Driving out of Bluffton, South Carolina, the grass stretches as far and wide as the eye can see.  With those 11 foot tides inland areas do not look anywhere close to the water, but the bright green grass gives it away.  It wasn’t until I made it here, after almost a week in South Carolina, in this place where I thought I wouldn’t be seeing water for a while, that I fully realized just how low and outstretched this region is and the phenomenon that leaves them proud to call it the Lowcountry.

I was a bit mesmerized by this place and its kind people.  The heat was a force to be reckoned with, but now I "get" sweet tea and the South’s obsession with sipping it all day long.  It’s the only way to cool your body!

My very dear friend Heather was my reason for swinging through town and honestly one of the main reasons I decided just to travel straight away rather than move to a new city, find a job and make it work.  Why haul my (rather small amount) of belongings to one location, sign a lease and begin a new life when I don't really know where I want that to be?  Not to mention that I am applying for jobs in multiple places.  Why not travel and visit amazing friends and family while figuring some of that out?  I've had a lot of conversations with a lot of people since I made the decision to hit the road and everyone offers a unique perspective; some I would have never considered and I am enjoying absorbing their insights.   

My time in Bluffton was amazing.  It was to be the first real stop on my journey but it ended up taking place after the lakehouse and after a side trip to see my Aunt and Uncle in Jacksonville.  It was time spent with one of my very best friends who knows my struggle of leaving Miami on a personal level.  She and her wonderful friends and family showed me the beauty of Southern small town Hilton Head and Bluffton.  Nights were spent on lawns with picnic blankets listening to local bands and kids running around like they should in the summer.  Days were spent poolside or sipping tea to try to squash the heat - somehow hotter than Miami!  S'mores, lightening bugs and bright green sweet grass are how I will remember South Carolina.  

Thank you Heather :)

Her goal was to have me come visit for a week and stay forever.  While I was there I had an unexpected job interview, met some of the nicest strangers and even began to picture myself with a life there. While a life in Bluffton may be in my future, the road still calls me.