No one ever told us that some of the hardest decisions we make are going to be the ones that are good for us in the long run.
Life is funny like that though.
Something you’ve dreamed of since you were 16 could finally become true only for you to realize it’s not at all how you dreamed it’d be.
Funny how a job you thought was a waste of time and energy could turn out to be one you miss not because of how it made you feel, but because of how you made others feel.
This post is harder to write than I ever thought it would be…
I know it’s been awhile, but I have good reasons.
As you read this I am officially no longer living in Brooklyn. Actually, I haven’t been living there for about 5 months now, just my stuff has been.
I’ve just moved to a town north of Albany, NY which is where I also work now.
I came to the harsh realization that the big city life just isn’t for me or who I’ve become in recent years.
I have loved New York since the minute we met, 6 years ago in late May 2012.
And since then I have visited more times than I can count on my hands, lived there for a semester while attending school in 2014, and lived in Brooklyn for 6 months.
I will always love this city; it’s energy and the way it seems to constantly pull me back in.
But for the time being, we have had to part ways once again.
The main reason I left New York is because I changed jobs. It was just time to move onto something else, and the something else that came along happened to be back upstate.
And trust me, it wasn’t for a lack of trying to find a job in the city that I would love. Everything happens (or doesn’t happen) for a reason. And a job just didn’t happen for me there.
I guess the other underlying reason that I left the city is because I just wasn’t happy there. And if there’s one piece of advice I give to you here, it will be this:
If you are not happy with your job and you are not happy with where you live, then something’s gotta give. One of the two has to change.
(Shoutout to my lovely Aunt for giving me this advice when I needed it most.)
In my case, both things weren’t going well. And because of the nature of the situation, changing my job also forced a change in where I lived.
Until next time…
I hope that clears up why I’ve been absent for so long, and I hope you all will still continue to follow me on this wild journey. I have no idea what the future holds, but I’m excited for right now.
Thanks for reading.
Follow me for more posts, I promise it won’t take 5 months for the next one.
Living in a big city like New York can be fun and exciting. But I think sometimes we get caught up in the fantasy of it all that we forget city life has its shortcomings too.
Here are some major pros and cons of living in New York (or any big city) to think about if you are considering relocating.
Pros:
Everything is quite literally right at your fingertips
Any kind of food you could want is most likely no more than a block away. There’s a coffee shop every 300 feet, no joke (which is helpful if you’re a New Yorker and run on caffeine).
Latte from Citizens of Chelsea, Manhattan, NY
You basically live in a gigantic mall too. Every store imaginable is somewhere in the city and there’s probably one uptown and one downtown for convenience. Shop till you drop is not just a saying here, it’s a lifestyle.
There are bars and clubs everywhere that you never have to worry about driving to or having a DD from. You just hop the train home or grab an uber.
And let’s not even get started on the amount of things to do in the city. There’s always a museum or art exhibit to visit, a show, a concert, a new restaurant. The options are unlimited.
The Energy
One of the things that first drew me to New York was the energy here. It makes you feel something you can’t get anywhere else. It’s a sense of invincibility. Like you could do anything you wanted no matter how crazy it seemed. You can follow your dreams, be who you always wanted to be, and the city would help you manifest that.
It’s an inspiring place to say the least. There is always a talented person on a street corner playing music, performing a dance, or selling their art. Being around other people that are pursuing their dreams always gives me a sense of belonging. I never feel alone in following my dreams either; we’re all in it together.
Always a stunning view
New York is beautiful; there is no doubt about that. Most big cities are. There are so many pretty sights that you never get bored of for some reason.
Of course the NYC skyline is famous for it’s stunning view, but here are some of my favorite little spots that are just as gorgeous in my opinion.
Grand Army Plaza near Prospect Park in Brooklyn
View from piers on the Westside Highway
And I can’t forget to mention not only the beauty of the city, but also the entertainment of the other sights. It wouldn’t be New York without the crazy man offering hugs in Union Square dressed in all tie-dye. There’s always something interesting to look at. Big cities are the best for people watching in general.
Cons:
The Job situation
The one good thing about New York is that there are always jobs out there.
Just not always the jobs you want. Actually, rarely the job you want.
Tons of retailers and restaurants are hiring constantly, but be prepared to only make minimum wage. Sure, New York is a city full of opportunity. But you have to be willing to fight for those opportunities.
There is competition in almost every industry because the city is so densely populated with educated, talented individuals. And finding the ways you stand out from the rest isn’t necessarily the easiest thing to do.
Loneliness is real
I know, I know. 8.6 million people, how could you possibly feel lonely?
