More Issues Than Vogue, April 9th

I have a funny greeting card that boasts this very line on the front, but it has sparkles, which makes it cool and dramatic like the person I will eventually send the card to. (If you are the recipient one day, please forget I said this and act surprised when you open it.) I’m still considering the move to Florida, so I need to vent, and right now I feel like I’m the one with more issues than Vogue. So this is the perfect forum to do just that. I used to believe that you could take the girl out of New York, but you could never take the New York out of the girl. But maybe you can’t take the girl out of New York, especially if she’s having an absolutely epic meltdown about leaving. I can’t help but wonder… should I stay, or should I go?

The new job started recently and I really love it so far, but I’m still settling in. The thought of moving now is so overwhelming. No, I wouldn’t miss the 3 places on the hardwood floors where the boards have started to separate or the slight crack in the paint near the molding in the living room. And we all know I wouldn’t miss those dreaded marble droppers upstairs.

I made the decision to sell my little corner of heaven during a freezing cold January day when restaurants had banned indoor dining, the snow and wind had been whipping my windows, I had been unemployed for ten long months with no end in sight, and Trump was still contesting the election. My thought was that I could just as easily blog from a sunny perch in South Florida as I waited for the job market to become a bit more favorable. The “get out while you still can” attitude consumed me.

But the weather here has just started to turn, and spring is most definitely in the air. I don’t have personal outdoor space, but the roof deck of my high rise has gorgeous views of the Hudson and some super comfy lounge chairs. Biden is promising vaccines for all adults by May– so herd immunity could actually happen! The parks department recently finished the decades long foot drag of completing a multi-use recreational space directly across the street from my apartment and it’s really quite lovely. Balthazar has reopened downtown and c’mon, like I’m not already dreaming about their insanely good brunch, crispy fries and a side of You Might Need A Crowbar to Remove Me From NYC. I feel like the brilliant lights of Broadway will soon flicker, and I can tell you that I recently sat in traffic for the first time in a year and my heart actually skipped a beat with joy. The hum is most definitely coming back, and I think it’s going to be a roar sooner rather than later.

I guess sometimes you really have to lean for the tape at the finish line to decide if crossing is indeed a good idea or maybe you need to reconsider your next steps.

It’s still the case that living in Florida is a hell of a lot cheaper than my sun-drenched view here. And I would be able to see the Parental Units much more frequently with a southern zip code. But I’m starting to think that my time here is not yet done. My son is graduating soon, and he’ll be local again. Michael is driving distance for now and if I move, seeing each other will become exponentially more difficult. And I’d miss my park time with Phyllis so much. So after wrestling with this anxiety for days, I’m making the major decision to stay… for now. But since my job is remote, I can visit my parents and work from each of their lovely houses if I need to get away.

As a reward for the emotional rollercoaster I’m proud to have put myself on (adulting just really sucks sometimes), I’m doing a massive spring closet cleaning this weekend to dust off the cobwebs, donate the oldies, and shine up some shoes. New York is coming back, and I will most certainly need my wardrobe in vogue for the upcoming festivities.