The two questions I get asked the most these days, not always simultaneously, are (1) Why did you want to move to New York? and (2) Do you actually like it there?
To answer the second question, I have to answer the first one. When I was growing up in St. Louis, I never felt like I belonged. Not the cliche feeling of belonging to a group--more of the fact that I didn't feel like the Midwestern, suburban, "normal" lifestyle was for me. Don't get me wrong, I am so proud to be from St. Louis and love being home. But I wanted to live somewhere where I could be myself, live in a big city, and have a million things just waiting for me to discover them. When I was younger, I didn't know exactly where I wanted to go (hadn't discovered Barbra yet), but I knew I wanted to go as far and as different from where I was as I could.
Fast forward to today, and I can now answer the second question. Yes I love living here. I love everything about this city. The things I used to hate doing, I don't mind anymore because I'm in New York. I recently had some people in New York tell me that when they moved, New York didn't live up to the expectations. I can't imagine that feeling, because every time I step outside and see the amazing city I'm in, it's like I've stepped into it for the first time. Every time. But, as you read in my last post, I definitely missed things about St. Louis I never thought I would!
To answer the second question, I have to answer the first one. When I was growing up in St. Louis, I never felt like I belonged. Not the cliche feeling of belonging to a group--more of the fact that I didn't feel like the Midwestern, suburban, "normal" lifestyle was for me. Don't get me wrong, I am so proud to be from St. Louis and love being home. But I wanted to live somewhere where I could be myself, live in a big city, and have a million things just waiting for me to discover them. When I was younger, I didn't know exactly where I wanted to go (hadn't discovered Barbra yet), but I knew I wanted to go as far and as different from where I was as I could.
Fast forward to today, and I can now answer the second question. Yes I love living here. I love everything about this city. The things I used to hate doing, I don't mind anymore because I'm in New York. I recently had some people in New York tell me that when they moved, New York didn't live up to the expectations. I can't imagine that feeling, because every time I step outside and see the amazing city I'm in, it's like I've stepped into it for the first time. Every time. But, as you read in my last post, I definitely missed things about St. Louis I never thought I would!
I spent the end of 2013 with my family and friends in St. Louis. I had a great week filled with family holiday parties, visiting friends, going out in the Central West End, movie nights, and lots and lots of time spent cuddling with my dogs. I had such a great time I found myself praying my flight back to NYC would be cancelled New Year's Eve so I could spend another night with my family--and it came true! My flight that night was cancelled because of snow in Chicago, and then cancelled the next morning from snow in Cleveland. I finally managed to get a flight last night, and didn't arrive in New York until 11pm.
2013 was a crazy year full of change. My family went through a lot, and I had a lot of major life changes occur in a short time frame. Now that I'm situated in my new life, my new city, and my new adventure, I can't wait to see what's in store for me in 2014. All I know is, I'm in the right place, finally, and that's the answer to both questions.
xoxo,
Ms. Manhattan
2013 was a crazy year full of change. My family went through a lot, and I had a lot of major life changes occur in a short time frame. Now that I'm situated in my new life, my new city, and my new adventure, I can't wait to see what's in store for me in 2014. All I know is, I'm in the right place, finally, and that's the answer to both questions.
xoxo,
Ms. Manhattan