Well, it’s the truth. In a city full of people, I oftentimes find myself feeling extremely alone.
Everyone here is super busy. We honestly just don’t have much spare time to hang out with people. And if we do, it’s not much. Or we’re sacrificing doing other things like grocery shopping, laundry, and sleeping.
Take the subway once or walk down a crowded street and count how many people have headphones in their ears. The culture in New York that makes us feel alone is one we have created ourselves. We shove our headphones in and tune out the world. Therefore, tuning out human-to-human interactions.
In the end, I guess it’s our own fault that we’re all lonely af.
The Daily Grind
The major con for me at least, is that New York life is a grind on a day-to-day basis.
Everyone lives on a very tight schedule because if we didn’t we wouldn’t have enough hours in the day to get everything done.
We spend so much time waiting, in lines, for trains, for our laundry to be done.
To give you an idea, here is a little breakdown of how long things take me personally:
Train to and from work:
37 minutes each way (without delays)
Laundry:
Minimum of 45 minutes, Max of 1 hour 15 minutes
Time I waited in line at Whole Foods on a Thursday night:
25 minutes
Picking up a mobile order at Starbucks:
15 minutes
Don’t even get me going on the Starbucks thing, I love them and their chai tea lattes but, c’mon.
You see my point though. If your time is precious, maybe consider your other options as opposed to a big city.
City life can be extremely fulfilling for some and frustrating for others. Hopefully this little Pro/Con list helps someone out there trying to deicide whether to move to the city or not. I love making lists so share some of your Pro’s and Con’s about city living in the comments below, I’d be interested to see what you guys think.
It’s taken me almost my whole life to decide which season I like best, but I think I’ve finally come to the conclusion that Fall is my favorite time of year. Living in New York State has given me a pretty good taste of each season and the different things they offer us.
Here are the reasons I like Fall best that might just make you fall for it too.
The Colors/ Weather
I’ve never been a fan of sweating profusely, as I imagine not many people are. I prefer to be a little chilly, but not shivering. So Fall is the perfect happy medium for me.
I always loved watching the trees change color in my front yard as a child. Something about those burnt oranges and vibrant reds gave me a sort of comfort that change could still be good and beautiful. Fall reminds us how lovely it can be to let go of dead things.
Clothes
Fashion really isn’t my thing, but I always feel the most fashionable in Fall. I think the kind of clothes that are popular this time of the year are just effortless and easy to wear so even the most mediocre stylist can pull together a great outfit.
You can’t go wrong with a great pair of tall boots or cute ankle booties. And let’s not forget that Fall marks the start of sweater season (the coziest of all clothes).
Jackets are also one of my favorite things. This is just a great time for layering, honestly, and who doesn’t love a good, layered look.
Here’s me in an apple orchard looking content amidst the blossoming fruit wearing a corduroy jacket (yes, corduroy is back kids. Go raid your moms closet).
Foods
One of the best things about Fall is the foods that you get to spoil your taste buds with. Nothing is better than a crisp apple on a windy day. And of course there’s apple cider (spiked or not, it’s still good), apple pie and homemade applesauce. In case you can’t tell, I’m a fan of apples.
And then we have pumpkin season (you didn’t think I was gonna write a whole post about Fall and not mention PSL’s did you?). Starbucks brings back their classic pumpkin spice lattes and white girls around the country go crazy. I won’t lie, I’ve succumbed to it’s deliciousness on a few occasions.
But it’s worth mentioning that pumpkin plays a role in other delicious dishes like pie and soup and even as a topping for oatmeal. I love mixing some pumpkin puree with cinnamon, maple syrup and other spices to make a topping you can throw on almost anything.
Actually, here’s a link to really simple and yummy sounding pumpkin oatmeal recipe just so you get the idea.
And most of all, I love Fall because of all the Fall-type shit you get to do. Plus, no one can judge you because they’re all doing it too. Lol.
Some of my favorite things apple picking with my family or friends, getting pumpkins from a patch to carve for Halloween, and going for long walks on a brisk day bundled up in jackets and scarves.
I remember loving to play outside when I was young and run through piles of leaves and explore the woods behind my house during autumn. Something about this time of year made it more fun to play outdoors. Maybe it was the acorns falling from the trees, or the leaves changing color and falling to the ground. Or maybe it was just the inevitable truth that the days would soon get shorter and being outside would come to an end.
I hope this post has given you some ideas of fun things you can do this Fall. I know I’ll be doing as many of them as I can and indulging in all the flavors Autumn has to offer.
Comment below some other fun things to do when the leaves change color or other great recipes you make this time of year.
What Nobody Told Us 