from a brownstone in brooklyn to a historic church by the beach, my path has been anything but predictable. it started with a bold decision: bidding on a house in detroit from my brooklyn apartment, sight unseen. the plan? create a sanctuary for community organizers and volunteers who needed a place to recharge. that spontaneous click of the mouse led to adventures i never could have imagined.
after burning out from the tech world, i found myself in oklahoma, running the porch – a peer support group that became a cornerstone of the community. i thought i was done with tech consulting forever. then came the call that would change everything: a friend asking for help with a client’s online presence. despite my reservations about returning to tech work, i agreed. little did i know this decision would lead me to florida and one of the most unique living situations imaginable.
what started as a simple vacation to meet my virtual client turned into me living above an adult novelty shop in daytona beach – a plot twist that even i couldn’t have written. the space was perfect: a spacious loft with character to spare. but when biketoberfest approached and the building owner needed the space, i found myself searching for a new home. and as if the universe wanted to add another layer of adventure to my story, hurricane ian was approaching florida. while my family and friends from outside the state worried, i watched in fascination as locals went about their daily lives, treating the impending storm as just another part of florida living. secretly, i added “experience a hurricane” to my non-existent bucket list.
in this atmosphere of anticipation, both from the approaching storm and my need for a new home, i did what any rational person would do: i scoured craigslist for a new place to live. that’s when i saw it – an old historic church in new smyrna beach. a town i’d never heard of. a concept that seemed too outlandish to be real. but sometimes the most unbelievable opportunities are the ones that change your life forever.
with nothing but a friend’s recommendation about this “cool, quaint little beach town,” i took the leap. standing in that church for the first time, i knew i’d stumbled upon something magical. what happened next transformed not just my living space, but my entire approach to life and creativity.
but that’s just where the story begins. the tale of how this historic church became more than just a home – how it sparked a revolution in my creative process, launched unexpected ventures, and led to discoveries that would reshape my entire worldview – well, that’s a story you won’t want to miss…