From City Hustle to Countryside Charm: How We Found Home and Happiness at The Gatehouse in Morris

From City Hustle to Countryside Charm: How We Found Home and Happiness at The Gatehouse in Morris

Moving to Upstate NY was one of the best decisions we ever made. I (Chris) am a musician, and my husband, Tim, is a painter. We’ve always pursued our artistic passions but have also taken on various jobs to make ends meet. Tim has studied and taught art and worked in sales for a national gourmet food company for many years. I, too, have had multiple jobs aside from being a touring musician. The one I cherished the most, besides music, was managing a coffee shop in the East Village in NYC. It seems fitting that our paths would lead us here, opening our own shop, The Gatehouse in Morris, combining both of our interests in Upstate NY.

Embracing the Welcoming Upstate NY Community

We have been blown away by how beautiful and welcoming the Upstate NY community has been to us. This is our first business venture, and naturally, we were nervous and unsure how it would be received. Creating a safe space for art, food, music, and community was one of the core tenets of opening The Gatehouse. It has been wonderful to see all the connections, events, and gatherings already happening here after only three months. We can’t wait to continue this momentum and see how this grows and flourishes in this vibrant community.

Falling in Love with the Upstate NY Landscape

From the moment we drove up here 3 ½ years ago, we fell in love with this valley. The trees, streams, hills, charming towns, and the way people preserve this rich history and natural beauty are to be treasured. I’ve lived in many beautiful places in my life, but none as much as here. After living in NYC for 15 years, I’m grateful for the calm pace of life around here. This feels like somewhere I could grow old and live the rest of my days.

Seeking a Simpler, Artistic Life

Living paycheck to paycheck in New York City left us tired and stretched thin. I grew up in a rural farming community in Washington State and always imagined settling down somewhere like that. Following some friends’ leads, we started looking at houses and land in Upstate NY. We eventually came across Gilbertsville, and from the moment we saw our place, we completely fell in love. Our home is on a beautiful plot of land with trees, gardens, a stream with a swimming hole, and wonderful neighbors within walking distance to town. We desperately wanted to afford to live as artists and have more time for our music and painting.

Discovering Local Treasures

We LOVE exploring the local gems in Upstate NY. Some of our favorites include:

• Origins: Amazing food and atmosphere.
• Norbu: Great Nepalese/Indian cuisine.
• Fenimore Art Museum
• Concerts at the B-Side in Oneonta
• The Colonia Theater in Norwich
• The Drive-In movie theater in Unadilla
• Azul: Great Mexican food.
• Wakeman Coffee in Sydney
• The Weavers Farm Market
• Concerts at Ommegang Brewery
• Too many amazing antique stores to mention!

And, of course, you must visit The Gatehouse in Morris! It’s a wonderful blend of gift shopping and great coffee.

Embracing the Outdoors and Local Culture

The hiking around here is stunning and accessible to all comfort levels. We get world-class music in all genres locally, movies in old historic theaters, and the natural beauty of Gilbert Lake. Antiquing is a verb when you live around here; we have some of the best antiques in the country, probably because of the rich history.

Building Community in Upstate NY

We constantly tell people how beautiful it is around here and how wonderful so many of our neighbors are. People value their communities and look out for each other. Moving to Upstate NY has given us the opportunity to live as artists, build a business, and enjoy the serene, supportive environment of this beautiful region. We couldn’t be happier with our decision and look forward to many more years of creating, connecting, and thriving in Upstate NY.