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October 11, 2021

New Beginnings: Move to The Finger Lakes

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So much has happened since March of 2020.

If you’ve been following me since, you know that my family and I secluded ourselves in our half-renovated, barely furnished cottage, nestled between a vineyard and a flowing glen, near Keuka Lake in the countryside of Finger Lakes, NY.

The house has since been completed and you can check out our reno journey on Instagram at @TheFLXCottage. (We purchased this home as a getaway from our busy lives in NJ, but it became much more.)

2020 had us like so many others studying and working from home, with nowhere to go and no idea what the next day would bring.

We were fortunate in that we both had our work, pay, health, and safe haven for ourselves and our children. At some point in reflecting on those worst-case scenarios, and the steps we would take to overcome them, we started realizing that some of the things we were too afraid to even think about, or allow ourselves to imagine, didn’t seem so scary the more we contemplated on them.

We braced for the worse, but the worse never came. My husband’s incredible job remained incredible and has kept him busy, employed, and us, taken care of.

My Brave World Media clients, albeit experiencing budget cuts, never paused our contracts or dropped me. Instead, I got busier, not only an exciting thing but one I am so grateful for as it kept me busy and creative during some of the worst, most stressful days of what has been over a year of a global pandemic.

THEN SOMETHING CHANGED

This whole past year, well into the new year, we had every intention of going back to normal as everything else went back to normal. I don’t remember at what stage in all of this I turned to my husband and asked, “What if we pursued our dreams together now?”

This initial suggestion surfaced all the insecurities and doubts and fears that come with a major life change. As a couple, we have done some incredible things together – taken plenty of chances, but the idea of quitting a job – one that my husband loves and that has been good to our family – seemed, unnerving at first.

But during many long walks and even hours together, we found joy in working with each other and being creative. When he would finish work, he would sit with me and help me through campaign ideas. I would share with him a vision that I might have for a pitch to a client, and he would use his creative talent to bring it to life. It felt – feels, amazing.

View from our morning walks in our new neighborhood.

I don’t want to gloss over the stressful moments – or that first time we worked on an RFP together and had such a fight that we needed to just walk away from each other for a bit. We are, after all, human, and normal.

THE LEAP

Once we said yes to the dream things started moving fast. We sold our beautiful home in NJ. My husband has given notice at his job. My kids have started a new school in Corning, NY. And we have moved to the Finger Lakes full-time. Our vacation home is home and we are both excited, terrified, and thrilled.

This journey is a lot less intimidating because of the incredible confidence this guy has in me, in our agency, and in all my crazy ideas and the incredible support he gives me daily. From buying the house in the Finger Lakes to moving full-time here, he has put all his faith in me and in our ability to continue to succeed in all we do together. Words can’t describe the love and appreciation I have for this man.
We said goodbye to our New Jersey house, a house we dreamt of, couldn’t believe when we got it, then renovated from inside out, and have now left behind for someone else to enjoy.
Our new home in the Finger Lakes. We also couldn’t believe when we got it – we saved our pennies for it. Lived through the first year of this pandemic in it, then gutted and renovated it, not realizing this would be our fulltime home in the end.

For some people with whom we have shared the news, it all sounds like a dream or insanity.

We read often about people quitting their jobs to travel or do something new. And though I have not gotten on a plane since the pandemic started, I am excited to be working full-time with my partner in life and love on our little agency that could.

Entrepreneurship in The Finger Lakes

My long-term contractual clients are in the Finger Lakes. I have been working with them for years now. They are all amazing and I am so grateful for their support and faith in me and my team. I am lucky to work with some pretty great people.

But, in general, creative work is tough because it is so undervalued.

I am putting my faith in our work, our agency, our talent, in the strong support system we have built here, in the reputation I have worked so hard to establish, and in the many opportunities living in the Finger Lakes can bring. There are tons of others who have made the same choice. Chefs, brewers, winemakers, other creatives, and independent professionals. We’ve met a lot of people who have left the hustle and bustle of the big city in pursuit of a better balance, life, lifestyle, and experience here.

A lot of us newcomers believe in the potential this region has for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Like anywhere, you have to work at finding those willing to pay what your work is worth and to build those long-lasting partnerships.

LIFE IN THE FINGER LAKES

Life in the Finger Lakes for a Dominican Puerto Rican from Brooklyn is different from life in Sunset Park, or Santo Domingo, or even Maplewood, NJ, but I truly love it. After more than a decade of visiting, it has never grown old for me. For us.

We are choosing a better quality of life, in a stunning region, where I have met many beautiful humans and made friends.

Watching the sunrise from the FLX cottage.

These past few months – pretty much all summer up to now, have been insane and we haven’t enjoyed it as much as we normally would. Who knew uprooting and changing the course of your life would be so much work?

We hope to spend more time in nature, watching sunrises and sunsets, continuing to connect with our kids on a more personal level, something we have really enjoyed throughout this whole process. I want to hike more and be in the lake more and make more friends and really grow to be a part of this community.

In a world of so much uncertainty, with so much still left to the unpredictable, we chose to embrace the path that made us feel happiest, putting our faith in this region we have fallen so deeply in love with.

Many people ask me how I am adjusting, as a woman of color specifically in an area which in their mind, lacks diversity. And my response is always the same – I find my community. I regularly make an effort to connect with the diverse communities that live here. It is true that I, more often than not, enter a room and can be the only POC. But that isn’t exclusive to my life here. It is true that coming from a larger city such as NYC, where the sounds and flavors and colors of the world are everywhere, visiting any rural destination in America can seem like a major shift. However, I have also learned that if one walks away from here with the impression that there are no communities of color, that it is simply because they have not really looked. We are everywhere, and in some places, pretty prominently. My hope is that through my work, whether through my agency or personal platforms, I can help highlight those faces, voices, and stories more.

