Claire never expected to leave Chicago. She had a corner office, lake views, and a favorite brunch spot just steps from her apartment. But after the pandemic shifted her perspective, and her job to remote, she and her partner Ben started imagining something different.
“We realized we didn’t need the skyline anymore,” Ben said. “We needed space, community, and a little room to breathe.”
From Skyscrapers to Forest Pines
A road trip through Central Virginia brought them to Forest. What started as a detour quickly became a destination. Nestled between Lynchburg and the Blue Ridge Parkway, Forest offered the slower pace they craved—without sacrificing access to good coffee or high-speed internet.
“We pulled into this little town,” Claire recalled, “and suddenly it didn’t feel like we were giving anything up. It felt like we were gaining something.”
Building a Life from the Inside Out
Their first home, tucked just off Perrowville Road, had great bones and plenty of potential. The deck needed work, the kitchen was outdated, and the basement begged for purpose. But the quiet street, the towering trees, and the views of the hills sealed the deal.
They tackled each renovation with care—choosing fixtures, rewiring old lighting, and leaning on local contracting professionals who knew how to bring out the best in a home without losing its character.
“We wanted modern touches,” Ben said, “but still something that belonged here, in Forest.”
Living Fully, Locally
Today, Claire takes morning walks with the dog under canopies of green. Ben has converted the basement into a workshop. They spend weekends exploring Peaks of Otter, sipping cider at local orchards, and connecting with neighbors over potlucks and porch hangs.
“We came here to slow down,” Claire said. “But what we really did was start living more intentionally.”