Country mouse re-converts to city life

Kingston, Jamaica
Bridgetown, Barbados
Northampton, MA
Scotch Plains, NJ
Brooklyn, NY
Los Angeles, CA
London, UK
Jersey City, NJ
Plainfield, NJ

Next Stop....New York, NY

I have had the good fortune to live in many wonderful cities since birth. Now, after 4+ years of suburbia, this country mouse is moving back to New York. However, this time I decided to take it all the way, no more Brooklyn for me, I am moving to Manhattan!

Craig, thanks for a fun run in Plainfield. No one does suburbia like Jamaican singles from the Smith and Crisp clans! Our annual pool parties are the stuff of legends. No one can buy wholesale like we can. I will miss our Blockbuster/Netflix movie marathon jam sessions. Whose food will I borrow when I get back home late from work and didn't have time to shop? Whose raisin bran muffins will you eat when I am not there to buy them anymore? I guess I can still call you to share life stories and we can encourage each other via email- better yet, Craig, you are more than welcome to visit anytime. I look forward to the fun we crazy Jamaicans will have in the city. After all, you will be working near by!

As way of background, my sister and I moved into my cousin Craig's pad in Plainfield when he bought his crissas house (crissas is Jamaican for very impressive, sophisticated, posh, etc). Nuff respec' to Craig on being a homeowner for over 5 years. Tessa left us and moved back to Jamaica a few years ago (congrats on the wonderful life you are having in Jamrock, Tess!) and now it is my turn to return to the islands - not Jamaica *yet*, but Manhattan.

I have thought about moving to the city for a while now, but when balancing the rich church and family life I had in NJ with the easier commute, more active social life and high rent in NY, I was never quite convinced that I should move. However, after a couple month sabbatical last year, I decided to take the plunge. Since this was not the first time I had mentioned moving, my family made sure I followed through on my commitment by scheduling a trip to visit me this year but only on the condition that I had a NY apartment. Thanks, fam!

The good news is I have made a lot of progress. Much to the excitement and surprise of my jaded friends who thought I would never move - Sejal and Anjali I am talking to you - I found a studio apartment in downtown, NY. It's located in a very nice complex near the water, squash courts, running and bike paths. Oh, and of course it is the the same building that my awesome friend Sejal lives in (sorry for the delayed mention, Sejal!).

My life is usually exciting (I think challenges are exciting), and this situation doesn't disappoint. Remember the family who is visiting? Well that will be in about 2 weeks, and given that I haven't actually moved in yet, I have a big sprint to get my soon-to-be apartment ready for the parents and sister(s). Wonderful!

Keep me in your thoughts and I will let you know how it works out. Mum, Dad, Tamii- you are OK with sleeping bags, right? I hear couches (with pull out beds) take a while to be delivered, particularly if you haven't ordered them yet!

Watch this space.