and a little nervous.

(If I’m being honest, probably more nervous than excited.)

But I also know this is exactly the kind of thing that helps you meet people and feel more connected to where you live.

I’ve also volunteered to be part of their media team, which I’m especially looking forward to. It’s a chance to work on my wildlife photography and share something I enjoy.

Getting Involved Locally

Another step I’m exploring is joining a local Ruritan group.

They meet once a month and focus on supporting the community—things like scholarships for local high school students and other civic activities.

It seems like a great way to:

• Meet people
• Give back
• And become part of something meaningful

What I’m Learning About Community

I’m still in the middle of this process, but here’s what I’m starting to understand:

• Community doesn’t happen overnight
• It takes effort—especially if you’re introverted
• You may have to try a few things before something feels like the right fit
• Feeling a little uncomfortable is part of the process

And maybe most importantly:

You don’t have to do everything—you just have to start somewhere.

If You’re Also Starting Over…

Whether you’ve moved to a new area, changed jobs, or just feel a little disconnected where you are—you’re not alone.

Building community takes time.

Right now, I’m focusing on just a couple of small steps:

• Showing up to one volunteer event
• Exploring one local group

That’s it.

Not everything at once. Just enough to start.

👉 If you’ve ever had to rebuild your community, I’d love to hear—what helped you the most?