Hello, Postcard Jar friends! We wanted you, our loyal readers, to be among the first to know about our next adventure. After announcing the sale of our beloved Crete, Neb., home last week, we’re ready to reveal where we’re headed. This move is a big, exciting leap, and we can’t wait to tell you why we’re packing up, what drew us to our new hometown, and what this means for our future adventures. So, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s dive in.
Our Crete home at 915 Dundee Ct. has been the heart of our story since we moved in the day after our wedding on August 28, 2011. When we bought this house, it had no grass or landscaping, no trees, an unfinished basement, cheap carpet, and the walls were all painted a buttery yellow. We’ve spent the last 14 years making improvements, planting trees and flowers, and creating what has become a beautiful, private retreat to us.
This is where we built our marriage and our life together, hosted college ministry gatherings, and sipped coffee on the deck planning our next trip. But over the past few years, we’ve felt a shift. Steve left his job as a middle school principal at Crete Public Schools and while our enormous yard was a blessing for so many years, it became more work than we had time for when we were at home. We’ve found ourselves traveling more than ever and our new jobs as travel advisors can be done from anywhere. So why not explore our options?
And, to be honest, we’ve felt less connected to Crete as time has gone on. As much as we’ve loved this town—where Ann grew up, Steve worked, and where we raised our daughter, Meghan—it felt like our season here was drawing to a close. Finding a buyer for our home the day it went on the market confirmed that it was time for a new adventure.
It won’t be much of a surprise to our longtime readers of our blog that we’re moving to Rochester, Minn. Yes, we know it’s even colder there in the winter than it is in Nebraska. But Rochester has been a special place for us since we started traveling there in 2014. We began visiting when Ann was diagnosed with rare inflammatory heart disease and other illnesses. She was referred by her local doctors to the Mayo Clinic for specialized, world-class care. We’ve spent a lot of time there and in fact, we published our very first blog post from a the executive lounge of a hotel in downtown Rochester. Who knew that more than 10 years later, we’d be calling Rochester home.
The exceptional medical team, caring community, and welcoming feel of Rochester won us over from the start. We’ve loved exploring its diverse restaurants, scenic trails, and vibrant, inclusive atmosphere during our many trips over the years. We found a church we loved attending while there, made friends, and did meet-ups with followers of our blog and social media.
Then, about two and a half years ago, our daughter Meghan moved to Rochester to work as a nurse at the Mayo Clinic. At 31, she’s thriving in her career and has fallen in love with the city as much as we have. She plans to stay for the foreseeable future, and we’re beyond excited to live closer to her for the first time since she left for college at 17. While we’ve made it a priority to see each other every few months, we’ve missed the little moments—grabbing lunch, taking walks, helping with things around her house, and mother/daughter TJ Maxx runs. Life is short, and the chance to share more of these everyday joys with Meghan is a gift we’re all eager to embrace.
Rochester also keeps us in the Midwest, which we both love. It has an international airport and will be just about an hour’s drive to MSP for non-stop flights to international destinations. There’s lots of year-round outdoor recreation in Rochester, plenty of grocery stores with healthy options, and so many great ethnic restaurants to choose from. As empty nesters who are still trying to live and travel well, Rochester is a great fit for this stage of life. While the winters can be brutal, we’ll planning to travel some of the winter to warmer places just as we have the last few years.
It didn’t take us long to find the perfect house in Rochester. The city has a plethora of great housing and more is being built every day. Our local realtor, Kelly Domaille, helped us secure a home that has a fantastic chef’s kitchen, a cozy three-seasons room, plenty of room to host guests, and a lower-maintenance yard. Oh, and a heated bathroom floor. Yay! We can’t wait to show it to you, so stay tuned.
Rest assured, this move won’t slow down Postcard Jar or our work as Dream Vacations travel advisors! Our passion for helping you plan unforgettable trips—whether it’s a luxurious Regent Seven Seas cruise or a cozy getaway to a hidden gem—remains unchanged. We’ll continue sharing travel tips, stories, and inspiration from our new home base in Rochester. In fact, we’re already dreaming up blog posts about Minnesota’s charming small towns, scenic trails, and maybe even a few new favorite restaurants and activities!
Since we’ve found a home we love in Rochester and have it (and our current home) under contract, we’re planning to head north by late November or early December.
The process of selling our Crete home was a team effort, and we’re so grateful for the help we received. A huge thank you to our realtor, Pam Leupold of Home Real Estate, who guided us with her expertise – from preparing our home for showings to creating a stellar marketing plan with us that led to a quick sale. We’re also grateful to our friend Ann Williams, who helped us clean, organize, and downsize every room to make our home shine. Tracy Hoffman was the photographer and drone operator who captured the uniqueness of our property so well. RAFA Roofing and Exteriors did an incredible job with our new roof, exterior paint, and deck renovation, while Carlos Martinez of Chapin Lawncare and Yard Boss kept our yard pristine with expert weed control. And we can’t say enough about our amazing cul-de-sac neighbors, who made (and continue to make) our neighborhood so special and desirable.
Leaving Crete is bittersweet. This town and our home have been the backdrop to countless memories, from anniversary photos to holiday celebrations. But as we pack up, we’re carrying those moments with us, ready to create new ones in Rochester. We’re excited to explore our new city, see Meghan more, and continue sharing our journey with you. Whether you’re dreaming of your next vacation or just love following along with our adventures, we’d love to hear from you! Drop a comment below with your moving tips or let us know if you want to plan a trip—call us at 402.575.9624 to book your next getaway.
Thank you for being part of our Postcard Jar community. Here’s to new horizons, fresh stories, and the joy of the journey ahead!
Travel well,
Ann & Steve Teget