Relocating to my new apartment was a lot quicker than I thought it would be. I packed only a few bags last Wednesday night and–by Thursday afternoon–was completely moved into my new place. I had prepared for a slow, week-long process, but my girlfriend, two cousins, and a close friend each helped me pack everything into three separate cars and haul it over. I managed to vacuum my former room and relinquish my old key before sundown.
If you can describe a person by the company they keep, I must be freaking awesome. Finding people to help you move is stereotypically a difficult task, so I felt quite fortunate to have four people each show up with a car to help me that day. Thank you, Jenn, Ellis, Brad, and Mick. You all make me look good.
Though I still have random bags and boxes strewn about my new empty living room, I’m more or less settled in. My DVD collection is already shelved and alphabetized on a shelf next to my TV. Priorities, right? I was supposed to share the place with three other people, but now it’s only two–a brother and sister–and they’re both pretty cool. I’ve already had more conversations with them than I did in total with my last roommate. It helps that one of them is my coworker; we always have something to talk about. I am more than confident that this living situation will last until June, when our lease ends and they both move back to Florida.
In about four months, I will have to move again. That got me thinking, why not make that move our big move to New York?
Jenn came to that same query on her own. One day, while discussing my new place, she asked, “Why did you choose September as the month we’d move to New York?” Possibly an unrelated question, but I knew we were on the same page. The main reason I chose September was because I moved to Hawaii on September 16, 2009, and I wanted to make three full years. That’s it. I like round numbers.
The more I thought about moving sooner, the more it made sense. So, as follows, here is a list of the PROS and CONS of leaving for New York in June, rather than September (don’t judge, you know you love lists!):
PRO I wouldn’t have to find some place to live for three months in Hawaii. Since my lease is up at the end of June, I would have to either find a place to rent month-to-month (difficult) or crash at somebody’s place (completely inconvenient).
CON I’d have less time to save up for the move. I saved up $500 a month for the roadtrip, so I know it’s a tangible goal. Leaving early would mean less time to save, however. . .
PRO I’m already flying to the mainland for my cousin’s wedding in June. I might as well stay, then take off for New York from there. It would save me one or two flights, which could have very well taken three months to save up for in the first place.
CON I’d have to leave my Hawaii friends and family sooner than I’d planned.
PRO I’d get to start making New York friends sooner than I’d planned.
CON I’m not looking forward to East Coast humidity. I’ve been there before. It wasn’t pleasant.
PRO At the start of summer, students will be vacating apartments. Perfect time for me to slip in.
PRO At the start of summer, restaurants will be hiring more. That will make it even easier to transfer to the Times Square Bubba Gump’s.
PRO I can spend some leisurely time in California before heading off to New York. I will have the proper time to show Jenn around my neck of the woods and not have to squeeze in Bay Area sight-seeing before and after the wedding.
PRO WE WILL BE IN NEW YORK SOONER! (That one came straight from Jenn.)
. . .
You may have noticed I ran out of CONS. The final count is seven For, three Against. Lists don’t lie, so I guess you can expect Young Man Went East by summertime.
This is the view from my new back lanai (patio). Jenn and I both think it looks like Southeast Asia.
Young Man Went East 