Why I Should Move To A New City

The end of the semester and finals have kept me busy the past two weeks. I’m approaching the final days of my third semester in graduate school. I (finally) completed my research paperwork in order to write my capstone paper needed to graduate from the program. As long as I finish that research paper and complete my coursework next semester, I will officially have a Masters of Arts. I honestly, truly, deeply cannot wait until May graduation. I have high hopes I will finish, but I like to keep everything in perspective and try to take this one day at a time.

I’ve been dealing with a great deal of uncertainty lately. Between looking for a new job or potential internship for next semester, trying to get through finals and scheduling for next semester, it has been exhausting.

But, being my true anxious self and a planner almost to a fault, I can’t help but job search and apartment hunt in other cities. I’m not planning on moving anytime soon, but within the next 6-7 months I need to start making moves. At the very least, I want to have an idea of potential job sites and housing options. I would like a bit of an idea of where to look for apartments, the best neighborhoods, what type of apartment I want to live in, etc. Most importantly, I need to figure out what I can realistically afford. My trip to NYC almost two weeks ago, of course, had me big city dreaming. When I was younger, I wanted to go to college in NYC, until I realized going out of state to school was financially out of reach. I’ve been lucky getting Federal aid and some scholarships in graduate school, so I don’t have to depend on costly private loans.

Even Washington, D.C., which appears somewhat more affordable than NYC (whatever affordable means), still costs a hefty chunk of change. When you do a comparison, both cities virtually cost the same in terms of housing, but from my basic searches online, I have come across some better options in the DC area. Both cities are at the top of my list. I don’t know that I would consider anywhere else, except maybe Philly. I’m definitely an East Coast girl; the West Coast is too far and too laid back for me.  I don’t think my type-A behavior would fit in all that well. I think its best to leave the West Coast destinations at the top of my travel list, not so much a place to call home.

My best friend further spurred the topic when she told me of her and her boyfriend’s plans to move. Maybe to NYC? Maybe to another city? Within my close circle of friends, getting out of Pittsburgh is a top priority.  Maybe it is because most of us grew up here, went to college here and have never left; we are all yearning to venture off to unchartered territory. (This article I found summarizes why moving is the best idea ever in the history of ever.) But I can’t help but think the only way we’d make it is if we all shared a one bedroom apartment in one of these ultra expensive cities.

On the other hand, thousands, even millions of people have done it. So many have moved away to other cities even countries, probably with less than we have saved up, and have built successful and comfortable lives. I guess that also depends on your definition of successful and comfortable.

During Thanksgiving break, I watched one of my favorite movies, A League of Their Own. I absolutely love that movie, always have. In it, Marla Hooch waits at the train station to go to tryouts with Kit and Dottie. She’s sitting in the station with her dad, very reluctant to go. He tells her, “you have to go where things happen.” That struck me, especially at this juncture in my life. I want to go where things happen and live in another place and experience another part of the world I never have before. I know if I don’t, I’ll regret it later, and worrying about all the minute details may shadow all the reasons why I want to set off in the first place. But, I shouldn’t let those worries deter me from doing what I always wanted to try. All you can do is try, really.

All images via Pinterest.

I Still Love NY

Back in the Burgh. It is a bittersweet feeling after my four days in Jersey/NYC. I love the city, but my travel companions were less than enthralled as I was. I got home yesterday and felt sad because I was no longer in the Big Apple, but glad to be back in a comfortable setting.

If its okay, I’ll rant first and then get to the goods.

I went with my cousin and her future husband.  My cousin and I are opposites, but we can have a good time together. She’s a bit more overbearing and opinionated that I am.  I am a bit more passive and introspective. Her fiancé is a P.I.T.A, short for Pain In The Ass.  He doesn’t like walking, standing, waiting in line, large crowds, public transportation, waiting for food or basically anything that you MUST deal with in New York. Its freaking New York City. The crowds, the tourist spots, the long lines characterize most of the city, and if you don’t like any of the above, why, then, are you going to New York?

Needless to say, he was impossible to deal with. I daydreamed of the delicious food spots we would hit up, but we couldn’t wait for seating at places like Eataly, because our whiny companion refused to wait. Instead, we ate cold focaccia pizza and stood in a corner, rather than wait the hour to sit down and kill time perusing the goods. I got myself the biggest cone of salted caramel gelato to calm myself down. We traveled so far in the rain that it seemed like the biggest waste to settle for cheap snacks and simply go back to our friends apartment in Brooklyn.

But I digress…

End rant I promise. We did do some cool stuff, although the rain deterred our less ambitious travel companion.  Friday, we ventured to Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree and make the trip to the Top of the Rock. I had done the top of the Empire State Building, once at night and once in the day, so it was nice to get a different view of the city.  Rockefeller Center was fun, although it was teeming with people. Tourists galore. I knew the holidays was the worst time to visit NYC because of the tourists and its generally more expensive in an already expensive city.

