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This past weekend my cousin who lives in New York City came into town for a visit. She was in awe of the natural beauty, landscape and healthy, progressive lifestyle so prevalent in Boulder.
After a morning hike overlooking the continental divide Saturday morning, we walked downtown from my apartment (also my 5 minute commute to work), had lunch on a rooftop deck overlooking the mountains, walked around downtown in the sunshine, stopped by Whole Foods to pick up her favorite tea and then walked back to my apartment to get ready for an evening out.
On our way back she looked at me and said, “I just can’t believe this is the life you live. Your lifestyle is so amazing.” I smiled and nodded in agreement. Then I began to ponder what I’ve written about before but couldn’t quite see until now: the power a place has over you.
My cousin has lived in NYC for five years and is ready to leave. Her commute from Brooklyn to the art gallery she works at in the Upper East Side, involves three trains and an hour each way. The hustle, crowds, expenses and intensity has worn her down. She experienced anxiety for the first time while living in NYC and now feels it almost everyday, to the point of sickness. I’m not knocking the city – I love it there, I just would never live there. As for my cousin, she’s moving in two months, back to her hometown to regroup.
When I thought about the way I live here in Boulder I realized that my whole life, I have picked places all analogous to my needs and desires. Call it risky? I call it living.
I grew up in a small town in Iowa. The community was enriching. I’ve known my friends since birth, because our parents are best friends and it was a great place to be raised. For college, I decided on my own to move to Burlington, Vermont: A healthy town in the Green mountains of Vermont, overlooking Lake Champlain with delicious farmers markets, artists, musicians and five colleges in the area. Smart place. Next, I studied abroad in Florence, Italy just big enough to explore Tuscany, but small enough that in six months I recognized friends walking down the street and felt the ineffable happiness of la dolce vita. Next, I moved to Boulder.
I explained to my cousin that I moved to Boulder for Boulder. I didn’t have friends, a job or a home to call my own. The place came first and I love it. I have a lifestyle list that I know is important for my livelihood. There are other towns and cities I can think of that would match what works for me, but the important piece here, is knowing it. I also purposefully chose my apartment to be close to downtown, the mountains and where I work. I didn’t want to settle, because I knew what was important to me.
I’ve visited NYC for years, some of my best friends live there but I know I would never live there. And that’s okay. Knowing what you want and need is important. It’s not that Boulder is superior to any other city, it just works for me, I trust it, for reasons I know are innate and important for me.
I believe that picking a place that vibes with you should be one of your top priorities. It’s about designing your lifestyle. For me, the rest fell into place e.g. job, friends, a home, a schedule, my community and my happiness.
My cousin then realized how I have purposefully and thoughtfully picked where I have lived over the years and dutifully replied, “The next place I live, I’m going to do that.”
What about you?
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Comments
02.01.10
Wow - your post made me tear up a bit - my husband and I are looking to leave Colorado (living in Broomfield) because our dream town is Raleigh, NC. We have the same confidence in our choice, but sometimes it's tough to shoulder the decision when so many people doubt you. Your post has nudged me with resolution. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
02.01.10
Grace, I totally am right there with you on this, except I've always talked myself out of living places that I want to live for other opportunities. I'm ready to start correcting that actually. Boulder happens to be among the top of my favorite places ever... however I miss the ocean too! Either way, great post and this is really something great to read at this point of what I'm thinking!
02.01.10
Grace, what a beautiful post! For some of the same reasons that you appreciate Boulder, I appreciate Pittsburgh. It is a great feeling to be happy where you are.
This post reminded me of a study I came across a few years ago that says that 2/3 of college educated young adults pick a place first then find a job. http://www.centerforhoustonsfuture.org/cmsFiles/Files/Attracting%20Colle...
I've always found that interesting, but to me it makes sense and isn't all that surprising. The thing is, I think it is a little bit of a balancing act between opportunity/place you want to live. I would guess that folks our age wouldn't pick a place that they want to live with 0 opportunities over place they didn't want to live with tons of opportunities. In the case of Pittsburgh, there are a moderate amount of opportunities and a high quality of life. For me, for now, it works :)
Great post!
02.01.10
Good stuff Grace,
the description of Boulder you offer in your thoughtful post is so close to the place I live here in Switzerland.
I always considered myself a man about town, after spending years in Italy and Europe, always in big cities, I stranded in Geneva province and now I could never change this with another place!
Coming from the seaside I literally fell in love with the mountains, the winter sports (snowboard!) and the lake, and commuting is not part of my daily life anymore.
Anyway in my view social life plays an important role when choosing a place, mine in Geneva is surprisingly amazing, but I didn't know it beforehand, and I have to admit that I would have already left if for some reason I couldn't manage to find like-minded people to spend my free time with.
Thanks grace
02.01.10
@Dawn Thank YOU for your comment. To hear a comment like yours is validation enough that writing and blogging is such a powerful way to connect with people, share ideas and inspire. I wish you and your husband the best of luck with your move!
@JR Gotta get the gears moving, right? I love when I hear people have really found a "place" that they resonate with, regardless of your age because it can treat you so well (mind, body, career, friends, etc.) Glad you dug it. Thanks for the RT too!
@Meghan You bring up a great point. To some of us, living in a remote mountain lodge is an aspiration but obviously there's no opportunity there beyond the beauty, aesthetics and remote-nature of the place so that may not be analogous for where we are in life. I suppose part of the appeal of a place, is what it has FOR YOU. Thank you for the study, I love stuff like that and this topic is really interesting to me. Thanks for sharing and I'm happy to hear you like Pittsburgh!
@Emanuele Thanks for sharing your story. It's so great to hear other people enjoying their "place" of choice and how it works for them. Kudos to you for finding that. Best of luck! Geneva is beautiful.
02.01.10
@Grace - As a current Californian born and raised in good old Colorado, I can't say enough how much I envy you as well. I can't wait for the day that calls me back home. How I miss those Rocky Mountains.
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