Ramblings Of A Girl's Move To The Big Apple

Officially on my own in the Boston Back Bay station.

You guys! I did it! I'm here, typing to you from a library on the Upper West Side. This week has been such a blur of planes, trains, goodbyes, walking, shopping, walking, subways, walking and lots of exploring.

I wanted to write about the move itself before delving into other topics, so to those who are curious, here is how this 26-year-old Coloradan started completely over and moved to the Big Apple.

My mother and I spent the most perfect weekend in Boston only days ago. We attended a beautiful wedding, decorated a home from the Revolutionary War period for the reception, saw inspiring historical sights and ate lobster all the day long. On Monday, we tearfully hugged one another. Oh it makes my heart hurt just thinking about it. I have loved, LOVED this past year with my parents and sister back in Colorado. What a treat it’s been and I ache for them already. But it was time for me to be a grown-up again, so we said our goodbyes and I boarded a train (first-class, Momma E sent me off in style) to Penn Station.

That 4-hour train ride was a bundle of nerves and excitement. Folks, I knew NO ONE in this city. By saying I'm starting a new chapter, it's true. It's a completely new chapter. When the conductor announced that we were 45 minutes out of Penn Station, butterflies and nausea started setting in.

First glimpse of Manhattan from the train

I had read "Man's Search For Meaning" on the train at the encouragement of A Blog About Love's book club. In it, author Victor Frankel discussed the necessity of looking to the future, even if it was only looking to the day ahead and setting goals for achievement in that time period. So I set a goal for when I arrived at Penn Station:  Find my car ride home. That's all I had to do! I wasn't going to worry about anything else, only finding that car.

Once that was done, it was meeting my roommates. I thought about that goal as we drove around Columbus Circle, past Central Park nearing my new home. Roommates weren't home, so I set my next goal: Take the subway to Home Depot. In fact, this entire week has consisted of these goals and successes, from taking a shower to taking the Ikea Ferry. This approach has helped me to avoid the overwhelmingness that certainly would exist when moving to Manhattan.

Stepping outside each day, setting out to grab breakfast or dropping off my dry cleaning, I continually have a little flutter in my heart as I look around and realize that I, Amy, am living in New York City.

And guess what? I'm posting EVERY DAY this week. There's too much to share not to! So check back often.

Love, Amy M .