The Decision

We're finally taking steps to move to NYC

In 2014, my company sent me to New York for a couple of days of training. My husband joined me, and in the evenings after class we walked around to absorb the energy generated by millions of people with purpose. Since then, Jon and I average three to four trips to the City every year (thanks COVID for wrecking the average). For the first few years we were typical mid-west tourists. We gawked at the lights and pageantry of Times Square, we queued up for the major tourist attractions, and we blithely got in the way of residents just trying to live their lives.

But then a switch flipped.

Jon and I began to think of NYC as our home-away. We got to know people and made friends. We navigated the crowded sidewalks with ease and complained about people who stopped in the middle of pedestrian traffic to take a picture or consult Google Maps on their phones. We began to talk about what it would be like to make Manhattan our permanent address.

I won't lie. For the first couple of years of talking about it, I fantasized about seeing Broadway shows every night, eating out at the best restaurants, and shopping for the latest styles. That phase finally gave way to more realistic expectations. Shows, restaurants and clothes are expensive. We started to look at what life could realistically be like for us. Miraculously, our ardor for the City did not change.

This year we're going to try and make the leap.

Jon, my senior by several years, is already retired and eligible for social security benefits. I'm five years away from full benefits so I have to navigate the twisting hidden trails of personal health insurance not paid for by an employer. At least for a while. I hope to land a job once we get settled. 

Insurance isn't the only obstacle in the way of this move; I'm not even sure it's the most obstaclist. We have to address the following issues:

• Turn in my notice at work
• Find an affordable condo
• Sell our condo
• Figure out moving logistics
• Health insurance
• Getting our dog safely to New York
• Keep or give away all of the stained glass supplies

There are multiple steps to most of those tasks, too, along with timing concerns. It can be overwhelming to think about, but the end result should be worth it.