A NEW CHAPTER: WHERE & WHY I'M MOVING
This is difficult to write for many reasons. So much has changed and happened this year. And well, sometimes you have to close one chapter in order to welcome a new one.
It’s bittersweet to announce; I am leaving New York City and moving to Atlanta, Ga.
(it’s hard to even type those words out)
This hasn’t been an easy decision to make, especially during a pandemic. At first, it was really hard to come to grips with the fact that my last year living in NYC was mostly taken over by Covid-19. Being quarantined for months, and not being able to experience the city to it’s fullest is not how I imagined my last year here. But I realized that I’ve had an incredible 6 years here and I’ve been very lucky to call this city home.
For those of you who may not know, I actually moved to New York City from Atlanta. I never saw myself living in New York until I visited a few times in my early 30s, and gradually fell in love with the city. As a bonus, my best friend was already living here and had been trying to convince me for years, to move to New York. In late 2014, I finally took the leap and made the moved here. At the time I was ready for a change, and New York seemed like the perfect place to experience big changes. You can read more here on my move to New York and my first year living in the city.
Initially, I moved with the intention of living in New York for a year to see how I would like living here. But one year turned into two, which turned into three, and then four and here I am, almost six years later. I never really thought twice about leaving, until this year. I think for many of us, 2020 has changed us and made us re-evaluate certain things in our lives. Especially living in New York City during COVID-19, it has been difficult and makes me wonder what the future holds for the city.
I absolutely love living in Manhattan and enjoy the city lifestyle. But I’ve come to realize that the older I get, the more I crave having a home, being closer to friends and family and maybe settling down one day. Living in New York City has provided me with so many amazing experiences and given me a new outlook on life in general. It helped make me into the person that I am today. And the more I think about it, New York City ultimately gave me everything I never even knew I needed, in a time when I needed it most. I have no regrets about picking up my life and moving here. It still remains to be one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life.
But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Although this chapter of my life is coming to a close, I am excited for a new chapter to begin. And Atlanta is the next best place for me to do that.
With all that being said, I thought I would go ahead and answer a few questions that I’ve been asked so far from friends and family. Hopefully this helps to give more insight into my move.
WHY ATLANTA?!
For several reasons actually. I’ve aways planned to move back. I just didn’t know when that time would be exactly. I still have 75% of all my belongings in a storage unit there. I didn’t know how long I would be in NYC, so initially I placed everything in storage and have kept it there this entire time. Also, moving back down South puts me closer to my family. I have family in Florida, Alabama and Tennessee, so it will be nice to be within driving distance of them. And several of my closest girlfriends all live in ATL, so I’m really excited to be able to see them more often. Atlanta is also somewhere I see myself living a city lifestyle but also having the ability to slow down when needed.
HOW SOON ARE YOU MOVING?!
My lease ends October 1st, so I’ll most likely move the last week of September. I don’t have a firm date as of now, since I’m still finalizing plans.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR BLOG?!
I will still continue writing for my blog and sharing everyday life on Instagram. One of the reasons I named my blog Reinventing Rae, is because I wanted to share and document how we are constantly reinventing ourselves in life. Whether it be in our friendships, careers, relationships, or just our everyday personal lives. I hope to continue to share my life and expand content in new ways. I’ll still be sharing city life in Atlanta, in addition to beauty and lifestyle. Atlanta has grown so much over the past few years! And I’m excited to get to explore it all while sharing it with y’all. I also plan to create NEW content related to Entertaining and Home Decor, now that I’ll have a place of my own again. So needless to say, the blog isn’t going anywhere anytime soon!
WHAT ABOUT YOUR ROOMMATES YOU LIVE WITH NOW?!
Most of you know that I share an apartment with my best friend, Billy and his now husband Danny. They will continue to live in the city. W'e’ve had a great run all living together. I’ve known Will for over 15 years, and Danny for 7 years. We're more like family than friends. I’m definitely gonna miss them & having our family dinner nights along with all the laughs we’ve shared through the years.
WILL YOU BE BACK TO VISIT NYC?!
1000% YES!! I intend to visit as often as I possibly can. But obviously with current circumstances with Covid-19, I don’t know exactly when I’ll be back to the city. I’m hoping maybe sometime early next year or in the Spring. But for now, I definitely want to visit New York at least once a year.
Over the next month and a half, I’ll be sharing more of the moving process with y’all. I’ve actually already started packing. And next week, I’ll be traveling to Atlanta to look at apartments and finalize everything.
Although I’m sad to leave New York, I’m really excited for what’s to come. And I can’t wait to take y’all along for the journey.
XO, Dana Rae