I have to say, I was a bit underwhelmed by the tree (gasps, shocks in awe). Everything looks so big and majestic on TV; it is so different in real life. Although it was beautiful!

That night we headed to the theater. My first technically Broadway show, my first Playbill program. My cousin’s friend, who we stayed with in Brooklyn, works for a Broadway production company and hooked us up with a gig as seat fillers. I felt like the Spam meat of the theater industry, but it was fun and a great way to see a show for free. We saw The River starring Hugh Jackman! He’s such a babe in real life. The play was interesting, but at the end of the show he came out and auctioned off his shirts and meet and greets for Broadway Cares. He talked to us for a while and it was so fun to see a celebrity talking with show patrons and fans. Obviously, I snagged some pics (hey, everyone else was doing it). Goldie Hawn was in the audience as well. My cousin just about died when she saw her in the bathroom. I was not as thrilled as I don’t like to make a big deal around celebrities, unless I happened upon Andy Cohen, then I would have to approach and gush about my undying love for him. (Side note:  He did a book signing at the FIT Barnes & Noble Wednesday night that I missed because we stayed in Jersey. I’m still recovering.) My last trip to NYC, my mom, aunt, cousin and I had breakfast at the Carnegie Deli. Neil Diamond was eating with someone, presumably the owner, and my mom just about died. I could have cared less. She went over and said she was a huge fan blah, blah, blah and he wouldn’t take a picture.

Anyway, that night we went back to Brooklyn, ordered some pizza and called it a night. The next day it rained and rained. We had 12:30 tickets to the 9/11 Memorial Museum. The last time I saw Ground Zero, it looked like a construction site. The two reflecting pools and the names around them were a beautiful memorial display. I felt kind of weird snapping pics at the memorial and in the museum. To me, it just didn’t feel right. It felt better to walk through, take it all in and remember that day and the people without a phone or a camera. I did take a picture of the Virgil quote in the museum because I think it is beautiful, powerful and fitting for the memorial. It is so short and encapsulates everything the memorial ought to accomplish in paying tribute to those that lost their lives.

Following the museum, we ventured to Eataly, which ended up being a total disaster, so we went back to Brooklyn and grabbed some dinner and drinks. I’m already planning my next trip with a concrete list of to-dos, regardless of the weather. A weather emergency will be the only thing that stops be from venturing the entire city. And I will take some trusty travel companions who can handle all craziness that is New York City.

Until next time.

Carla

PS. Thanks for reading my minor, if annoying, rant. You’re the best.

New York is Always a Good Idea

It has been a busy few weeks, and the next two will be even busier. I ran my first 5k on Thanksgiving. It was a ton of fun. My dad and I ran it together. He is an avid runner and has ran mega racers, we’re talking 50+miles. He’s a crazy good athlete but kept my slow and steady pace during the entire race, even if that meant speed walking on his end. The best part:  I finished and didn’t stop running the entire time. I may not be as fast as some other runners, but hey, I RAN AND FINISHED THANK YOU.

Today, was one of those days I got to work and thought “how the hell did I get here?”  I do almost the same thing each morning on the days I work and the days I work and go to class. Wake up. Make breakfast. Put on my makeup. Get dressed. And head out the door usually just in the knick of time. Then I get to work and I think I was maybe asleep during my entire commute. But seriously, today, I looked at my calendar and realized I had changed it to December when I left before Thanksgiving last week. Holy shit. It is already December.

The past month has been a whirlwind. It is absolutely crazy to watch those close to me reach lifetime milestones:  engagements, wedding planning, babies born, the list goes on. It is kind of difficult to remain present in my life when so much is going on with my friends and family around me.

But, on Wednesday I will be Big Apple bound! It has been over 8 years since I was last in New York City, and I cannot wait to go back. I fell in love with the city when I was 12 years old. I went several times but haven’t had the chance to go back until now! My professor had to cancel our last class of the semester and it just so happens that my cousin and her fiancé were planning a trip to the city and invited me along.  We’ll be making a pit stop in New Jersey to visit my cousin’s fiancé’s aunt and then it is off to Brooklyn to stay with friends until Sunday!

We have a giant list planned of places to go, things to do and food to eat! I’m currently trying to coordinate outfits, which is always a packing dilemma. I am a chronic over-packer, if that is even a word. My motto:  better safe than sorry. That translates to “pack as much as I can without being unreasonable.” You just never know when the weather can take a crazy turn for the worst. This in between fall/winter weather is always a mess. It could torrential downpour on us or snow and be -10 degrees. You just never know. So, I will be running around tomorrow like a chicken with its head cut off trying to pack last minute things, planning outfits, packing snacks and picking up some Christmas gifts I ordered before store pickup at Best Buy ships them backs.  Before we know it, it will be Christmas, and then New Year’s, and then boom, 2015.  I will try to take it one day at a time, but damn, that is difficult to do. Wish me luck!