Yesterday felt like 3 days packed into one. I’ve always moved out of a room in New York (because at least 1 roommate has always stayed in the apartment) and never out of an entire apartment. I’m sure a lot of you have and are like…yea Robyn, it’s a doozy. Well, I learned that quickly. We hired movers to get everything from our apartment into this U-Haul which was a major help and the move would have been impossible yesterday without their efficiency.
If you’re new reading, here’s the back story on the move to Boston.
Between the actual moving, scrubbing that apartment top to bottom, driving up to Boston yesterday and then unloading it into a storage unit with the help of movers…I was ready to collapse by the time we got to our friends apartment last night around 9pm. It’s crazy that our entire apartment – furniture and boxes and everything – fit into this 15 foot truck. Nick drove the truck up and I drove our CR-V (also crazy….WE HAVE A CAR…and this car makes me feel like I have SO MUCH FREEDOM…which I know might sound ridiculous but it does) Like, I can go to a grocery store and put groceries in my trunk. I can leave Boston and get into nature whenever I want without having to plan around train times or picking up a rental car. I think my cortisol levels just plummeted.
As I drove out of New York City yesterday I had a surreal and unexpected couple hours of grieving. Although I’m more than ready to leave the pace and hustle and sheer enormity of New York, I’m going to really miss this mid twenties season of life. I grieved my middle two years in New York most. My first and last year were really challenging in a lot of ways. But those middle two years were ones I’ll remember forever. And although we had only been in our apartment for 8 months, it was bittersweet to say goodbye to our first real home together.
We had a friend text us yesterday…”Thinking about you guys and praying that you would approach this new season with a fresh enthusiasm for what God has ahead and a healthy appreciation for what is behind.” and that sat with me all day. I don’t want to remember the negative parts of New York, instead I want to look back and think…that was hard, but it was good and rich.
I’m going to type up a post with my thoughts/reflections about New York in the coming week. Partly for me and my own process, but if you find that interesting it will be on the blog next week 🙂
We ate pizza from Picco last night (the prosciutto + caramelized onion was to die for, I had a couple slices of that one) and celebrated by cracking a bottle of red wine with the friends we’re staying with this week. And then fell into bed around midnight.
I had a client this morning and am now working away at a coffee shop all morning, tackling my inbox and some blog work.
Breakfast –> I planned on a bagel, but my stomach has felt a little off this morning (I think from all the stress of the move and go go go) so I went with some yogurt and honey + a berry muffin. Side note: I so wish they carried whole milk yogurt (both for taste and satiation), but all they had was 0%. So PSA to coffee shops…please stock whole milk yogurt and I will buy it.
Movement this week has been packing + moving, I haven’t done any “formal” workouts. My body’s craving some group activity so I think I’m going to hit up a Barre3 class later on this afternoon. And we’re going to look at apartments later! The two we were in love with rented yesterday so I was bummed this morning (the apartment search in big cities always feels stressful and like a rat race..) but I’m trying to stay positive and hopeful. We need to sign something in the next week before we go home for the holidays.
THANK YOU so much for all your encouraging words, warm welcome from you Bostonians (is that a word..?) and all your kind thoughts and prayers. You guys are the best and mean so much to me. Each of you!!
Have a wonderful weekend <3
Congratulations as you move into a new season of life — and our fair city! (You are correct – Bostonians is the correct word for anyone who lives in the city proper! There are some other neighborhood-specific ones that I’m sure you’ll pick up shortly!). Enjoy the weekend, it’s supposed to be beautiful out!
Glad I got the word right 🙂 It’s been so great, not too cold! Hope yours is well too 🙂
Congrats on the successful move! I’m looking forward to reading your wrap up on NYC but, even more, where life takes you both next! Best of luck apartment hunting.
It’s interesting re the whole milk thing! I spied you were in Caffe Nero which is a UK chain and they stock super good whole-milk British yogurt here! Maybe they’ll make their way to you one day! 😉
I saw them in London too last winter so I was like what the heck?!
