Home NJ: How We Unexpectedly Found Our Forever Home

It was supposed to be a temporary stay. A quick stopover, just long enough to catch our breath before moving on to the next adventure. Yet, here we are, four years later, still living in New Jersey, a place we initially had no intention of calling home. So, how did we end up here, building what feels like a forever home in a place we were meant to leave?

The story begins, unexpectedly, not with a house, but with a weekend getaway. The air was crisp, and we were looking for a short escape from the constant rush of the city. A friend had recommended a little-known bed and breakfast in the heart of northern New Jersey. "It's close enough to the city, but far enough to feel like a real break," they said.

We didn't expect much. In fact, we didn't expect anything at all.

But that first morning, as we stood in the backyard of the inn, watching the fog lift off the hills, there was an undeniable feeling of peace. The kind of peace that takes years to find, even in places you search for it. We found it in an old, modest inn. In the chirping of crickets that night, in the lazy breeze that filtered through the open windows. New Jersey was no longer just the place we’d pass through—it was starting to feel like a destination.

Fast forward to a few months later. We decided to visit again, "just for a weekend," we said. But something had shifted. We weren't just tourists anymore. Each time we visited, the bond with this quiet corner of New Jersey grew stronger. We started looking at real estate listings, half-jokingly at first, but soon it became a serious search.

And then, we found it. Our house. A quirky, three-bedroom fixer-upper nestled at the end of a cul-de-sac, with a sprawling backyard that stretched into a forest preserve. It was not the dream house on paper, but standing in front of it, we couldn't deny it felt like home. We made an offer the same day.

The next year was a blur of renovations and projects. We stripped back layers of wallpaper that seemed to tell the story of the families who had lived there before us. We tore out the old kitchen cabinets, only to find notes scribbled on the back of one, dating back to the 1970s. Slowly, painstakingly, we turned that house into something uniquely ours.

Through all of this, there was a strange sense of contentment. The house became more than just a project; it became a reflection of our own journey. Each wall we painted, each floorboard we replaced, was another step toward truly settling in.

Now, let's talk about the community. One of the reasons people overlook places like northern New Jersey is because it doesn't fit the typical mold of suburban life. But that’s precisely the appeal. The area is brimming with hidden gems—farmer’s markets where you can find the freshest produce, family-owned diners that serve the best pancakes you've ever tasted, and nature trails that wind through forests, rivers, and valleys.

But why New Jersey? Why not somewhere more exotic, more “in line” with what people expect from a couple like us?

The answer lies in what New Jersey offered us that no other place did: balance. The proximity to the city for work, but the peace and quiet of suburban life. The affordability, compared to the skyrocketing costs of neighboring states. And most importantly, the sense of community that we hadn’t found elsewhere. The neighbors who drop by with fresh-baked cookies, the impromptu summer BBQs, the kids playing in the streets without a care in the world.

So, what’s the takeaway here? Sometimes, life doesn’t go as planned. And that’s okay. Because what we found in New Jersey was far more than we ever expected—a home that feels like an extension of ourselves, a place where we’re building memories that will last a lifetime.

We went from thinking New Jersey was just a temporary stopover to realizing that maybe, just maybe, it was where we were meant to be all along. Life has a funny way of giving you what you need, even when it’s not what you thought you wanted.

In retrospect, the decision to stay was never really a decision at all. It was something that unfolded naturally, without us even realizing it at first. But once we did, it became clear that we were exactly where we were supposed to be.

So, if you’re considering moving to a place like New Jersey, or anywhere that might not be on your “dream list,” don’t write it off too quickly. Sometimes, it’s the unexpected places that end up feeling the most like home.

And, in case you're wondering—yes, we’re still here. Four years, countless renovations, and one giant backyard BBQ later. It looks like we’re staying for good.

Who knew New Jersey could feel so right?