Living in New York City was integral to identity, from lifelong residency in various boroughs to a demanding media job. Family life and work responsibilities caused overwhelming stress, culminating in a realization that the current lifestyle was unsustainable. A cramped apartment and intense job pressures led to sleepless nights and dissatisfaction. Eventually, the decision to leave New York surfaced, propelled by a need for a more affordable and less hectic life. Nashville emerged as a surprising yet fitting alternative for a fresh start.
I was burned out at my job, underpaid, and commuting hours on the subway between Manhattan and my shoebox of an apartment in Crown Heights.
By the time my son outgrew his bassinet and needed to transition to a crib, it became clear my tiny apartment was too small for us.
After each day speed-editing dozens of articles and pumping breastmilk in a closet at the office, I would sprint to the subway at 7 p.m. in hopes of seeing my son.
I finally gave myself permission to consider the impossible: leaving. I just wasn't sure where to go next.
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