The car was packed like we were fleeing the galaxy — snacks galore, chargers + extras, wired earbuds, hoodies, and blankets. I told Joe, mostly as a reminder to myself, this was a scouting trip, but honestly, it felt more like a reality show. We were on a mission. Our mission? To spend a few days in Huntsville, AL, the “Rocket City”. To see firsthand what this place has to offer for our future home. We’d already found a house that checked all the boxes (and a few I didn’t know I had); however, I needed to feel the town, to see if it felt like us, although there was no going back, as this is happening.
Now, because the universe has a sense of humor, we somehow ended up booking a Fallout-themed Airbnb. Joe’s idea, I won’t take credit. His personal touch and way of bonding with the boys, and because what says “fresh start” like sleeping in deep darkness in a foam-built, bunker-like, Fallout-themed walls?
The Fall-out Airbnb (and the Chaos Within)
When the listing said “Fall-out inspired,” I expected maybe a poster or two. What we got was out of this world, NASA meets Comic-Con meets every Fallout fan dream bedroom. There were grey walls to set the tone, LED lights swirling across the ceiling, checkered floors, oddly gas-mask-like decorations, and a flashing faux control panel that blinked all night. A central gaming table with a built-in 60″ TV, and the perfect setup for a quick session of Dungeons and Dragons or a poker game.
The boys were instantly obsessed. Within minutes, one had claimed the full-size bunk, the other had found the laser light remote, and I was trying to figure out which switch turned off the stars and which one brought the gamer room’s post-apocalyptic vibes to life. It was the kind of weird, wonderful chaos that perfectly matched our life right now, suspended between endings and beginnings, between living in a temporary home in an apartment and in a new place. At one point, while unpacking the snacks (because priorities), I looked around at the gamer room, the flashing control panels, and my half-asleep family, and thought: “Yep, this feels about right. We’re launching – just not sure what planet we’re headed to yet.”
Exploring Our New Orbit: First Impressions of Huntsville
The next morning, we stepped out of our little post-apocalyptic Airbnb into real Alabama air, crisp fall breeze, sunny, and just humid enough to remind my hair who’s boss.
Huntsville greeted us like that friend who’s both super intelligent and down-to-earth. You know the type, they build rockets and code by day but still make time for sweet tea on the porch. That’s the energy here. Huntsville has that small-city charm: murals, coffee shops, and people who actually make eye contact (which, as an adopted Southerner, makes my heart brim with joy). We grabbed breakfast at a local cafe, where the food was far beyond what my pants would allow, and I silently decided these were my people.
Finding Home (and Maybe Ourselves)
We pulled up to the house I’d only seen online, that awkward, hopeful moment where you hold your breath, wondering if the photos were lying. But as soon as we stepped inside, something just…clicked. It wasn’t perfect by any means; the paint color was your standard builder-grade millennial gray and lacked character and charm, as most newly built homes do, but it felt right. Just the kind of place that could hold wacky concoctions for cookies, loud laughter, and a few impromptu teen wrestling matches. There’s something about walking through rooms that aren’t yours yet but already feel familiar. I stood in the empty living room, light spilling through the windows and the staircase, thinking: “This is going to be our next chapter. The place where we plant new roots, spill new coffee, and start over, again.”
Outside, the boys were already bickering over bedrooms, and I was trying to picture our things here: the couch that our dogs have claimed as theirs, the arched bookshelves, the mountain of cleats and shoes by the door, the dog hair lingering around everything despite the fact that Roomba runs marathons within our home. It didn’t feel like starting over exactly; it clicked right then. It’s a new chapter, just in a new orbit. By the end of the trip, Huntsville wasn’t just a dot on the map anymore. It was ours, messy, hopeful and full of possibilities.
Somewhere between the rocket murals and the endless Zillow listings, I realized this wasn’t just a move. It was a launch. Sure, we’ll miss what we are leaving behind, the family grocery store aisles, the neighbors whose chickens I now know by name, but change has a way of shaking loose the dust. And maybe, just maybe, this next chapter will sparkle just a little.
Next stop: actually moving. Wish us luck. I will be having some strong coffee.