Posted: 4/17/23 | April seventeenth, 2023
After eight years in Austin, I’m leaving and heading again to NYC full-time.
I first visited Austin in 2013, bought hooked, and began coming again a lot that I made a decision to maneuver right here in 2015. I used to be solely semi-here my first couple of years. I cut up my time in NYC for a bit, traveled rather a lot, and lived in Paris for a bit.
However, in 2019, this grew to become my solely residence.
Nevertheless, during the last yr, it’s turn out to be clear that town and I’ve grown aside. The bizarre little city that drew me right here as a respite from the hustle and bustle of NYC is not a bizarre little city however an enormous metropolis missing huge metropolis infrastructure. The site visitors is horrible, my meals truck parks are gone, it’s dearer, and quirky Rainey Avenue is now all excessive rises and accommodations. Town’s character has simply modified rather a lot as Austin has turn out to be “the place to be.”
Now, I’m not making an attempt to be a type of “get off my garden” individuals. I’m certain individuals lamented of us like me coming and altering their metropolis. Simply as of us earlier than them and people earlier than them.
Change is a continuing in life and making an attempt to cease change is like making an attempt to carry again the tide. Austin can change all it desires. Not the entire adjustments have been dangerous. There’s much more to do within the metropolis, there’s extra jazz and comedy, higher meals, and the airport has extra direct flights now.
But when Austin desires to be a metropolis — and its native leaders appear to need it that manner whilst they bemoan the rising value of housing — then be a metropolis. Give us higher infrastructure, extra housing, bike paths, and public transportation. Austin has turn out to be a metropolis however with none of the advantages that include cities.
Final yr, roaming from NYC to Paris to Berlin to London, I started to note that the issues I like about huge cities aren’t current in Austin. I missed strolling in every single place, museums, jazz golf equipment, public transportation, copious artwork museums, and variety of individuals, concepts, and meals. I missed the hustle and bustle that comes with locations like NYC, Boston, London, and different metropolises.
I spent a number of final yr in Austin and, beginning in October due to my allergy photographs, I didn’t depart for six months. Throughout all that point, I dated, joined social golf equipment, and constructed a life there.
However my coronary heart simply stored whispering, “This isn’t the place.”
Austin not appears like residence. NYC has at all times had a bit of my coronary heart. I need to return and see the way it goes. Will I spend 8 years there? I don’t know. By then, I’ll be fifty!
However, proper now, I’m able to say goodbye to Austin. After eight years, this chaper has come to an finish.
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