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my first month in nyc + what sarah jessica parker thinks

Monday, February 3, 2014

"They say when you live in New York City, you're always looking for a job, a boyfriend, or an apartment." 

These words have been floating around in my head all week (because that's what my thoughts do, they float around like balloons). One time I was flipping through different channels and something possessed me to pause on an episode of Sex and The City (hey, nobody's perfect). As she trotted down Madison Avenue in one of her tiny little skirts, Sarah Jessica Parker mentioned that when it comes to New York City dwellers, there are only three possible things on our minds.

It turns out SJP was right. Luckily I've already got myself a handsome gentleman friend, but when it comes to a job and an apartment, I'm still 0/2. I have to admit, I moved to New York with pretty optimistic ideas about what it would be like to job-hunt in the city. At the time, I think my head was filled with cotton candy and rainbows (it happens to the best of us). In La La Land - where I sometimes like to live - I would jet off to New York City, waltz right into my dream job, move into this apartment and live happily ever after. Sounds pretty reasonable, right? 

I'm sure you're just as surprised as I am that none of that has happened. I blame Sarah Jessica Parker.

This first month in New York has been full of lessons. The first lesson I learned was the delicious power behind street vendor gyros. I'll probably dedicate an entire post to those things pretty soon. The next lesson was about patience (and how I have absolutely none). I basically stepped off the plane in December and expected everything to happen at once. Day one, get a job. Day two, find the perfect apartment. Day three, start living my new, magical life. That's been my biggest problem - thinking that once I have all these things, that only then will this new chapter of my life really begin and only then can I start enjoying New York. Lesson three, I am my own worst enemy. 

I'm thinking about having this tattooed across my forehead: 

"Often people attempt to live their lives backwards. They try to have more things or more money in order to do more of what they want, so that they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do in order to have what you want." - Margaret Young

19 comments:

  1. OMG!!! I totally laughed out loud because that is so true!!! Friend, looking for an apartment in NYC is like going through hell and back...literally. I hate it. My rent goes up each year but I hate the thought of going through the process of looking for another one! Oh, and can you believe that I've never had a gyro my whole time living in NYC?! You MUST write that post so that I can drool. Or I can go get one today for lunch - do they make it vegetarian? Also, love that Margaret Young quote!!!!

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    1. Realizing that it's *normal* for your rent to go up every year was one of that HARD lessons I've learned this first month. I can't believe that's a real thing! It really is time I start investing in lottery tickets….

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  2. I think I'm one of only a few deranged individuals that actually enjoys apartment hunting. I've lived in 5 apartments in Brooklyn in 5 years and while the actual moving of belongings is a drag, I get a thrill out of combing real estate listings and scheming about a new space.

    It's true though, whenever you find an apartment, you will never be 100% satisfied with it. There will always be a place with better light/less noise/better neighborhood/closer to transit/closer to friends etc etc. It's all part of the game and continually improving your quality of life. (Unless of course you find some gorgeous, rent controlled gem in a perfect location. In that case, plan on staying forever!)

    I haven't had a street gyro either! Meat sold from street carts generally worries me but maybe I am missing out! Tell me where to find a good (food poisoning free) one!

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    1. 5 apartments in 5 years?! That's amazing! I actually love looking at apartments too. HGTV is always playing somewhere in my apartment ;)

      Such a good point about never being 100% satisfied with your place. I couldn't have said it better myself. We've been looking at plenty of different apartments and every time I walk in, I compare it to whatever apartment we saw last ("That place had a bigger kitchen. That other place had more windows!") I'm going to keep your advice in mind as we continue our hunt ;) You can make any house a home!

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  3. Whewwwww - you got that right! But there's a reason you are here and it will reveal itself soon in time. You're following your dreams and that's all that matters! ;)

    www.athistage.blogspot.com

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    1. Melanie, thanks for your sweet comment :) I like the idea that there's a reason that I'm here. xx

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  4. ha, starting over is always a lesson and process. no matter where we are, who we are with, or what we do. but i know that there are good things coming for you :)
    chin up!

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    1. You are most definitely right. They never said starting from scratch was supposed to be easy, did they? Thanks for your note. xx

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  5. That quote is perfect! Hope the job gods are kind to you... very soon :)

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    1. Thanks Janelle. I'm praying to the job gods every night… Hehe.

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  6. Keep your head up! This is why we do these things when we're young and have energy and resilience ... and at least you have a partner in crime with you :)

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    1. Resilience. I think that might be my new favorite word :)

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  7. Wow, good luck with the apartment and job search! And that is such a great quote -- I'm going to save that one!

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    1. Thanks Diana! I love that quote too. If I don't end up tattooing it across my forehead I'll have to tape it to my fridge (once I have one of my own again, that is).

      :)

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  8. Everybody says that NYC is overrated and not as amazing as it looks in tv. But anyway, my big dream is living there. I've got weird feeling that my lessons in NYC will be similar to yours:)

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    1. Don't listen to them. New York *is* as amazing as it looks on tv. I promise ;)

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  9. I've found that "the perfect apartment" in NY doesn't exist, that is unless you have LOTS of money to spend. But it's okay. I mean, you always have to sacrifice something, right? Good luck with your search, Heather. Job-hunting ain't fun!

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    1. You're spot on, Jillian. I kept walking into each apartment expecting to be dazzled and amazed, but there was always something that wasn't perfect (shocking, I know). Not "enough" windows or not a big "enough" kitchen. Pfffft. When the tradeoff is being able to live in New York City, I think I can handle a tiny kitchen :)

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  10. I have NO doubt everything will fall into place for you, Heather. I am just SO happy that you're finally in NYC, you know. You're definitely meant to be there, so everything will come as it may. :)

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