Pickleball, a Short Break, and a New Home
Top: Current home near Lookout Mountain. Bottom: Flatiron Heights, where my new condo, my 27th residence, will be located.
Thought I'd share a brief update with you on the status of the podcast, plans for the future, and ask for your help in growing the Home Where You Belong community.
Since our launch last November, we've released 25 episodes, covering everything from how to love where you live and create a space in your home that sparks creativity and innovation to tips for remodeling and renovating your home and keeping it secure. I've talked with people who set up residence in a treehouse and a tiny house and a couple that enjoys life on the road, criss crossing the country in their RV. And there are so many great stories just waiting to be told.
Speaking of stories, you've probably noticed I'm a bit behind on releasing episodes. While the delay wasn't exactly planned, it is intentional. Let me explain. A few months ago, I injured my left ankle playing pickleball, a fun, energetic game the Sports and Fitness Industry Association identified as the fastest growing sport in America three years in a row. According to the association, more than 36 million Americans played pickleball last year and the related sports market was worth over 1.3 billion dollars. Amazing!
It is a fun game and supposedly a lower impact activity than many racquet-based sports like tennis. I'm sure it is, but, even so, this 60-something couch potato apparently didn't warm up or stretch like he should have before enjoying the game, and promptly sprained his ankle. At least that's what I thought happened. Two months and several clinic visits later, I learned I actually ruptured my Achilles tendon, which requires surgery and a recovery and rehabilitation period lasting several weeks. I'm currently post surgery, on the mend and looking forward to being up and active again soon.
Complicating matters, and as luck would have it, I had already decided to put my current home on the market before injuring my ankle. So, two days after surgery, a For Sale sign went up in my front yard, forcing me to take refuge in a one-level AirBNB. So much for great timing. In many ways I hate to leave my tri-level house at the foot of beautiful Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee, but I decided it's really more space than I need for myself and my faithful companion, Jackson the mini Goldendoodle. I'll miss my amazing neighbors at 100 South Broad, but I'll be staying in Chattanooga, just a few miles down the road in a 2 BR condo in the heart of downtown. It's actually located in an old Flatiron building that's listed on the national historic register and is in the process of being restored. I'm excited about the move, which will put me in my 27th different home in my six decades on the planet. I'm still figuring out what home is all about and what makes us feel like we belong wherever we take up residence. So, continuing the podcast makes more sense than ever.
With all that's going on, though, I've decided to take a break during the month of August and relaunch the podcast the first Tuesday in September. I hope you'll continue to join me on this journey. I also hope you'll invite others to listen to the podcast. If you enjoy a particular episode, consider forwarding a link to a family member, friend, or colleague. Another way you can help get the word out is by leaving us a rating and review wherever you stream podcasts, e.g. Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, and Google Podcasts. It truly helps and is much appreciated.
Finally, and most importantly, I'd really love to hear from you. Feedback is critical to the growth of the show. I'd love to know what you're enjoying about the podcast and how I might improve the content or format. What topics would you like to see addressed and what guests would you like to hear from? You can share your thoughts by posting a message on our Facebook or Instagram pages or emailing me at chip@homewhereyoubelong.com.
As always, thanks for listening. See you in September!
