One year anniversary

(Spring break Senior year, my first time in NYC. No idea that in a few years I would be walking by here everyday to and from work.)

Today is a special anniversary. No it's not Sean and I's anniversary, but it is our anniversary with New York City. One year ago we rented a large truck, bought some new Ikea furniture and drove to New York. We'd made the drive before a few times before, but it took much longer in that Budget truck. We had a horrible meal at Red Lobster. We listened to 80's and 90's music on radio stations that kept going in and out in the mountains. We stopped for the night in a little PA town and Sean locked the keys in the truck. Luckily Triple A came through in the morning. But only after Sean scratched my brand new blackberry leading to an epic two hours of not-talking-to-avoid-fighting part of our trip.

(Visiting for 4th of July, 2009)

We were really excited when we finally made it to New York. We were less excited to drive the truck across Manhattan with signs threatening everywhere that there was construction and low height clearances. Somehow we made it to Astoria in one piece and found our apartment on roads that we can now easily navigate. The truck made it in one piece too, although the big frame holding Ansel Adams, did not. It was HOT and we didn't have a shower curtain rod to make taking a cold shower convenient. Luckily we had Jocelyn and Cory to help us move and let us stay overnight in their somewhat air conditioned apartment. When Sean had to return the truck at 6am the next morning, he managed to break off the mirror just as he finally found a parking spot. The extra insurance we bought was worth it!

(Thanksgiving Day Parade, 2009)

Now that we're very settled into our apartment, with actual stuff hanging on the walls, a carpet, curtains, and pots and pans hanging in the kitchen it feels much more like home than it did a year ago when we only had a tiny AC unit in the bedroom, no couch, and no internet. We have successfully found the good restaurants around us, the best places for late night snacks, and most importantly the best bagels. While we might not always stay in this apartment, or this neighborhood, we're happy to be staying for at least another year.

I gotta say, I love living in New York. It took a little while to grow on me. It's dirty, there's garbage on the streets and open spaces are hard to come by, but I wouldn't want to be living anywhere else right now.

(Aww look, we used to think riding the subway was fun.)

Now I hope I can remember that tomorrow morning when I'm on the train and somebody's hand keeps slowly creeping down the pole and bumping into mine...