So, dear reader, I salute you from beautiful Finger Lakes, NY, and am excited to share our adventures from this wonderful region, and as we get ready to travel, from the road.

Hope you will stick around for the ride.

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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8 Comments
  • Diana
    October 12, 2021

    Yayyyy I am not surprised and I am so excited for you… i was revelry there and it really is beautiful. I hope to go back one day w my family. I am so happy for you!!!

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Diana
      October 12, 2021

      Now you have someone to visit when you do come back!

      Reply
    • Liz
      Diana
      October 12, 2021

      I know how much (and how very hard) you and your family have worked to get here. You deserve all the happiness and success, always. Congratulations, my friend!

      Reply
  • Nnenna Fakoya-Smith
    October 12, 2021

    Congratulations Carol 👏🏾 Taking the bold steps to fulfil a dream is usually a tough decision but as long as you have that inner peace, then why not! Really happy for you and your family. I dream of owning a home like yours – surrounded by the beauties of nature – one day soo . So thanks for inspiring us to believe we can surly have that home we dream of. Enjoy your new home and journey, Carol 😊

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Nnenna Fakoya-Smith
      October 12, 2021

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  • 2cupsoftravel
    February 28, 2022

    Stunning shots, I can see why you have moved there!

    Reply
    • caincarol
      2cupsoftravel
      April 28, 2022

      Thank you!

      Reply
    • Carol Cain
      2cupsoftravel
      April 28, 2022

      Thank you!

      Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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I’ve been a mom for a really, really long time. I’ve been a mom for a really, really long time. As the oldest of all my many, many siblings, caring for littles started very early in my life. I have cared for, changed diapers for, fed, rocked to sleep, booboo-kissed, advised, reprimanded, worried for, been frustrated and given anxiety by more kids than I care to count. Because I started caring for children so young, I was convinced I wouldn’t have any of my own. But I had my three beautiful boys.

I miss the little babies they were, sometimes to the point where it aches, but I love seeing the men they are becoming. I am most grateful to them for the ways in which they continue to help me discover more about myself both as a mom and beyond motherhood. My identity was never fully in being a mom, I never wanted that for myself and they all have respected, accepted, and given me space for that. And I love them unconditionally for it. Because as they start to find their own paths in life, I am not left with an empty anything, instead I find myself with a life fulfilled. Of which being their mom has been the greatest adventure.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing mother figures, caregivers, and humans who have provided for another in loving, maternal ways regardless of biology and traditional roles and societal expectations. ♥️ May you find fulfillment, love, and joy in the ways you have tried to give to others who needed it most.
The Village of Monticello is located right off NYS The Village of Monticello is located right off NYS Route 17 (future I-86), mid-way between New York City and Binghamton. It is also the largest community of the Sullivan County Catskills. Like many rural downtowns across the U.S., Monticello has experienced some hardships. However, what I found especially lovely was how there is a vibrant BIPOC community, especially Latino, thriving with their small businesses and eateries keeping Downtown Monticello alive.

Imagine my delight to have seen several Dominican- Puerto Rican eateries serving and sounding like a slice of home. Last night’s treat was had at @nellys_latin_restaurant. 

Roasted pernil, grilled chicken, rice and peas, yuca, sweet plantains, ox tail, goat….the list goes on and on. Right here in Monticello, NY. I ate and washed it all down with a cool papaya shake, just like from the islands.

So, if driving through, be sure to check out downtown Monticello for some good Caribbean eats…and wait till I tell you about breakfast!!! Thanks @nickfingdavis for the find! 🇩🇴🇵🇷

#monticellony #catskills #goodeats @sullivancatskills
Nothing like the beautiful golden hour in @flxwine Nothing like the beautiful golden hour in @flxwinecountry.🌞

#myflx
These days you will find me walking in the rain, c These days you will find me walking in the rain, chasing waterfalls, and anything nature filled. Such is spring in the Finger Lakes 🌷

#fingerlakes #lifeinthefingerlakes #cascadillagorge #ithacany
I sometimes can’t believe how easily I fell in l I sometimes can’t believe how easily I fell in love with this life.

There was a time when my DREAM was to be one of those old NYC ladies living in a 4 story walk-up, and who people would often see pulling around her shopping cart from market to market. And while I long for a NYC that barely exists anymore, I do have to say I am still often surprised at how dramatically that dream has changed.

Now I dream of uninterrupted days spent tending to my garden and growing food and other pretty greenery I never knew I could. Or figuring out new recipes and sitting by the fire with my puppies on my lap.

I crave mornings made foggy by the adjacent lake, and early wake-ups by the sound of the passing horse and buggy on Sunday mornings.

Yeah. The world is big and there is so much I want to see still but I also love this place where it feels like nothing else matters, not even the mud on my hands and boots.

📸 Gardening bliss on a rainy day at @theflxcottage.
Yesterday, we headed to @tanglewood_nature_center Yesterday, we headed to @tanglewood_nature_center to scout a photography location. The focus was work. But as we took the 3 mile hike to the overlook, through the mud, in the rain…and the sun, because spring, and as the birds sung, the woodpeckers pecked, and the deer strutted, I felt myself feel lighter, happier, and at ease. With just a walk, in this beautiful place. Alongside my beautiful partner.

If you call the Finger Lakes home, I hope you can also appreciate it and the gifts it offers, even when we least expect it. And if you need a reminder, just go outside.

#tanglewoodnaturecenter #fingerlakes

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