After 7 years and 8 months of living in DC, I am moving back to Tampa, Florida. I am not thrilled to be returning to Tampa. I left then to start my life. A life that was more reflected who I felt I was at the core: someone who needed what a northeastern city offered. DC provided much of what I sought at the time: people that were educated and international, houses with wood floors and historical character, streets lined with old trees, public transportation, posh bars and lounges with well dressed people, and a varied stream of activities to fill one’s calendar.
My time in DC allowed the person I felt I was at the core to grow to reach the surface a bit. In general, I found the right people, places and activities, and ignored the wrong ones. DC served as the setting for my late 20s and early 30s and the associated flux in friends, boyfriends, social circles, career satisfaction, hobbies, ambitious life plans, and waist circumference.
Aside from my wonderfully loyal and surprisingly supportive friends, I will miss living in Adams Morgan most of all. My next few posts will summarize what I will and will not miss about DC, and why I’m leaving. For now I’ll say that while it is incredibly sad to leave, and I’m fearful for who I may and may not become in Tampa, it was not a hard decision to make. More to follow!
