Joy in the Unexpected

“Why on earth would a single girl like you move from New York City to the suburbs of California?” is the question I get most often.  The real reason is those 2 little people in this picture (my niece and nephew) but let me tell you, even with those adorable faces willing me to move west, such a crazy decision was not made lightly.  In fact, it took years of consideration, leaving my old consulting company to form my own, building a portfolio of clients I knew I could service anywhere, and barrels and barrels of wine consumed while discussing the pros and cons of the move.  Finally, one day I decided it was time to make the leap.  So I did what anyone living in a full service building in NYC, not even sure if she still knew how to drive, would do – dump your entire life savings into a suburban house across the country site unseen.  Bartender……..

Now for those of you who have never lived in a city where you can get anything, literally anything (I’m talking 1 tampon here), delivered, this move may not seem as drastic as it actually was.  I was seriously that girl wondering what my friends claiming they were “running errands” were actually doing all day.  I had NO CLUE.  All of the house business has been rough (gutters, lawn mowing, cleaning), but the real challenge is not being able to get a pizza delivered at 9pm.  Oh and California bagels, I still can’t talk about it, whyyyyyyyyyy!

Despite all of its challenges, it was the right move and I’ve never been happier.  Turns out it’s just as easy to get a Bumble date in the suburbs you just might run into him at the grocery store the next day (which could be the worst thing ever).  And though it may take a little longer to get to know them, the people with the crazy kids running around the neighborhood are actually really awesome.  And the best part, the single girl moving to the suburbs warrants immediate celebrity status.  She’s the person everyone wants to be friends with; maybe because they just have so many questions or maybe to live vicariously through her but the point is I have a ton of new friends.

So what I thought would be a very difficult adjustment actually turned into an amazing experience.  Was that because of circumstance or a choice I subconsciously made to choose happiness?  I think probably the latter but so begins the journey of finding joy in the unexpected….