PERSPECTIVE: LIFE IN JUPITER
Jupiter Lighthouse
Boys go to Jupiter… and so do I.
I’ve worked for myself since 2013, though for a while I had never considered myself a remote worker. In the early days, I worked very closely with my clients, attending staff meetings and events, and nearly functioning as an employee. Each organization I worked with was nearby, so my home office almost felt like an outpost. My business was strong, but I grew restless and needed a change. So, in 2019, I decided to move to San Diego.
I wasn’t sure how my clients would take the news. I knew I needed to go, but I didn’t want to lose anyone, so I asked if they would stay on with me. All of them said yes. It was then that I fully understood I didn’t really need to live in any one specific place to maintain and grow my business. I could live in California or New York, or do short stints in other cities like Charleston, South Carolina or longer trips to Rincon, Puerto Rico. Turns out working remotely is limitless.
Now I find myself in Jupiter, Florida - a place I only knew of from writing stories for a luxury real estate magazine. My boyfriend had accepted a job offer as a private chef for a family that spends their winters here, and we made our first snowbird move in fall 2022. We’re fortunate to make it work and escape the winter cold of New York.
But how does one make this work? As I’ve shouted from my soapbox before, having a routine is incredibly helpful. Though I must admit that it’s a struggle to go from the New York home office, which has a door, to a wall ladder desk in the open concept living room and kitchen [first world problems, I know]. Our proximity to the boy’s job means he doesn’t need to leave until 10 a.m., and he has his own morning routine, too. Let’s just say we spend them differently. So, we came up with every couple’s favorite thing - compromise. Three mornings in the living room for me, three for him [with me still sitting at the desk, just less focused] and voilà.
I’ve been back in Jupiter for nearly three months now. We spend our lunch breaks at the beach [when the weather Mother Nature allows - she’s been a bit strict recently]. We kayak the Loxahatchee River and sometimes see alligators, go paddleboarding, walk parks and preserves, visit museums, go fishing, and take little day trips. There are a ton of dining options, and happy hour is a real thing. Plus, I even found a natural wine shop!
It varies greatly from life on the North Fork of Long Island. Thankfully, it’s not terribly difficult to get friends to visit down here in winter. One incredible bonus is that a friend from home, who now lives in Maine, started coming down here several weeks at a time with her family. We see each other more in Florida than we do in the northeast!
So what does any of this have to do with work? I think of this as I think of most travel… different experiences offer new perspectives, and may spark inspiration in surprising ways. For me, access to all of these outdoor spaces, extra vitamin D, and closer proximity to cultural offerings provides more energy and motivation to expand RB Collaborative while also exploring my own creative projects. I’ve become a bit more disciplined in my daily routine, and have been able to discover - and enjoy - the freedom in working remotely.
Now, time to get outside.
— RB
