New York Bound! (Again.)

The rumors are true. Our little family is moving back to the NYC metro area. This was a most unexpected twist in our plans and has happened rather fast. It happened like this:

One day {the second week of June} we were minding our own business when Bradley got an e-mail from a game company called "Fresh Planet" asking if he'd ever consider a job in New York. As everyone already knows, the answer to this question is always "Yes!" So he had a phone interview the next day, and was asked to come into the city to meet the team and CEO that Friday. Remember my birthday weekend in New York? It was also {mostly} a job interview weekend. {but it was still a blast!} He was given a third and final interview 5 days later and offered the job the next day! They actually wanted him to start June 30th but we were like "ahem. give us a sec." So he starts his job as their marketing director July 21st! I'll hang around here tying up loose ends until July 31st and then we are headed back to Connecticut!

Bradley is going to commute to the city again. This was a huge internal struggle for us. We finally were faced with the very real opportunity to live in the city that we've always dreamed of living in. But we were also painfully aware of the fact that it would require a HUGE lifestyle change. We would have more or less the same amount of space we have here in Philly but without our extra storage space {meaning we'd have to get rid of a lot of stuff}, without our washer and dryer, likely without a dishwasher, annnnnd we'd have to sell our car. Which I just wasn't sure I was ready to do. Just the thought of hauling all of my laundry down a 3 floor walkup to the laundromat, pregnant {no surprises here just always a possibility!} with a toddler in tow was enough to make me consider the suburbs again. Choosing the suburbs has been a small blow to my ego {am I not tough enough for the city?! why am I such a lightweight?!} but we really do believe it is the best choice for our family.

I know I haven't exactly been subtle about how I feel about Philly but I was surprised at how sad I've felt at the notion of leaving. I have made such amazing friends in this strange, strange city and leaving them here is hands down the WORST part of this whole thing. If I could wrap them all up and move them with me I would. I'm gonna miss the crap out of em. They will all just have to come visit us every single free second they have. It's only a 2 and a half hour drive! You know who you are.

I know it's only been a year but we've learned a lot living here. I truly think, with all of its quirks, Philly has changed us for the better. We've learned all kinds of stuff, primarily = that we can do hard things. It's not easy to live here, but we DID it! We made it through the worst winter ever, served in a ward with many needs and lots of diversity, learned to survive in a city, and learned that you don't have to love where you live to love your life. I can't tell you how many times I've sat rocking Bea to sleep at night just thinking of how blessed our lives are. I could go on and on about that but I have a toddler that is having a temper tantrum right now because she can't have fruit snacks for breakfast. So I'll leave it at that. Peace out, Philly. You're one of a kind.