A Year In Tulsa Remote: It's a Wrap. Or Is It?

Our year in Tulsa Remote is now up.

How did it go?

I'll answer using some questions that we got asked for a recent interview with TR:

What made you decide to take the leap and move to Tulsa?

We ran a local newspaper in Missouri. I was the Managing Editor and MsBoyink was the Advertising Director. We were deeply integrated in the community. I knew the Mayor, Police Chief, Fire Chief, the aldermen, and the school board members. We engaged with the community at local events, when they made a birth announcement, and when they needed an obituary.

We worked for a third-generation owner/publisher and had a great relationship. Then she retired and sold the paper. The new owner wasn't someone we wanted to work for. I found a remote writing job in the software industry and we both gave notice.

My new remote job suited me better, but we were no longer involved in the community where we lived. It wasn’t just that we had left our jobs. COVID also killed many existing social options. Most nights looking at screens was the only thing to do.

We started looking for our next act. Could we be lighthouse keepers? International pet sitters? Hunting ranch caretakers?

Some other RVing friends had gotten off the road through TR. They recommended the program. We checked it out, applied, got accepted, and moved here in early 2023.

What were you hoping to accomplish here and why?

Our goals included:

• A richer night life that would get us off our screens.
• A more diverse community with like-minded people.
• A better professional network and ways to encourage or mentor other content professionals.
• Exploring nighttime urban photography.
• A return to the workforce for MsBoyink.
• A walkable, downtown, apartment-based experience in a bigger city.

We've accomplished all of that and more - to a greater or lesser degree. For example, we still drive our van each week. Downtown Tulsa has a lot to offer, but still no grocery store. We are also driving to medical appointments, evening events, local parks, etc.

How did you navigate building a new community locally and what does that community consist of for you?

When we were full-time RVers we found it was easy to build friendship and community with other families doing the same thing. The shared experience of wanting a different life, selling houses, and getting on the road acted as a fast-forward button to friendship.

We find a similar fast-forward button in the TR community. We all made an intentional decision to end one phase of life, move to Tulsa, and start over.

While most of our new friendships are from within the TR community, we move outside of that by:

• Building connections on LinkedIn
• Getting to know the staff at our apartment complex
• Getting to know local musicians
• Attending library events
• Joining local writing or journalism groups

Who or what would you say was key in helping you to get settled in?

We went to every TR event we could and were intentional about meeting people at them. MsBoyink and I are introverts by nature, but we've gotten comfortable introducing ourselves.

I don't carry a phone, so my secret weapon is carrying a notebook to write down the names and details of people we meet. I'll also capture recommendations for local restaurants, attractions, etc.

What were a few things about Tulsa that met your expectations and what were some surprises?

Our pre-TR visits to Tulsa to tour the city and find an apartment provided a good preview of our experience here. I had also done a lot of internet research about Tulsa so we had a fair handle on what we were getting into.

But somehow we missed the fact that Tulsa was such a music city. We've been to New Orleans, Nashville, Portland, Austin and other music hotspots, but didn't know Tulsa should’ve been on that list. I can’t count the number of concerts we’ve been to - from jazz jam sessions by local musicians to national headliners.

And it’s more than just music. From art walks to theater performances to bike races to large ethnic festivals - the events in Tulsa are non-stop.

What was a major accomplishment for you since moving to Tulsa?

I started a monthly Tulsa Content Practitioners meetup. If you work in a role like content writing, strategy, marketing, or operations, feel free to join us! We meet the third Thursday of each month, 11:30-1:00 at 36 Degrees North Basecamp. Bring a lunch and expect a little networking and good conversation.

I've also joined the Tulsa Remote Ambassadors. I'll represent the Tulsa Remote program at different events - including mixers for newcomers to the program.

But that's small potatoes to the journey MsBoyink has had in Tulsa. She came here wondering "what do I do now?" She took advantage of many resources in Tulsa, from networking, to self-discovery, to job and interview coaching, to nursing courses. After months of work to refresh and relocate her Nursing license, she recently accepted and started a RN job at the OSU Medical Center.

What's next for you?

Most people stay in Tulsa after their year in TR. For once in our lives we’re going to be most people. We’ll be here at least another 1-2 years.

After that?

Who knows? Our goal is that MsBoyink would have the qualifications to be a travel nurse, which would enable a new phase of location-independence. But we don't know yet what that would look like or where it might take us.

How is the now (Boyink) different from the (Boyink) that joined the program a year ago?

Have you ever edited a bland photo, giving it more vibrance and saturation to make the colors pop?

That's what Tulsa Remote has done for us. Our life in Tulsa is richer, more vibrant, and more diverse than it was before.