There’s something special about living in a place long enough that it starts to feel like it’s woven into your personal story. For me, the North Carolina Triad has done exactly that.

So when Kirby released his new book, A Guide to the Triad (available here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H3PB4KL8), it felt less like “just another local book” and more like a milestone—both for our family and for the region we now call home.

This book is exactly what the title suggests: a grounded, thoughtful look at the Triad area of North Carolina—its communities, culture, growth, and identity. But what makes it stand out isn’t just the subject matter. It’s the perspective. It’s written from someone who lives here, works here, raises a family here, and sees the Triad not as a passing stop, but as a place worth understanding deeply.

And in a really meaningful way, I got to be part of it too.

Writing Chapter 34: My Perspective on Moving to the Triad

I wrote Chapter 34 of the book, and for me, it became something unexpectedly reflective.

When we first moved to North Carolina, everything felt different in ways I didn’t fully anticipate. Some changes were obvious—landscape, pace of life, weather—but others were harder to name at first. They were subtle cultural shifts, everyday habits, and the way people interact with place and with each other.

In my chapter, I focused on those differences I noticed most after moving here from New Jersey. Not in a “better or worse” way, but in a “this is what it feels like to land somewhere new and slowly learn its rhythm” kind of way.

There’s a learning curve to any move, especially one that involves leaving behind what you’ve always known. You start noticing small things first—the way errands feel less rushed, how conversations stretch a little longer, how communities feel more interconnected in ways you don’t immediately see on the surface.

And then, over time, those small observations become understanding.

That’s what I tried to capture: not just geography or facts, but lived experience.

Why Local Books Like This Matter

Books like A Guide to the Triad matter because they help document places in real time—not just what they are, but what they feel like to the people living through their growth and change.

The Triad is not static. It’s expanding, shifting, redefining itself constantly. And yet it still holds onto layers of history that show up in unexpected places—old mill towns, historic districts, roadside landmarks, and the stories people carry with them when they move here.

Having a book that tries to hold all of that in one place is valuable in a way that goes beyond simple tourism or reference. It becomes a snapshot.

A Personal Note

Writing my chapter made me realize something simple: moving isn’t just about changing location. It’s about re-learning how to observe the world around you.

The Triad taught me that in quiet ways.

And being part of this book gave me a chance to put those observations into words—not as an outsider looking in, but as someone who stayed long enough to start belonging.

If you’re interested in the region, its communities, or the experience of building a life somewhere new, A Guide to the Triad is worth picking up.

It’s not just about where we live.

It’s about how we learn to live there.