There comes a time when even the most devoted New Yorker needs an escape. These escape calls usually have triggers- one of them being seemingly endless winters with yet another blizzard on the way. This hopeless New York lover was sick of heavy coats, snow, crowds, and public transportation. An impromtu trip to Los Angeles sounded perfect.
March in LA can be hit or miss for warm weather, but leaving New York the day after a blizzard meant that no matter what kind of weather they were having, it would still be much nicer than the freezing, snowy conditions of the Northeast. In addition, I was avoiding having to deal with ice and dirty gray leftover blizzard snow. The SoCal weather ended up sunny and around 75-80 degrees for the entire trip.
The first part of my trip was spent doing some remote work; however, remote work by a pool in the Hills is a lot nicer than being cooped up in an office. Most of my time was spent hiking in Griffith Park, chilling on Venice Beach, eating tacos, and laying by the pool. I felt insouciant. No obsessing over politics or work, plus I got a tan.
There was a point that I truly thought about not returning to the City. Palm trees, sunshine, taking cars instead of the subway… it all seemed so leisurely. To think of coming back to gray, dreary, snowy New York was sombering. For the first time in many years, I was fantasizing about another city- and feeling a little guilty. It’s a similar feeling of having a lull in your long term relationship, and then a hot, fun, new guy taking advantage of your vulnerability. It’s those times that you make impulse decisions that you inevitably regret.
That’s why delayed gratification is the definition of maturity. Feelings are fleeting- and whether it’s in relationships with people or cities, you can usually overcome a lull by reminding yourself why you were so in love in the first place, which is exactly what I did with New York.
Sure, LA has a lot to offer. But New York is home to me, mostly because I love the way people live and think here. Yes, it can be uncomfortable, crowded, and the weather is less than desirable a lot of the time, but New Yorkers are in it together. It’s our shared space. And as soon as the cab pulled up to my apartment in Brooklyn, I remembered that I am definitely in the right place. This is not to say that LA is never in the cards, because it certainly is- but not just yet.
For now, I think I’ll keep New York. Spring is just around the corner- and the same thing happens every year. Just when you think you’ve had enough, and the City is colder than ever, she starts warming up to you again…and there’s nothing like long walks through Central Park, day trips to the Rockaways, and romantic rooftop cocktails to renew any relationship.
Meggie NYC 