For Drew and Jodi Shields, the move to Rincon, Georgia, in October of 2022 seemed like the start of a new chapter. Drew had just received a promotion within Georgia Pacific, and it appeared their future would be far from Zachary. "We thought it would be permanent," Jodi recalls. But a year later, in 2023, the family found themselves driving back to Georgia after a visit back to Americana to see their friends, quietly thinking the same thing: “We shouldn’t have left.”

Zachary was not supposed to be home for them–just a pit stop on the corporate ladder, like so many out of towners who move to Zachary for corporate jobs at the area’s industrial plants. The Shields moved here in late 2019, but still went “home” to Arkansas at least once a month to visit their family. But five months after arriving in Louisiana, Covid changed everything. 

The Shields family’s best memories of Zachary stem from the community they built during the pandemic. "We had our squad," Jodi remembers, naming a few families in Americana that became each other's lifeline during those long months. "Lockdown barbecues, playing cornhole every day. Every day was a good day. It never rained, never got too hot, never humid." The isolation of the pandemic, far from weakening their bonds, solidified friendships. “We couldn’t go out, so we stayed here, ate here, drank here. We tried to keep the kids apart at first, but eventually, it was like every day was a good day.”

When Drew began receiving offers for other positions in Kentucky and Memphis, they were tempted, but nothing felt quite right. "How many can you turn down before it’s detrimental?" Jodi reflects. It wasn’t until the opportunity in Savannah came up that they knew they had to make a move. “He called me and said, ‘You’ll never guess what call I just got. Savannah. We have to go.’” By the next day, they were packing up.

Professionally, the move was a success. Drew excelled as a health and safety manager, while Jodi found a work-from-home job that she still holds today. But socially, something was off. The Shields missed the sense of community they had left behind. "Georgia is a ‘hope you eat’ kind of place, but not like here. Louisiana is ‘hope you eat and we’ll feed you at our table.’" And speaking of eating, Jodi says the food didn’t even compare. “Our favorite meal there? Probably Cheddar’s chicken tenders.”

Although they made the most of their time in Georgia, it became clear that Zachary was where they belonged. “We started looking for a place like this, but we realized real quick it didn’t exist," Jodi says. "I would have stayed and made it work, but it just wasn’t Louisiana.”

Their time in Georgia wasn’t without its perks. They were less than an hour from the beach, and weekend trips to Savannah turned them into enthusiastic tourists. "I loved being an East Coast girl for a while," Jodi says. "Living so close to the beach was wonderful." But despite the beautiful scenery and professional benefits, something was missing. "It was visually appealing but emotionally not great," Jodi shares. "There’s no Southern hospitality like here. No fun neighborhood things. Americana is home for sure."

When they moved back in March 2024, they didn’t even consider another neighborhood. "We could have bought bigger and cheaper somewhere else, but this is where we’re happiest," Jodi says. Settling back into their friend group and routine felt natural. “We kept in touch the whole time we were gone. It was so familiar, so easy to go back to normal.”

Even their cat Huck seemed to prefer Louisiana, Jodi jokes. "In Georgia, the cats stayed upstairs the whole time. They’re so much more social here."

For their 14-year-old daughter Mady, the move back was especially significant. "She was a completely different person there," Jodi says, reflecting on how Mady thrived growing up in Zachary. "Arkansas will always be home for me, but this is home for Mady." 

As the Shields family reflects on their time away and their return, one thing is clear: Zachary isn’t just a place on a map for them—it’s where their hearts are. "We’re all happier here. Professionally, personally, emotionally—this is where we belong."