The story of how I now live in Yosemite National Park...

The chance to live in a National Park was always something that deeply intrigued me, especially Yosemite. Not to get all woowoo, but I will never forget when my father told me this- "I know a higher power is real, because I have been to Yosemite". He was right.

The first time I had visited in 2020, I cried. I sobbed. I could not believe this place was real.

24 year old me in Yosemite on a solo trip, 2020.

I visited Yosemite as apart of a broader work trip where I decided to take a few extra days to hit some national parks. I drove into the park taking all three main roads (120, 140, and 41) in, each on different days. I was shocked by the breadth of it. I remember walking around Camp 4, hiking to Mirror Lake, and pulling over at every gorgeous view. I thought- how could I possibly figure out how to live here?

My now-husband, Luke, had also visited Yosemite in 2016. He felt the same way. How could I possibly live here?!

I looked at jobs, a lot of serving and frontline hospitality work was available. I was a few years into my career in the environmental space, and I knew I wanted to stick with it. So, I put that to the side and headed home to Pennsylvania.

A little fire started burning with Luke and I. Yosemite was perfect. Hiking, climbing, views, remote-living in a National Park. It was all so intriguing. The lifestyle we always hoped for.

Suddenly, it was 2022. Traveling was okay-ish again (Covid). Luke and I and a few of our friends planned a big California trip, which included summiting Half Dome in Yosemite and sleeping in Camp 4.

Liz on the downed Half Dome cables, April 2022.

Once again, the little fire inside me to move here was re-lit and Luke was feeling it too. Both more settled into our careers, we did not think we could make it work. Back to Pennsylvania, once more...

Finally- June 2023 rolls around and I see it. "Hiring for a Safety Specialist in Yosemite". No f*****g way. I soft launched it to Luke, he (supportive as ever) says go for it. Two weeks later, him and I are flying out to Yosemite for an all-day interview to "check it out".

Luke and I on a 6 AM walk to the falls, June 2023.

A little background, Luke and I were about to head to Europe for one month to get married in September 2023. We had some big life things happening. Throwing in a cross-country move was not on the bingo card. However, we both left the park that day feeling aligned that it was an opportunity we could not pass up. We would make it work.

"Luck is when opportunity meets readiness". I got the job, holy crap. It was happening. A few weeks later, I packed up most of our house and drove across the country with my dad. Luke stayed back and prepared our house to sell before the wedding. I still feel kind of bad leaving him in a shell of a house for two months.

I was in Yosemite, alone, for 43 days before flying home for our wedding in Italy. That was hard, not going to lie, I was separated from Luke and the dogs and learning a brand new job in a totally different part of the country. But it was exciting, I could not wait for him to join me.

2.5 years later and this experience has been nothing short of amazing.

If you have ever felt a draw to move somewhere and it just does not go away, I encourage you to take the leap. I am going to share some of my favorite memories of Yosemite in my next post. Stayed tuned!