Since sharing my plans to move into the city over a month ago, I’ve done barely any explaining as to why I made the decision. I guess you could say I just got so caught up in getting here that my desire to write long(er) posts sort of went out the window. But now here I am, sitting in my little nook in New York City, finally providing some of the deets 
I moved into the city…
To be closer to my job…and everything else. Ever since moving to LI, just about 80% of my time was spent in the city anyway. And then when I got the new job…well, it was a no-brainer. Although my commute before wasn’t terrible, it was an hour longer (each way) than my new, just-about-ten-minute trip to work. Not to mention it just feels so much easier knowing I live around the corner rather than across the river.
It makes more sense financially. Although my apartment is substantially smaller than my previous one, my housing expenses come out to be just about the same. But now I’m spending half the amount for a subway pass than I did for the train, and I was able to get rid of my car (payments, insurance, gas). Once again, a no-brainer!
To be closer to my family. It’s actually a lot easier for me to get back to Pennsylvania from Manhattan than it is from Long Island. In fact, most of the time when I wanted to go to PA from LI I’d end up taking the train into the city then hopping onto another just so I could avoid crazy New York drivers the traffic. I’m thinking that a lot of my friends and family will be more likely to visit me now too (Y’ALL BETTA).
To be closer to my church family. Since the beginning February I’ve become a part of an amazing community – one that I see myself being a part of indefinitely. It wasn’t easy trying to cultivate those relationships when I lived 40+ minutes away, so I knew that I had to be closer in order to grow and do God’s work in this city. Side note: if you’re in the NYC area and want to learn more/visit my church, *please* shoot me an email! gracie(at)girlmeetslife.com.
Last but not least…
I just knew. Shortly after getting the new job, I started to feel a strong desire to move. At first I forced myself to stop thinking about it as if it just wasn’t an option. Then I began to question every possible direction I could take - how would it happen? Am I being too rash? Is God trying to teach me how to be content? Finally I realized that if I’m walking with and fearing God, He’s going to lead me exactly to where I’m supposed to be without trying to teach me some backhanded lesson (earth to Gracie, that’s not how He works). While I certainly didn’t want to force open doors that weren’t meant to be, I also didn’t want to miss out on His plan because I was busy thinking too much into it.
So, I got determined. I began looking for new apartments while also trying to get a new tenant for the one I was living in at the time. A little over a month later…and, well, the rest is history.
The process has taught me quite a few lessons, for sure. But the main thing I learned is this: there isn’t always going to be a known reason as to why things happen the way they do. Sure, there are plenty of things in my life that I look back on and think “THAT’S why that happened!” But there are also a ton that still boggle my mind, and I’ll most likely never know thee answer.
So will I ever know why God had me move my entire life and live in Long Island for five months if I was ultimately supposed to be in the city?
Probably not. Maybe. It doesn’t really matter.
Because the truth of the matter is that the “why” is always going to be the same – to love God, to love others, and to live my life for His cause – wherever I may be.
And for now….that just happens to be in a concrete jungle.
I think it would be such an incredible experience to live in Mahattan. Two of my best friends are doing it right now and I’m supremely jealous of their fabulous lives!
No matter the motivation or what you put trust in, new experiences are always gateways to something else. I would jump at the opoportunity to live in NYC. Enjoy! Live it up!
Loved reading this Gracie.. thanks for sharing
Lindsay says
I love this post. I’m so happy that it all worked out
It always does!
Natalie @ cinnamon bums says
i really enjoyed this post and hearing about your move!! i love manhattan and it’s really a great place to live when you’re young. it seems as if you’ve really learned a lot about yourself during this journey. i love how you’ve just taken every part of that journey in stride, and you’re right - our lives are so complex, we are never going to know the reasons behind everything, but i guess that’s also the beauty of it, yeah?!
best of luck and cant wait to hear more about your manhattan adventures =)
That is just so amazingly exciting! I would love to move there someday. Perhaps my writing career will bring me there in the future! Enjoy it, live it up…and keep telling us all about it
I’m so excited for you! Can’t wait to read more of your adventures!
How awesome that you get to experience city life.. right in the heart of it all! I look forward to hearing about all of your city adventures!
M says
Why did you move to Long Island initially? And where on L.I. were you living? I always imagined Hicksville area because of the places you mentioned. (I grew up on L.I.)
