New York, New York

Welp, I have now lived in NYC for 10 years, officially longer than any other city I have lived in my entire life.

Many complex feelings about the subject, but here are a few simpler ones.

I didn't move here with any kind of plan in mind, but I feel like I have finally found "my thing" in terms of career (took long enough!)...but I also know it won't work anywhere else (at least not the WAY it works here). So if I ever move, I'll also have to reconsider how I make my living, and that's actually something I never want to have to do now that I finally have a job that actually rules. You know, it's easy to pick up and move around when none of your jobs have ever mattered to you and you anticipate that trend continuing indefinifetly. But once you're self-employed and you love what you do, there is literally no going back (at least, not mentally). I can never be a "regular employee" ever again (not that I was ever good at doing that to begin with), and even if I moved my business it would have to undergo a radical change. But while I'm not exactly where I want to be (are any of us?), I'm also really proud of what I've done with it. Nobody else from my upbringing environment can claim to have accomplished a sliver of what I have, so there's something to be said for that (I think?).

But I don't want to be an old person here either, honestly, like...don't we all want to spend our older years somewhere easier, more comfortable, more convenient, more affordable, more stable/secure, around more friends and family? Things to consider. Things to consider.