Man and Hat. Still In.

I thought to write to today about New York City. My whole blog was about me moving to New York and putting my hat in, my commitment, my energy to living here. I have done that one year now as of yesterday or close of business on Saturday.

I moved here on 28 September, 2007. One way. I had two bags, a laptop and a set of bagpipes as one would moving to a new town. I had a 6 month commitment of a job and a one month sublet.

As I look back, I can only say thank you, New York. Thank you friends and family. Thank you, me. And thank you spirit that watches over me! Truly.

So one year later I am supposed write about the great job I have, the lovely flat that I am furnishing and the great guy I am dating. And snow shoeing trip in Vermont booked.

Not quite.

I am still living in my sublet which I love and I have the greatest landlords. I am so happy here, that I feel no need to change. Check. My job ended after 6 months and I got another one and that ended after 3 and here I am looking for work in an economy that is sponsored by Tidy Bowl and in a city that is sponsored by Chase Manhattan. No income in a shitty economy in the most of expensive city in this country. There is room for improvement here.

But I sit on the stoop of "my" brownstone and I smile. I am happy.

When I take my fear out of the equation, I know I am living in the right place for me right now. New York City inspires, challenges, enlivens me in ways that I have never felt or been ready for. I am in the right place at the right time.

I have met a guy and we are dating. That inspires and terrifies me and makes me happy. Today. You meet people in New York in ways that that are "on the ground" operations like you just don't so many other places. When your face is pressed into someones armpit and your crotch is shoved into someones purse on the subway, there is a unique intimacy here.

But full disclosure...I met the guy on Match! Ha! So much for dropping my glove at a museum benefit! Ha!

But there is music and life and seasons and creativity and industry and so much that makes my heart sing that I had not felt before.

I DO NOT suggest this cannot happen elsewhere for other people or even myself, but right here, right now, I am ready and open and satisfied.

Yes, the career eludes, but New York City is not just going to it give away to me. Coming here and living here as been, well, really easy. Once it started to roll it all just happened. NOT without some doubt, fear, panic, stress, but that is me, but overall NYC kind of lifted its dress to me and now it just needs to be bought dinner or something. A fine time to play coy New York when I need to work, but if that is game, so be it!! I am not going to go away forever just because you don't want me to come up tonight!

Where am I going with this? Well, I guess I am checking in. I have enjoyed all the seasons here. I have met some great new friends. I have had summer get aways. I am playing in a local bagpipe band. I have connections and there are always possibilities and I have soaked up the fairs, museums, theatres, markets and rivers.

And when I fear that it is all not going to happen for me, I look back on this blog that has over 365 entries and I see a life that is rich and I realize it has only been one bloody year! There are millions more people to meet and new everythings happening every day.

Man. Hat. In. Still. In. With. Pleasure.