Hi M! I lived on the north shore in Nassau county. You can read more about my initial decision here: http://girlmeetslife.com/2011/01/why-li/
Girl, You are such a great Christian role model. I haven’t moved to a different city, but I did move to another church because I felt like my previous one’s college ministry just wasn’t helping me grow spiritually. It was hard at first to move from the church I have grown up in, but I have never been happier now that I’m at my new church. I absolutely love it and enjoy making new friends and growing in my relationship with Christ and other believers! Keep on going strong girl! you rock!
Wow, thank you so much for the comment Kelsey!! It really is such a huge encouragement
Per the usual, I love reading about your strong relationship with God. It’s so refreshing. I’m so happy things are working out for you!
so awesome girl! I am glad everything worked out the way it did for you! Yay for new adventures in your new place!!!
It sounds like you followed your heart <3
It sounds like making the move was definitely the right choice for you! Commuting SUCKS, so it must be awesome to be so much closer to your job now.
yayy! if you’re happy i’ma happy!
So neat that you followed your heart and just went for it! It totally made sense that you moved!
Congrats on your move to the big city! We welcome you with open arms - and rumbling tummies; such good food around every corner
Friend, you said you were going to do something and you did it. Kudos. I am so proud of you and knew it would happen!
Can’t wait to visit. xo
I’m proud of you! It can be so hard to follow obediently and not second guess yourself, I think you are definitely doing the right thing! What an exciting time!
My brother lives there and I visit quite a bunch! Can’t wait to come see you.
A couple of comments..
1. I’ve wanted to live in NYC since I first visited my brother when I was 15. I graduate Nursing School in August 2012 and I figure…what a better time than that??
2. What area of manhatten do you live in?
1. ummm excuse me…GET HERE ASAP!! Especially with everything you’ve just gone through, I can definitely speak for the fact that NYC is very…*freeing.*
2. I live downtown. I’ll give you more specifics if you want to reply to this via email (privacy reasons, obv).
xoxo!
I actually lived in the city for about 2 years before moving across to the dirty jerz. I am from PA also, so it is easier for me to get home. I work in the city though, so my commute is not as easy, but I definitely understand how you just get that feeling while being (living) in the city. It is like nothing else. Exhilarating!
dude, congrats gracie. i am so happy to hear this. i just moved to san francisco for very similar reasons and it’s cool to here someone going through something similar on another coast. all the best!
Jessica says
I’ve been a reading your blog since GMH, but have never commented. I’m truly inspired by your move to the city. I am in the early stages of planning my big move to NYC from Ohio. It’s nice to see that it is possible and how much fun you are having:)
Thanks for being such a good, positive role model!
Hey Jessica, thank you so much for this comment!! I love hearing from longtime readers
I’m also so glad to hear that I have been an inspiration for your upcoming move. It definitely is not an easy transition, but one that I think is so so SO worth it!! I’m so excited for you!
xoxo G
Marybeth says
Gracie, I randomly found your blog from Pinterest when someone pinned your recipe for cake batter blondies(which I intend to make ASAP). I curiously browsed your other blog topics and found this one. I recently moved to Baton Rouge so my husband could go to grad school. Reading your blog hit so close to home, as we moved here, trusting it was God’s plan, and now my job opportunities have fallen through and I’m starting to wonder why we are here.(not to mention we moved completely across the country and away from our families) So thanks for your encouraging words that I’m sure you never imagined would encourage a complete stranger
I’m trying to find reassurance in that I don’t always need to know why God does what he does, rather that I can trust in what He’s doing is the right thing for me. Thanks for helping me understand that even better!
Hey Marybeth! Thank YOU for this comment…
Hands down - the most rewarding part about blogging is being able to connect with other people who are going through or have gone through similar circumstances in life, so I’m glad that you were able to stumble upon this post and feel that sense of relatability (..is that even a word? haha).
I think you hit the nail on the head in saying “I’m trying to find reassurance in that I don’t always need to know why God does what he does, rather that I can trust in what He’s doing is the right thing for me.” SO TRUE!! And, I feel like that’s something we all need to carry with us throughout our lives in order to truly live out the will He has for us, you know?? (definitely still something I struggle with, though!)
Thanks again for this comment, and best of luck with *everything.* Take care, sweet girl! xoxo G