Working Life's Plan, With Fun and Style

Mairobi and Jahaira grew up worlds apart.

The streets of Brooklyn and Queens were the life-skills training grounds for Mairobi Garcia. "It was pretty fast paced," recalls Mairobi, who developed a knack for creating order in busy places. He fine-tuned his organizational skills at New York University in Manhattan.

A chance internet meeting with a girl from a quieter world -- Grand Rapids, Michigan -- would ultimately change Mairobi's life. The long-distance relationship that spanned seven years all came together last year at the wedding altar, and the couple is making the most of their pronounced differences.

Jahaira (pronounced Jah - HIGH - ra) brings not only a different upbringing, but a "whole 'nother" set of skills to the party. "We balance each other out," says Jahaira. "He's a little more quiet. I stir it up a bit more."

Together, the couple loves to stir up new ideas in the kitchen on weekends, "trying out new recipes and just having fun," says Jahaira. Even there, though, their styles are different. "You can't make it too spicy for me," says Mairobi.

The weekend fun provides a nice break for these hard-working bankers who utilize their unique talents in different ways. Jahaira is a "relationship manager" who spends a lot of time with bank customers. Mairobi, with his finance and information technology background, designs data-driven communications solutions that are used all over the Midwest. "Let's say I put things together," says Mairobi.

For all their differences, what these individuals have in common is this: They know what they want in life and they know how to pursue it. Decision one, with all due respect to the Big Apple, was to find a home in a family-friendly community. A Realtor referred the Garcias to Allen Edwin, putting them on a fast track to settle down in the Woodbury Commons neighborhood in Kentwood. That decision opened up an exciting adventure in life planning.

Their contrasting styles have worked well together in decision making.

The Garcias loved the new Allen Edwin showroom in nearby Byron Center, with 7,000-square feet full of choices that they considered "easy." Then again, this couple is so decisive they picked all their furniture before ground was even broken on their new home. What makes this team click? Mairobi "knows the table has to be exactly 72-inches long," and Jahaira "knows what it looks like," each says about the other's role in the process.

"Oh, we can make a decision," says Mairobi, revealing a secret that other couples may consider heeding: "We don't seek outside opinions from family and friends." So, when it comes to life planning, the Garcias are anything but impulsive or hasty. They picked an Allen Edwin lot that will give their Yorkie pups -- Daisy and JD -- a place to run, but a lot also "big enough for a swimming pool," says Jahaira.

"There's a swimming pool in our future," according to Jahaira who, meanwhile, is working toward a degree in psychology at Grand Valley State University.

Just as they balance out each other, the Garcias try to find balance in their busy lives. "He gets a lot done," Jahaira says of Mairobi, "but then he's ready to relax." Mairobi's strong organizational skills, though, even show up when the couple gets ready to go on a vacation getaway. "He's been packed for three days," she said.