This City, My Heart

Back in the day, when I was finishing up undergrad, I can't say that my intention was to move from Baltimore down to DC. In fact, for a while, I had every intention of settling down in Baltimore and being done with it. It was work that initially brought me down this way. And I resisted at first. I spent over 3 months commuting from my parents' house in Baltimore down to Fairfax before eventually giving in and moving as far south as Wheaton for a year before retreating up to Columbia, which is about the halfway point between the two cities. Little did I know that the District and the people in my life at the time had a lot to teach me. After feeling the need to marry and settle down, like a number of my friends had done, I eventually started to realize that settling down in the suburbs maybe wasn't exactly what I wanted in my mid-20s. I was with the wrong person and I wasn't getting to do all of the things I wanted to do with my life. My ex probably doesn't realize it but he really helped me realize that I shouldn't have been in such a hurry to settle down.

After bouncing around a little bit I ended up living in Arlington with a job in DC proper. I attribute my next ex with really opening me up to exploring the city and making it my own. He, also, was definitely not the right person for me but between the two of them I was really able to start figuring out what I wanted out of my life. It's amazing that so many years removed, how clear it can be, looking back and realizing that through all the hurt you were actually growing stronger. So I settled into the city life, making friends and having a good time, as much as I could afford to. This area quickly captured my heart and many years later I still have a lot to learn about it. As I wander through the dense downtown areas on my lunchtime walks I am filled with happiness, knowing that I am living my life, on my terms, in a city that I love and that gives so much to me without asking for much in return. (Hey, I've planted a few trees though if they count for anything.) You might say I'm a hypocrite for waxing poetic about DC all the while living across the river. I'll just say that I don't love the city enough to pay the higher taxes and car insurance.

So what about Jake? The job market was bad the year he graduated from undergrad. My apologies for gratuitous bragging, but it blows my mind that an Ivy League engineer graduating with honors would only receive one job offer. That's just kind of how it was across the board though. I think his first hope was to end up in Boston so that frequent trips up to Bustins Island would be more feasible. DC was the southernmost city he was willing to go to and that was where he ended up. I think like many first year undergrads he went through a number of ups and downs. And then he and I found each other. Two people who ended up in a city they deemed acceptable for the purpose of making a living came together and started making that city their own, together. We had a lot to share with each other that first year and spent subsequent years exploring and learning together. And, at least into the unforeseeable future, we have decided to make it our permanent home.

Living in this city can be challenging. It definitely can change a person. Even I find I am not always as easy-going as I used to be. It just can't be helped. Sometimes you have a day that wears on you and just when you think you can't take anymore of what the world is dishing out to you, the city hands you a traffic jam, a harsh comment from a homeless person, a subway train gone out of service. When I'm out, having a good time, taking in the history and culture all around or photographing life, I know it is all worthwhile. I love this city, and after living/working in the area for about 10 years I feel like I can finally call it mine. Would I consider living somewhere else? Of course, and I have in the past. I gave serious thought into moving to San Diego and San Francisco at various points in time. We may eventually transplant to Boston if we see a "retirement to Bustins Island" in the cards. For now though, I'm going to keep enjoying this amazing city. Images from Wikimedia Commons.