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Everyone knows I love Boulder and have since i first stepped foot in Colorado. It’s small town, it’s got a fun community and it’s got a lot of nature–all things I wanted from my future home when I was pondering where I would move to while in Europe. There are many journal entries where I talk in detail about what I want when I returned, where I could see myself, what was the most important aspects of the places I was finding happiness in there. One common theme throughout all of my research was the feeling of community and nature, both of which I seemed to have found in abundance here in Boulder.
One thing I wasn’t expecting though was to find me missing living in a city.
I have been down to Denver a couple times in the past couple weeks and every time the bus pulls into the station, I find myself looking up at the tall buildings and missing them. I guess it’s silly to think that after six years of living in the concrete jungle of New York that suddenly I’d become a small town girl. That I would be countrified. That side of me is having a good, hard laugh right now.
That’s not to say I’m going anywhere anytime too soon but one thing I do know: a move to Denver is in my future. I love Boulder, I really do. It’s beautiful and I love having the mountains right in my backyard and having easy access to all these trails. However, the longer I’m out here and the more times I get down into Denver, the more I want to live in a city again.
I never thought I’d say that I miss living in a city. After moving out of NYC, I thought I was done with them (unless I suddenly got offered a job in Paris. Adore that city.) and wouldn’t be so eager to get back into one. Granted, Denver is not THAT big of a city, but in my heart I know Denver is more my pace. I’m also realizing that in order for me to do what I want to do, Interior Design, means I’m going to have to be in Denver (or commute down there).
I love the neighborhoods, I love the accessibility of everything, how I can walk everywhere. I love the hustle and bustle and how quiet it gets at night. I haven’t explored Denver nearly as much as I’d like to and hopefully will get to do that more this fall. That way I will know for sure if a move downtown is the right move for me. Remember, I came to Boulder without ever having stepped foot in Colorado. It worked out wonderfully but not everywhere is going to be the perfect fit. While I love Boulder and will be happy living here for however much longer I’ll be here, I can’t say that I always feel like I fit in here.
I have no plans as of right now to vacate Boulder, not for a while yet. My job is right down the street from me and I am currently doing projects around the condo right now. I have friends here and I’m still getting acquainted with this town. I’m not making plans, I’m not setting anything in stone. If it happens, it happens. Maybe I will change my mind. This also is something that is not new, despite my not talking about it before now. I have had the itch to move, I just didn’t know why. It’s only more recently that I’ve discovered what I think is the real reason. That I miss city living.
I guess you can take the girl out of the city but can’t take the city out of the girl.
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I think it’s all about the balance. NYC is SO huge and it’s sort of hard to really escape. Since you love the mountains and having nature close by, it sounds like Denver would be perfect for you! You’d get the big city feel, but you’d be so close to so much natural beauty.
Sounds as if you’re really excited about a possible move to Denver. I’ve only been there once, but I did really like the vibe and the downtown area. I agree with the above commenter, Denver is a small big city. its such a different vibe than NYC. Plus to do what you really want work wise, it makes complete sense. I’m excited to see where these thoughts take you.
I know I must always live in a city. I have to. I’m a city boy.
I hear ya on the city living. I get such an energy buzz when I’m in a big city, and the only thing I can think of is “what if I moved here…?” A move to a big city is in my future, too…
TOTALLY get that! And I can see Denver being a nice balance between NYC and Boulder
I think you didn’t realize you were actually talking about moving much earlier than this post. You may have not actually said it, but everything you wrote, said it. It takes time to get use to a new place, but if it doesn’t feel right, it doesn’t feel right. You don’t need reasons or excuses to give people. When we moved, I had this itch for a year to get out of Austin. It eventually got to where I didn’t care where or really how. I just wanted out. I couldn’t tell you why. We had friends in the city, plenty of things to do, close to our families (but not too close), our favorite places to hang out and shop or eat or drink. But I couldn’t stand it anymore. I don’t think I could ever tell you why. So if you know that Boulder isn’t right, it isn’t right. You don’t have to tell anyone a reason why it isn’t right. But, I would also want to say it takes time to get use to a place. A year at least. So don’t rush into a move either.
The move emotional story is something like:
honeymoon.. you *love* everything!
settling in.. you are getting use to your surroundings, there are irritations in life, you have to meet new friends
hate it.. you have friends and you’re getting use to your new place, but you just can’t stand it. you don’t have the conveniences of your last location, you decide you don’t like it
coming to terms.. you find that you do enjoy the location though it will never be the same as some other place and you are able to really enjoy your new surroundings with what it has to offer.
but then i know people who were in the “hate it” stage only until moving.