Hello, friends. It's Monday again and the weather around here is summer-nice and very distracting. Work today was the perfect example of willpower.
The weekend was awesome between St. Patrick's day shenanigans, yard work (actually sort of cathartic) and a dinner business meeting at our house between Tim and his independent film associates. I got a mini-sunburn and aside from the continued chance of skin cancer, I LOVE IT. IT HURTS SO GOOD. After months of a mild winter, I'm just drinking up the vitamin D like it's my job.
I returned home Friday after spending most of the week on the East Coast. Newark, NJ was our home base and we made trips into Manhattan, Philadelphia, and Brooklyn, in that order. I learned about East Coast geography (who knew NYC and Philly were that close?) and traffic (actual toll booth dude quote after we asked why we were totally slowed to a stop: "19 lanes merging into 3. Welcome to Staten Island.") The work was good, productive and busy.
I was in such a head space, though. Work trips generally mean that while you are in proximity to local landmarks, you won't have time to experience them. Which is logical, I'm not being paid to sight see... I know, I know. But the other thing bugging me was just that...... argh, I'm young, and real cities make me feel young. While we were taking trains and walking to our meetings, my heart sank because I wasn't part of it all. I wasn't part of the excitement, yeah?
Now, I've made my choices. We all create priorities in our lives, and while I didn't choose Cedar Rapids, I DID choose my job, being near my family, and stability. Cedar Rapids just came as part of the deal. I get that.
I suppose, though, that part of my quarter-life crisis is realizing that I've run out of time (somewhat) to choose a different life. I'm on a path now. I chose it, and I'm living it. Tim and I could still uproot ourselves at some point in 10 years and start again.... but we'll be older. Even more settled into the life we chose. I'm positive we won't be unhappy..... but I think the thing that gets me is, you can't have everything. I can't choose both paths -- city/unknowns/excitement AND stability/family/early career opportunity. And I won't apologize for it.
I was just having a moment, you know?
Coming home did feel great, though. I came downstairs Saturday morning to sunshine, coffee brewing, and breeze sailing through all the open windows in the house. It was comforting. So, I think my moment has passed, at least for the time being. I'm really looking forward to a normal week.... work, working out, dinner, sleep, repeat.
Also, geeking out -- The first Hunger Games movie comes out this weekend AND the new season of MadMen starts. When you don't live in a bustling metropolis (hell, even if you do), these are the simple, mindless pleasures, people.
Came across this blog through somewhere else (just so you're not like- um...who are you and where did you come from?) and found this post quite interesting. As someone who was born and raised in Iowa I left for the "bustling metropolis" that is Minneapolis. While I was living in Iowa and going to college, I often had the same feeling- that I was missing out on some sort of excitement. After 5 years in Minneapolis- I think it's all about priorities and what you want out of life. City life is not for everyone- I've known many people who burn out on it after a few years. I wanted to live somewhere where I would be constantly challenged, always finding new and interesting things. But on the other hand there is more anonymity and my family is a 5 hour drive away (not to mention the job market is fiercely competitive). I don't regret my decision and love Minneapolis and have made it my home. It's always easy to think the grass is greener...so I guess what I'm trying to say it- everyone gets that feeling in our 20's (because we're still on the cusp of being able to make that change).
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