Over the fourth of July holiday, we hopped in the car with Rufio and drove to New York to visit our families in a weird, coming full circle experience. Exactly one year earlier we packed up our cars and moved to Charlotte – into an apartment we had never seen without jobs. It sounds pretty reckless when I think about it now, but at the time I don’t remember feeling nervous. I remember thinking: “let’s give this a try. If after one year we don’t like it, we’ll pick up and move again.”
But we love it. In fact, we just renewed our lease for another 13 months.
Driving around my hometown reminded me of high school and how I desperately wanted to get out. How I wanted nothing more than to be a PR girl in a big city and go to pop punk shows with my future husband.
Mission accomplished. ✔️
So while it’s safe to say I don’t miss the town (other than The Placid Baker, The Confectionery, and Slidin’ Dirty in Troy), I do miss our family and friends. Here are some highlights from the trip:
After a few days upstate, we headed down to Long Island to visit MPR’s family and friends. I have to say, there’s no place better than Long Island during the summer. Their beaches are gorgeous (even though the water is freezing!)
It was nice to see everyone, but it was also great coming back to our new home in the Queen City. I missed our comfy bed in our little apartment and our warm, turquoise pool. However, I am looking forward to our next trips back up north for our best friends’ weddings! October in NY is 👌🏻
Caitlin Ryan, APR 