5 Years Ago Today. . .

I moved to New York City!  I thought about moving for about 3 years (yes, years!) and I spent many vacation days visiting the city during different times of the year (yeah, like visiting for a week or two during the winter would ever prepare me for an entire winter in the northeast),  but once I finally decided to make the move I gave myself about a month to get everything ready.  

5 years ago today I had a few things going on.  I was still cleaning my apartment, I was at the bank finalizing the sale of my Jeep to my friend Michele, only to discover that the dealership had put the wrong VIN # on the title, so an additional trip to the DMV was added to the days activities.  Lucky for me I was taking the redeye flight which allowed me time to wrap everything up!   

5 years ago today I was saying goodbye to family and friends, who were very supportive and kind enough not to tell me how crazy I was!  (Thanks Jen!) 

5 years ago tonight I was heading to the airport with K.C. and 3 very large suitcases (I had to pay $80 for one extra suitcase because it was so heavy - I wonder what the airlines would charge for those suitcases these days!) 

5 years ago today I made a decision that forever changed my life.

Some days I can't believe it's already been 5 years, and other days it seems I've been here much longer.  Awhile ago I came across a blog that had a great post titled The Five Stages of Living in NYC and I am amazed at how right on this post is! With a few exceptions of course - I was never one to avoid midtown since I lived there and all, and I'd never pity anyone who lives in the west!

And as great as it is living in the city, I will always be an Arizona girl who longs for the beauty (and warmth) I took for granted all those years.  It's funny, but almost everyday I see or hear something that reminds me of home.  Simple things like seeing someone wearing an ASU t-shirt or overhearing someone talking about traveling to Arizona for a  conference or vacation and it always makes me smile.