Saying Goodbye..

Watercolor, St. Johns Bridge and Mt. Hood- jessibostad.com

As with any shift.. “transition is always the hardest part”

These are the wise words of my dear friend and Doula, Michelle as she comforted me when we decided to uproot from Austin and move our family to Portland, Oregon in 2013 (round 2 for Shawn & I). We’ve always had a deep love for the Pacific Northwest, but it was especially emotional for me to move my kids away from my hometown, family and the “mama-tribe” I had developed. There was a great job opportunity for Shawn, and Portland was familiar and beautiful, so we decided to leave Austin (again) and return to the Rose City.

A bit of our own background..

Shawn and I are life-long outdoor enthusiasts with passions ranging from ultra-marathoning, to triathlon and cycling. We have established active communities in Portland multiple times now. Back in 2007, we founded a now popular trail running club called Trail Factor. Most recently we built our own endurance coaching and personal training business called Steelhead Coaching and Personal Training, which we will transition with us back to Texas this Fall. Shawn is a USAT (USA Triathlon) Level 2 Certified Coach, with 20 years of endurance coaching experience, and I am a passionate artist with most inspiration coming from outdoor adventures, and specifically the gorgeous geography around Portland, the Columbia Gorge and the Csacade Mountains, (jessibostad.com).

Me (Jessi) at the summit of Angel’s Rest in the Columbia Gorge- a regular trail running climb for us.

Shawn training a client at our studio- Steelhead Coaching and Personal Training in NE Portland

Our Inspiration..

10 years ago, we visited a beautiful resort on Orcas Island that planted a seed of inspiration in both of us. Doe Bay Resort and Retreat is a quiet and magical property for rest and restorative care on the shores of the Puget Sound in the San Juan Island chain. Ever since that first visit, we felt the need to create a similar space where people could disconnect from the fast pace of our society, and reconnect with Nature. That dream grew to include sustainable living and learning experiences. Over the next 10 years, we would find ourselves searching for property in Texas and Oregon, but unable to afford what we came across. Until last month..

We were offered the opportunity to take over 10 acres pristine Hill Country family land about 25 minutes outside of Austin, and couldn’t resist. It would be sold if we didn’t want it, and that reality hit me hard in the gut! The Universe was speaking and I needed to listen! Portland is beautiful and will always hold a special place in my heart, but it was time to go home.

Of course, Oregon felt like home to our two kids, who we moved at ages 2 yrs and 11 months, so transitioning back to Austin would not be without sadness. The boys would be close to their grandfather and step-grandmother who they adore, as well as their Aunts and other wonderful family, but would have to say goodbye to friends and their familiar city, which is not easy for little ones. As hard as it may be, I know that adversity makes us stronger and we are reminding them that we will be together as a family throughout this transition, and also that this shift would allow us to be together even more on a day-to-day basis. Running our own business on the West Coast has been immensely rewarding, and immensely exhausting at the same time. To be frank, the cost of living is extraordinary, and keeping up just to get by was taking a toll on our mental and physical health. It’s ironic that while running a business within the health and fitness industry, we were out of balance and not living our healthiest life.

With the stars aligning, we pulled the trigger and put our house on the market and began the process of transitioning our business to another fantastic local coach (Chris Bagg Coaching Group). We would take the Steelhead name with us, but pass along the brick and mortar and local community relationships that have been built over the past 6 years.

Big changes, big shifts, but excitement and enthusiasm exploded with in us immediately, and we could not deny that we were following our long time dream.

Our home on the market in May, 2019

If not now, then when?..

So here we are! In the beginning of yet another transition. I’m sure many folks out there may call us extreme or crazy. I call us passionate and willing to shift when our hearts, bodies and minds tell us it’s time for change. I call us brave for making sacrifices in order to provide a sustainable future for our children and hopefully inspire others in the process!

As a mother, I want to provide my children with the most beneficial skills and experiences for their future. I believe that is what we are doing.

Shawn in our Portland, OR backyard vegetable garden & chicken coop