Sunday, July 05, 2009

DSM, we need to talk...

I'm taking ballroom dance classes at the moment.

I love it.

I've learned basics for the waltz, tango, rumba, and cha-cha.

rumba and cha-cha are my faves so far...

So every Monday I rush around from work to work-out to home, shower, eat, speed to dance class

I live near the largest consumption mecca in the metro in a disgustingly suburban neighborhood full of identical looking condo and town-home developments.

Barf.

Dance class is on the north side of the city of Des Moines. There's no quick way to get there.

I end up driving through a few different neighborhoods on my way there, most notably, Beaverdale.

Beaverdale is an older 'hood with mature trees, brick houses set closely together and back from the street, and is generally a nice place.

It reminds me of parts of Chicago.


It has more of a city feel. It's quite a bit more inviting than where I live.

I love that part of my Monday.

It makes me miss living in a large city.


While visiting Mom this past weekend for the July Fourth festivities, I got a good talkin' to.

By Mom's business partner.

I've heard this speech a few times over the past few years, but I'm only it getting now.


Like, REALLY getting it.


I'm grossly under-paid.

My company is in shambles and the outlook is grim-to-uncertain.


I have a handful of (mostly crappy) friends.


I hate where I live.

I'm single.

I have a college education.

I grew up in a big city.


I live in the suburbs of Des Moines, Iowa.

What The Fuck.

I've never felt like Des Moines was Home, not really a good fit.

Young, single, educated people should live in large bustling cities with lots of other young, single, educated people, in my mind anyway!


and make enough money so a second job is unnecessary. savings are a reality. travel occurs often.


There's plenty of time to waste away in a suburb if/when I have that whole husband/kids/dog scenario going on...


What's holding me back?

Nothing, really.

There's no good reason to stay where I am.


Time to move.

Des Moines, you're fired!

Plan: complete all unfinished home improvement projects, then de-clutter and simplify, talk to realtors, pick one and list condo, also, look for job in Chicago

Scary...

Exciting...

8 comments:

CW said...

Well..... The grass is always greener. Des Moines is an AWESOME city.

Great timing on deciding to uproot. Romp moved out to Chicago 3 months ago and still hasn't found a job!

Anonymous said...

People always want to blame the city they live in for the shortage of friends/money in their lives. Chris is right, Des Moines is a great city.

Anonymous said...

You are right. Des Moines sucks. The only people that believe DSM is a good city are those who have not experienced life anywhere else. Keep your options open to other real cities as an example Atlanta, New York, Boston, San Francisco, et al...

Anonymous said...

I’ve spent years living on both coasts and in Paris. Des Moines really is a great city. When you find the right group of friends, there really is a lot going on in this city. Just this past 2 weekends, Arts Fest., Triathlon, 4th of July downtowon. There’s tons going on.

Mike said...

You can’t find friends here, who says you’ll find them in Chicago?

Spicy Little Pi said...

I'm not saying there's something wrong with Des Moines or that I can't find friends here or that there isn't anything going on...

It's a great town, no argument there.

It's just not the right town for *me*

Christopher said...

WOW! Big decision made, huh?

I wish you the best of luck... but as others have said, it's a tough time to find a job in a new city.

I've got friends in Portland, OR who uprooted and moved from DC. Over a month and neither of them have any income. ...although I hear it's easy to get work in North Dakota ;)

Just make sure to plan it well, and if possible, get your new position lined up before the move.

Also, any chance you could rent out your condo rather than sell it? If it's financially possible, it's probably a better move right now.

Anonymous said...

Awsome, fearless, exciting decision!