Major Life Update
We're moving to the redwoods
Good morning, and welcome to Mind, Meaning, and Magic. I have some big news to share this week!
Chelsea and I are planning a big move: from San Diego to Humboldt County, California.
Maybe you’ve heard tell of that wild place on California’s north coast: a place of giant redwood trees, heavy rainfall, fern-lined valleys (where parts of Return of the Jedi and Jurassic Park were filmed), picturesque rocky shores, legendary cannabis farms, and possibly Sasquatch.
I lived in Arcata, CA from 2003-2009 while attending what is now Cal Poly Humboldt. I wrote a little about my relationship with this peculiar place last August, when Chelsea and I visited, in my essay Old Growth and New Growth. In retrospect, it’s obvious to me from re-reading that piece that I was already wanting to move back to Humboldt a year ago. And indeed, it was during that visit that Chelsea and I first started discussing the possibility of a move—first as a kind of fantasy, and months later as a reality involving serious deliberation and planning.
But I have family and close friends in San Diego, not to mention my private practice and a strong community around my weird, esoteric hobbies and interests. That makes it hard to leave. But at this point, Chelsea and I are ready to start a new chapter in our lives and explore a new place. We don’t know if Humboldt will be our forever home, but we know it’s where we want to be right now.
My daughter, Tara, is starting at Cal Poly Humboldt this fall. Today is her first official day of classes. With Tara attending my alma mater (one of them, anyway), it’s an opportunity for us to spend more time with her during this growth-filled stage of her life.
We also want to be live closer to nature. While it’s true that here in San Diego, we have access to the Pacific Ocean and some nice hikes within driving distance, the arid landscape, heavy traffic, and crowds are not our favorite. We want to be among ancient forests, uncrowded beaches where our dog can run off-leash, and abundant fresh water.
What does this mean for my private practice? The good news is, I’ll be continuing to work with the majority of my online/telehealth clients. A few of my local clients here in Encinitas, who understandably prefer in-person to teletherapy, I’ll be referring to other providers I trust in the local area. (At this point, I’ve already spoken with all of my clients who will be affected by the move). Chelsea, a talented therapist herself, will be working for a group private practice in Arcata, and I’m planning to do some work for a telehealth startup while maintaining my own practice. We’ve heard that the demand for therapy outstrips the supply up in Humboldt, so we’re hoping that we can make a positive contribution to the local community.
This next month will be a busy one as we prepare for our move. I’m happy to share that we’ve already found a house in Arcata, the college town that’s home to Cal Poly Humboldt, and conveniently located near two of the best coffee shops in town, along with the forest, the marsh, and the coastal dunes.
As we settle in to our new home, I’m hoping to share more original photography (the beauty of the landscape up there always inspires me to take more pictures) and to write about our explorations here on Substack.
Looking around the digital landscape, I’ve noticed that some of my favorite writers and creators have made similar moves—taking the opportunity created by Covid and the new remote work culture to move to more rural areas and live closer to nature. I suspect we all have our own reasons for doing so, but for me, this move is aligned with some of the core principles that I write about in this newsletter: slowing down, living a more contemplative life, and heeding the subtle longings of the soul. I’m hoping the move will inspire my writing in a new way, and I look forward to sharing more as we go forward.
That’s all for this week! As always, I appreciate your feedback on Mind, Meaning, and Magic. Please feel free to reply to this email or leave a comment, below.
Thanks for reading,
Chris Cordry, LMFT
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Wow Christopher. How exciting for you and Chelsea. Having lived in rural Kauai for 20+ years, I know your desire to be with the trees, bugs, animals, birds. It definitely does the nervous system a world of good. And what a boon for you and your daughter. Dad will be close by but with plenty of room for her own adventures. Best wishes on the move and new chapter. Love, Lucinda
Congratulations Chris. Moving is such a primally potent activity that opens the door for reinvention, fresh perspective and new beginnings. It's also a pain in the ass. I'm wishing for you that the majority of your experience involves the better half of the equation. : )