I have to smile.

Erin is at work reading the New Yorker (yeah, hard week!)
And she sent an email along to me.

“New Yorker Envy”

“The cosmopolitan lives of the literary, the urbane, the witty, and the
wealthy as limned in each issue make me look around the center of the
universe and wish I was one of those.”

Alas…
I had this envy earlier this week, while roaming the busy streets of Toronto. 5 years ago if you would have asked…I NEVER would have imagined wanting to live among the joyous madness of a large metropolitan area.

Since then, well I fell in love with Buffalo. Allentown. Elmwood Village.
And I constantly find myself craving more, larger, bigger…more.

Am I crazy?

While up in TO with my best friend Rach…(the other one in Buffalo!) I was shocked to hear her say *I’m a Buffalo or Rochester girl, I could never live here.*

I could move in a heartbeat.

Maybe not Canada, I do still have the dream that I will run for public office someday…but Washington D.C.? My favorite city on earth? Oh how I love it there. I refused to tempt myself with law school in the district because I did not want to become a Washington Person. Alter-ego Jennifer could easily become a Washington Power Player. I wanted more. I wanted ties to a local community, work my way up the ladder by starting at the ground. Which I have done. My base is built.

And as much as my heart overflows with love for Buffalo…tis a small city. I can see myself wanting more, if not just for a while…D.C.? NYC? Chicago? Boston? All options on my plate.

I’m 100% the woman who wants to buy an old Victorian in Buffalo, raise my children and send them to fabulous private schools (since the city schools are in shambles. Hopeless.) I would choose to forego material things to live in the city and send my children to private schools. After all the other option is to live in the suburbs where the districts are good. But me? in the suburbs? Never. Ever. I’m a small town girl. I’m a city girl. I would rather never go on a vacation and send my children to private schools while living in the city…than live in the suburbs. I will visit all my friends there in their amazingly pretty houses and perfect neighborhoods. I will even bring along a six-pack or a bottle of vino. But I will not live there.

I’m also 100% the person who feels like I still need to get out and explore, bigger and better things. Doing a job search in Buffalo reminds me that, well, there is so much out there for someone like me in a large metropolitan area. The city can be lonely, away from the family and friends at home, sharing in the weekend BBQ’s and football games, and church picnics and birthday parties. But the city…oh, how I crave the independence, the excitement, the possibilities…the noise is peaceful. I’m in love with myself there.

And only 5 years ago, I never could have imagined being this person.

Growing.

I’m excited to see where the next five years will take me.