I've Arrived

Just finished loading my stuff into Aly's place, setting everything up, and unpacking clothes. Feels nice to sit at my desk again.

The drive down here was the same as always - a huge tease. I left Boston around 11am and was able to keep an average speed of 80 all the way down to New Haven. Had my GPS's ETA held I would've done the drive in just under 3.5 hrs. However, once I hit the Merritt Parkway all hell broke loose. After about 10 miles it was a fucking parking lot.

From there it was pockets of stop and go traffic, and then when I got into NY it was a shit-show. In the end it took me nearly 4.5 hours to get here.

I'm having weird bouts of random emotions. I'll get excited, then I'll start getting sad, then anxious, then excited again. I think the biggest challenge right now, aside from getting work, is developing a new social circle. I have a small number of close friends in Boston but I know many hundreds of people whom I can consider acquaintances and/or colleagues. For me that provides a big sense of security and makes me feel 'home'. I have a rather decent number of colleagues down here but I don't really know anyone whom I can call a close friend (aside from Aly). I already miss my Boston friends terribly...

I suppose that's all part of the experience. It's going to take some time to feel 'at home' around here. I will say though that this neighborhood is quite nice. There are trees and nice people and it isn't overly hectic in terms of honking horns and such.

It ain't at all like my old neighborhood though, that's for sure!!

My goal for this week is to find work. Live gig, scoring, teaching, engineering, whatever. I just want to hit the ground running. Lots of emails and phone calls tomorrow!!!

Packing

I'm getting ready to move to NYC. I've tried my best to purge all the bullshit I don't need. This includes furniture and miscellaneous crap. I always prided myself on not having much stuff but this has been challenging to say the least. I tried to sell what furniture I DID have but aside from several small pieces none of it interested anyone so I donated it to charity. Can't have enough good karma!!

My plan is to fill my car with a desk, my computer stuff, studio monitors, clothes, and a very select few miscellaneous items. The stack of shit I've collected in my living room is comparable in size to my typical gig drumkit so I'm confident I can fit it all. If not, I have a contingency plan in place - lose the desk. I can always buy one in NYC.

I still have some crap to leave out for the trash tomorrow morning...including my mattress. I hate to trash it as it's expensive and only several years old but no one wanted it and Goodwill won't take beds. Seems like a waste but what else can I do...?

Ok...time to relax and enjoy the rest of my last evening as a Bostonian. This move hasn't settled in yet...I've been in Boston for nearly 13 years so leaving is surreal, frightening, exciting, but most of all necessary. I love Boston, always will, it'll always feel like home. I'll miss this place so much....