The Urban Migration

It’s already been about three weeks since the Feminine Adrenaline 2010 tour came to a close. Regretfully, I wasn’t able to write as much as I would have liked to during the last legs of our trip, as we were busy city-hopping along the East Coast. A sincere THANK YOU to all the friends and family we visited along the way. Thanks to all of you for hosting, dancing, cooking and exploring with us, the trip was an absolute blast! Brit summed it up in her blog by saying, “24 days, 4098 miles, 16 states and 3 parking tickets later, we have concluded what has been a road trip to remember!”

Below is a map of our route, including some of our stops:

Not bad, eh?

So after admitting to myself that not all of life can be one giant road trip, I’ve made it a point to get organized and brainstorm future plans.

REFLECTIONS:

I looked at the calendar the other day and realized I’ve been home from India for six months. SIX MONTHS!! I have no idea where the time has gone, but I do know that I’m ready for a change. Being at home in New Hampshire was exactly what I needed after a year and a half abroad (when I arrived back in the U.S., I was desperate for some grounding). I don’t know that any other place could have been more suitable for such a task, as the calm and slow nature of the place is conducive to anyone needing time and space for self-reflection.

With that being said, I’ve had my fill. I’ve soaked up the comforts of home, and am ready for some change. I want to go to a place that's fast. Someplace bustling… eclectic…and sexy.

THE SCOOP:

One month from today, I’ll be moving and grooving to a quicker beat. A tempo fast and choppy, interrupted only by the lulls of urban traffic and its dense congestion.

I’m trading in my driver’s license for an unlimited metro card- an indication of my enthusiasm and expected reliance on public transportation. I’m eliminating a bag of clutter a week (or such is my goal) so that my possessions and I can fit into my allotted sublet space. Downsizing so drastically isn’t easy for me- I have a hard time dissociating myself from the memories attached to all my “stuff”- but the challenge to de-clutter is a good one, and I’m hopeful that a lighter load will be liberating.

I’ll be subletting from a friend of a friend in Bushwick. From what I can gather through pictures, the room appears to be the size of a walk-in closet. For $350/month, one can’t expect many luxuries (after all, we’re talking New York City). Bushwick’s overwhelmingly Hispanic population serves as the inspiration for my recent interest in Spanish-revival-I’ve been watching the Spanish channel on a regular basis to ‘brush up’ on my thrice removed Spanish skills. I anticipate I’ll learn the neighborhood fairly quickly, as I’m a solid eight blocks away from the nearest subway line. (Which reminds me; will I get beaten up or befriended if I invest in some rollerblades?)

POR QUE, NYC?

To live. To work. To Play.

I have 3 ½ months to make the most out of my time in the Big Apple. I will have no job when I arrive, so unsurprisingly, finding work is my top priority. In an ideal world, I’d find something long-term. Something to serve as the perfect starting point for my life-long professional development. A fulfilling career that rewards me, both personally and professionally, in the most handsome of ways.

And if that doesn’t work out?

I will sell newspapers…lots of them.

Part-time job opportunities abound in New York. From waiting tables at a diner, to professional dog-walking, the employment options are endless. My hope is that with ample effort, I will be able to find something to support the cost of my sublet, and ‘then some.’

A CHANGE OF PACE:

Each time I visit the city, I find something new to discover. From Harlem’s ‘Little Senegal ‘to the back alleys of Chinatown, New York is buzzing with culture, entertainment, and FUN. I’ll never be able to see it all in 3 ½ months, but you can bet I’m going to try.

And of course, if the idea of sharing a twin bunk screams COZY and not CLAUSTROPHOBIC, I would most certainly welcome you as a visitor!