Hope you have a great weekend 🙂
Wow, this is a timely post for me! We are getting ready to move to a new house early next week (after living in our current house for 16+ years and like you, I’ve never really moved before other than little piddly moves). Thank you (and please tell your friend thank you!) for sharing that text ”Thinking about you guys and praying that you would approach this new season with a fresh enthusiasm for what God has ahead and a healthy appreciation for what is behind.” I will keep that in mind, as it’s definitely a bittersweet process. Very excited for you in your new town! (and for us in our new home too!) 🙂 Take care
Oh man 16+ years is a long time so I am sure that is bittersweet! I’m so glad the quote resonated with you like it did with me 🙂 Good luck with your move as you settle in!! xo
Congrats on moving! I LOVE that quote your friend texted you. I’ve been trying to shift my perspective to enjoy and be grateful for all seasons in life, even the hard ones. So excited for what God has for you in Boston!!
Thank you Abigail, I loved it too 🙂
Have a great weekend!
Hiring movers is definitely worth every penny during a move. I’ve moved several times to and from college dorms, apartments and houses. But I had never hired a company to help me move until the last time and after that experience, I wondered why I had never done that before! SO MUCH EASIER!! Sending well wishes and good thoughts your way that you all will find the perfect place! <3
Oh man it makes a WORLD of a difference! Thanks Amber!
I recently moved to Boston too, and have been loving learning about all of the neighborhoods & wandering along the river. WELCOME to the city – you guys will love it here! Please let us know if you ever host a meetup with local followers 🙂 Enjoy settling in and your first weekend in the city!
Thanks Grace! Welcome to you too! I would love to host a meet up sometime in the new New Year!
Boston is my FAVORITE city! You guys are really going to love it there, but it’s definitely a hustle to find the best apartment before it’s gone, but the good news is that you’re not moving September 1st which is the WORST time as Im’ sure you can imagine. 😉
It is such a hustle! We have heard about the craziness of Sept 1 so we are thankful that we are looking for a Jan 1 lease!
Congrats on your move!!
Thanks Carey!!
Glad the move went well! Moving is always so bittersweet for me, too. I love the prayer your friend texted you. Good luck with apartment hunting!
Thanks Megan! I hope you have a great weekend!
Congrats on the move! I hope you both have a great weekend in Boston!
I hope your weekend is great too Julianne!
“…I want to look back and think…that was hard, but it was good and rich.” I absolutely LOVE that. I’ve been working on a reflection blog post for my time in college (which officially ends on Thursday), and I don’t think I could have summed up my feelings better. That prayer your friend texted you also really resonates.
Huge congrats on the move! I love Boston. Good luck with the apartment hunt!
I’m so glad it resonated Ellen 🙂 Congrats on wrapping up college! A fun season of life for sure, but your 20s are even better! 🙂
Welcome to Boston, Robyn!! I am a physical therapy student at Boston University (actually hailing from Westchester County, NY), and I can relate to your sentiments on NYC being exhausting. I always say that Boston has a taste of city excitement without feeling like you wanna pass out after 5 minutes of walking through it. It’s a beautiful city, and I will be praying for you and Nick as you start this new adventure! I would also LOVE to attend a meet up if you ever have one!
Robyn, you’ve been inspiring me a lot this week. Planning a move from Houston to Philadelphia in the coming months. In some ways your time in NYC seems to parallel my time in Houston. I’m very much looking forward to your post regarding your thoughts. With a change of season and somewhat time of being uncomfortable will produce an abundance of growth. What a great and exciting time for you guys!
Ahh, so happy for y’all and excited for the adventure ahead! Praying for quick connections for you both! The church I’ve been a part of in Seattle for years now has a church plant in Boston (actually I think a couple locations!). It’s an incredible Jesus-loving church and the deep community has honestly impacted my life in such a powerful way. Let me know if you want the name! 🙂 xoxo