Since I graduated a year ago, I've moved a fair amount. First- I moved home to my mom's house. Then I moved into my first apartment in Columbus three months later, once I got a big girl job. Four months later I got an even better big girl job and changed entire STATES. Now, about 6 months after that move, I'm looking to change my place of residence AGAIN. I swear I'm not flighty- I'm just following where my opportunities lead me. I figured with all of the recent graduations, I would list a few things I wish I had realized before I picked my things up had a change of scenery. A lot of these things may seem pretty obvious- but let's be serious, my naive butt still didn't take it into consideration I'm hoping this time around my perspective will be a little wiser.
1. It's expensive
Yeah, DUH. No shit. But seriously. I feel like each time I've moved it's cleaned my bank account out! I had 3 jobs the summer after I graduated in order to save up enough to move to Columbus and start my big girl job- then I had to pick up another job waiting tables there. I did go from working 70-80 hours a week to about 60, which was helpful. But I still had to budget like no other, and my appetite was increasing as my workouts increases intensity so at times I felt like my budgeting was about as useless as a small independent nation attempting to feed their whole population on wheat grass and soy. Not fun.
Then when I moved to Pittsburgh, it got even more expensive. Rent went up, plus I had a security deposit and a ton of gas money to spend as I trained 90 min away from home. I had one pair of too-small size 6 khakis(Which now fit), two red cardigans, and a mass of tank tops to try to get me through my first couple paychecks. I only had those because I raided my roommates closet. For the first month I had to live off of $20 a week for food. I couldn't go out to eat with my coworkers- and my diet consisted of boiled eggs and potatoes. That broke. And I was too proud to ask anyone to lend me money.
This time around I'm more prepared, I have a stash of backup cash- so I'm hoping I've learned. But holy moley money was tight.
2. It's stressful
Refer to #1. Yeah, money can't bring happiness, but it relieves a ton of stress. I wasn't sleeping well, I wasn't working out- I was miserable. Trying to figure out how to get everything up to my new place was a struggle too- my mom and I, our schedules rarely matched up and neither of us were very flexible with trying to work with each other's schedules. I didn't have a bed or most of my things at my new place at first- I slept on the floor for quite a few nights in Columbus. But going to a new city, a new area- it's a scary and stressful deal when you're 22 and pretty much on your own completely for the first time ever- college doesn't really count, it's college.
3. It's disorienting
I have no clue where I am. Ok most of the time I typically don't, but Columbus? I had no idea what road was what. Google maps was and still is my BFF navigator. I finally got the hang of Columbus, my boyfriend at the time helped me a lot with that, plus I went all over the place to play volleyball so that helped me get familiar with the area.
Pittsburgh? HAH. I'm lucky if someone says "Parkway North" and I know that's located above Pittsburgh. Isn't it? And I've been all over the place with my job- trained north of Pitt, live on the southern side, now I'm working on the east side- who knows where I will end up next!
4. It's lonely
Each move I made took me farther away from my family, most importantly, my 11 and 13 year old siblings. From 40 minutes to now 3 hours, one of my biggest struggles is how much I miss them and how much I am missing out on by not being there. My long distance relationship recently ended, so now I don't have that either, and to add the cherry on top, my roommate moved to Delaware. Even as an introvert, I'm pretty lonely here. I try to make time to see my friends but the majority of them, apart from a woman who is like my sister- is either too busy or just simply don't care. I knew I wouldn't see everyone I used to see every day in college as frequently as I used to, but when I work 50 hours a week and live in the middle of nowhere, a lot of days I feel pretty lonely. I made friends in Columbus from the gym and from volleyball and bball leagues I played in, but I've been trying to find the same thing in Pittsburgh and can't! It's so frustrating. And I'm an excellent creep so typically finding things out isn't hard for me- I use MeetUp, Facebook, etc- but they all seem to be focused on drinking. There are very few groups on Pittsburgh that seem to be dedicated to sports in my age group- and I believe that is why I have struggled so much with this move to Pennsylvania.
5. It pushes you
Whether it pushes you over the edge, causes you to move back home, or pushes you to become more independent, moving truly tests the mettle in your personality. So far, I feel like I'm winning. How about you?