Get Mike Outta Texas

Sometimes life throws us a curve. It’s thrown our Mike Kelley a few over the years, but he’s still in the game. In fact, you could say he’s on top of his game. Because he knows what he’s good at, what he wants to do, and where he needs to be for a successful go at life.

But it took a lot of trial and error – and a little bit of soul searching – to land on the answer.

A little backstory: Mike went to culinary school, worked in kitchens across the Atlantic, on both sides of the Colorado, and smack in the middle of Brooklyn. But it was living in Santa Fe, NM that sent Mike down paths he couldn’t have planned for. Some good, some great, some not so much. But all life-changing. He got married, he started building a Tiny House with his new bride (with their bare hands, mind you), and he found a new passion for distilling spirits.

But, as we said before, sometimes life throws you a curve. Mike and his wife respectfully parted ways, which left their Tiny House only partly finished and made Santa Fe feel a little bit lonelier. And while his passion for distilling remained, his position didn’t offer the benefits or security he needed. So, with mixed feelings, Mike did the only thing he knew to do to heal and get back on his feet. He packed up and came back to Austin to seek out a fresh start with support from family and friends, half-finished Tiny House in tow.

While we were beyond excited to have him back, his time here at home has been the one step he needed to realize that the home he left in Santa Fe is where his life belongs.

In fact, since he’s been back, his old employer has offered him a salaried position with benefits. He discovered the land he rented in Santa Fe is not only still available, but it’s right there waiting for him.

So, here’s the gist: We want to raise some funds to help Mike finish out the Tiny House once and for all and get it back to Santa Fe. And that’s gonna take about $5000.

Mike’s not one for charity. He doesn’t need much to be happy. And he doesn’t ask for anything. Which is why he’d definitely hate reading this. But, as Mike’s family, we want him to get the hell out of Austin and go home to Santa Fe where he belongs, where he was happy, and where he can grow. So, we don’t care if he gets mad at us. It’ll be worth it to help him make a new start. And this time around, we want to help him do it right by giving him a platform for success.