I decided to finally write about the details of The Plan. I chose today because a stressed out, down in the dumps feeling met me at home after yoga this morning. After spending some time with it (and feeding it), I realized it was here because of the pending move. D-day is inching closer and closer and I'm feeling a little unsettled. I'm hoping that writing about The Plan will chase away today's blues with a surge of motivation and excitement.
I'm leaving LA. For good this time. In December of 2011, after a month long, solo, soul-searching trip to Bali, I decided to uproot and move to New York. I did it and it was wonderful. I loved New York City and my nine months there were inspiring and interesting and NYC helped me recover from my break up with LA. Then, an opportunity presented itself, and I left New York last August to travel around the world for a show I was working on. I ended up back in SoCal after it was over in December. That's when me and LA accidentally got back together. Not on purpose and, not really to give it another try, but because it was easy and comfortable. We just kind of, fell into the old routine. In January, my tenants moved out of my condo and I moved back in.
As nice as it was being back in my own home, it didn't take long for me to come to the conclusion that enough was enough. For months, I had been contemplating selling my place and decided now was the perfect time to move forward with the sale and break up with LA for real this time. My time in New York, though I loved living there, made me realize that I needed to ease out of the TV industry and pursue my writing career full time if I wanted to be truly happy. Sadly, happiness for me is giving up a 6 figure salary for that of a novice writer. I don't know what a novice writer's salary is yet, because I haven't had any paying work. Yet. But I did get commissioned for my first real article and my deadline is Tuesday. It is not six figures, but it's a start. Unfortunately, this small salary, hopefully in my near future, means no more New York City.
That's the basic back-story (if you want the nitty gritty, go back for some of my older posts). Now for The Plan.
In a few weeks, I will hire movers and have them schlep the belongings I haven't sold from Los Angeles to a little town in Oregon called Seaside. I have rented an apartment three tiny blocks from a beautiful beach in a town of 6,500 people. The air improves, the view improves, and the people are nicer. Oh, and my monthly expenses decrease by at least $2,500 a month. I will be living more life on less $$. My life will be simple and centered around a real community for the first time in my adult life. I will hold a minimum wage job and spend most of my time writing, clamming, riding my beach cruiser through town, and walking the beach. I will have no car, no condo, no fancy dinner or drinks obligations, no friends, no family...New York was a dress rehearsal. This is the real deal fresh start. All the positive and scary things about a fresh start.
Moving to Seaside is a huge leap of faith. I have faith in myself that I can make it as a writer and that Seaside will be the perfect venue for my new-found entrepreneurial spirit. I have big plans for myself and, to be fair, they are not so much about the place. It didn't matter where I chose to move, just that I picked a place with a low cost of living that was also inspiring and offered a sense of community. I found Seaside on a map, bought a flight, rented a car, and found my new home.
This helped. I'm back to feeling excited and inspired and anxious to spend thousands of dollars on movers to get home.
I'm leaving LA. For good this time. In December of 2011, after a month long, solo, soul-searching trip to Bali, I decided to uproot and move to New York. I did it and it was wonderful. I loved New York City and my nine months there were inspiring and interesting and NYC helped me recover from my break up with LA. Then, an opportunity presented itself, and I left New York last August to travel around the world for a show I was working on. I ended up back in SoCal after it was over in December. That's when me and LA accidentally got back together. Not on purpose and, not really to give it another try, but because it was easy and comfortable. We just kind of, fell into the old routine. In January, my tenants moved out of my condo and I moved back in.
As nice as it was being back in my own home, it didn't take long for me to come to the conclusion that enough was enough. For months, I had been contemplating selling my place and decided now was the perfect time to move forward with the sale and break up with LA for real this time. My time in New York, though I loved living there, made me realize that I needed to ease out of the TV industry and pursue my writing career full time if I wanted to be truly happy. Sadly, happiness for me is giving up a 6 figure salary for that of a novice writer. I don't know what a novice writer's salary is yet, because I haven't had any paying work. Yet. But I did get commissioned for my first real article and my deadline is Tuesday. It is not six figures, but it's a start. Unfortunately, this small salary, hopefully in my near future, means no more New York City.
That's the basic back-story (if you want the nitty gritty, go back for some of my older posts). Now for The Plan.
In a few weeks, I will hire movers and have them schlep the belongings I haven't sold from Los Angeles to a little town in Oregon called Seaside. I have rented an apartment three tiny blocks from a beautiful beach in a town of 6,500 people. The air improves, the view improves, and the people are nicer. Oh, and my monthly expenses decrease by at least $2,500 a month. I will be living more life on less $$. My life will be simple and centered around a real community for the first time in my adult life. I will hold a minimum wage job and spend most of my time writing, clamming, riding my beach cruiser through town, and walking the beach. I will have no car, no condo, no fancy dinner or drinks obligations, no friends, no family...New York was a dress rehearsal. This is the real deal fresh start. All the positive and scary things about a fresh start.
Moving to Seaside is a huge leap of faith. I have faith in myself that I can make it as a writer and that Seaside will be the perfect venue for my new-found entrepreneurial spirit. I have big plans for myself and, to be fair, they are not so much about the place. It didn't matter where I chose to move, just that I picked a place with a low cost of living that was also inspiring and offered a sense of community. I found Seaside on a map, bought a flight, rented a car, and found my new home.
This helped. I'm back to feeling excited and inspired and anxious to spend thousands of dollars on movers to get home.
Heck yea! Go get it!
ReplyDeleteGood luck! Sounds like a lovely place to call home.
ReplyDeleteI firmly believe that when we get to the end of our lives the only things we regret are the risks we didn't take. even if this doesn't work out, you will find some confort knowing that you gave it a shot. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteWOW...Youre courage and confidence is inspiring! you are a fabulous writer ( I have been following you through Yeah Write) I wish only the best for you in your new home and career. Almost twenty years ago I was forced to make a career change that cost about $60,000 a year. I wish I made the decision without the other issues but it was the best thing I ever did. Granted money is great but ... Good luck! There is much to be said for finding out and learning in the process.
ReplyDeleteThanks Zoe! I love hearing about others' experiences of success at changing directions. I'm looking forward to the learning, but I'll still take all the luck I can get ;)
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