Not long ago, I stood on my porch waving to the kids as they climbed onto the school bus on another rainy day. After all that time, Washington still didn’t feel like home.

As my husband approached his long-anticipated retirement from the Army, we found ourselves facing a question we hadn’t had the freedom to ask in a long time: Where do we want to live? 

For most of our adult lives, that question had been decided for us. But with him retired and me working remote, we could move anywhere! The freedom was a blessing—and if I’m being honest—completely overwhelming.

As a remote worker, how do you decide where to live?

Every city has something going for it. We have lived in a lot of places across the United States and abroad, and there’s always a compromise. 

Tacoma had towering trees and endless greenery, but also nine months of rain. Panama City Beach offered beautiful water and beaches, paired with the chaos of vacation culture. Watertown, New York, had charming small-town festivals, along with winters that measured snowfall in feet. 

I grew up in Kentucky, and my husband grew up in Michigan. Neither of us had lived in our hometowns in more than 20 years, and we knew those places were no longer the right fit for our family. Exploring new places had become normal for us, but now we were ready to find the place.

As much as I wished for an easy answer, the ruby red slippers weren’t helping this time. So, we did something a little unconventional. 

We roadtripped across the U.S. looking for a new home.

Our family moved into an RV and spent a year traveling the country, hoping that somewhere along the way would feel right. Our kids loved the national parks, zoos, and science centers. Homeschooling? Not so much. But thankfully, we didn’t permanently derail their education during our year on the road.

That year taught us more than we expected. My husband and I started with a clear list of priorities, but our list evolved with every stop. 

We learned we wanted to be near a big city—but not in it. We wanted neighborhoods and farmland with community and breathing room. We wanted a place that welcomes newcomers and supports veterans. My husband, a former Apache pilot, has a deep love for aviation and anything car-related, so access to those interests mattered too.

We discovered what makes a city feel like home.

While visiting Salt Lake City, I realized something new about myself. I want to live in a place that feels thoughtfully planned. It matters to me that our home sets aside space for parks—that there is a long-term vision with intentional zoning. Utah wasn’t the right fit for us, but that sense of intentionality became non-negotiable for us.

Good schools had always been on our list, but our definition of “good” also changed. We wanted more than strong academics. We looked for schools that support the whole child, offering opportunities to explore interests in communities that genuinely invest in education. 

I also knew I wanted to live in a state with strong universities—not too close, not too far—so the kids would have options when the time came. Day by day, our list grew, until we discovered what Indiana had to offer. 

The MakeMyMove Program connected us to Indy.

We decided to take a closer look at Indianapolis after connecting with the MakeMyMove relocation program—supported locally through the Indy Chamber. Over the course of several months, we explored communities throughout the region, including everything from Avon and Westfield to Greenwood and Zionsville. 

I talked to anyone who would talk to me, including very patient gas station employees who answered my questions with a smile. We visited libraries, and I peppered the librarians with questions. (Thankfully, librarians are amazing.) Through the MakeMyMove platform and the Indy Chamber’s network, we were connected to resources and people who were genuinely excited to talk about their communities.

Indy checked all our boxes. All of them.

We narrowed our home search to Noblesville, Brownsburg, and Bargersville. When I first saw the house that would become ours, it practically sang to me. It was a bit of a fixer-upper, tucked into a neighborhood that felt like something I’d imagined but never thought I’d find. 

A month later, the house was ours, and we pulled the RV into the driveway. Our household goods didn’t arrive for another month, but spreading mattresses across a roomy house felt like luxury after RV life.

MakeMyMove immersed us in the local community. 

One of the unexpected benefits of the MakeMyMove’s Indy Region relocation program was the opportunity to experience the area right away. As part of the relocation package, we received tickets and passes that encouraged us to explore! 

I’m in my mid-forties and don’t attend many concerts anymore, but I do love The Fray. I had no idea they were touring—or that they’d be coming to Indianapolis. Through the program, we attended a show at Rock the Ruins with VIP tickets, and it was fantastic! I wouldn’t have known that venue existed otherwise, but now I keep an eye on their upcoming concerts.

I also never imagined myself attending a professional basketball game, but we’ve become big Fever fans. Over the summer, we saw Wicked. In October, we cheered on the Colts. Over fall break, we drove to French Lick and stayed at a hotel with an indoor waterpark. Each experience helped us learn our way around our new home and helped it start to feel familiar.

Finding the right school was worth the effort.

Our experience with the Center Grove School Corporation has been incredible. It’s large enough to offer extensive resources, yet somehow still manages to create smaller communities where students feel supported. Our kids made friends quickly, and many of the families we’ve met also moved here from somewhere else and love the area.

Little by little, we started to feel connected here in Indy. I loved the Veterans’ Day events at school, where every student participated. On Halloween, it seemed like everyone was outside, driveways full of families handing out candy. After hearing fireworks and music from our backyard, we finally attended a Center Grove High School football game—and wow. Going to a few games each year will definitely become a family tradition.

There’s just so much to love about life in Indy.

We’ve lived in Indy for six months now, and most of our boxes are unpacked. (… Okay, maybe there are still a couple.) But this community is starting to feel like our own. My absolute favorite thing about this area may sound silly, but I love the roundabouts!

I love the short drive into Indianapolis for events, paired with the more rural feel of our neighborhood. I love the INVets program for helping us with the transition. I love the small-town festivals in Franklin and Bargersville—and the incredible thrift stores around the area. 

What I love most, though, is the joy we’ve found. I love that strangers hold doors open for one another. I love the sound of leaves rustling on walks around the block and the car shows that make my husband smile. I love getting a text from my neighbor when our cat sneaks over to their house—complete with an adorable picture. 

I’m so grateful to the MakeMyMove program—and the Indy Chamber—for helping us find this place. This truly feels like home.

Life in Indy x MakeMyMove 

Lindsay’s story is part of Life in Indy’s partnership with MakeMyMove and the Indy Chamber’s Step Into Life in the Indy Region program, which supports remote workers exploring a move to central Indiana. The program connects individuals and families to local resources, community experiences, and incentives designed to help new residents settle in and feel at home. Learn more about eligibility and incentives.