As I mentioned in Monday’s post, Vishnu and I are moving to Miami! We found what we were looking for a few weeks ago and just finalized all the details this week. We move in 2.5 weeks…eek. Luckily, we haven’t collected too much crap over the past 10 months! Even so, the next few weeks are going to be insane with selling furniture, packing, unpacking, organizing, etc.
But most importantly, we’re happy. Vishnu’s happy to be living in a young, lively neighborhood full of restaurants and bars. I’m happy to no longer have a 2.5+ hour commute…and to be in a young, lively neighborhood!
Something I haven’t talked about on the blog is why we decided to move (yet again). When we first moved to Fort Lauderdale, I swore a million times over that we were going to stay put for at least 3 years (until Vishnu starts residency). Our [current] apartment is affordable, big, clean, and modern. However, the surrounding neighborhood isn’t the greatest, especially for a young, newly married couple. And everyone, including our parents, hated the fact that my commute was so long. I was willing to deal with all of this because of the affordability factor. Vishnu wanted to discuss our options.
Around the end of last year, Vishnu started bringing up the possibility of us moving closer to where I work, which is a beautiful area full of young professionals. He felt like we were 29 going on 59…all because of where we lived. I knew he was right, but I couldn’t fathom paying so much more in rent. It didn’t make sense to me financially, so I kept pushing back.
When we were in Chicago for New Years, Vishnu brought up the conversation again…this time with our friends Roshni, Samir, and Jetan. While they all saw my perspective, they agreed with Vishnu that this was the time for us to enjoy city living and have fun. Vishnu was so happy that they took his side and rubbed it in my face all the way back to Florida! I still wasn’t ready to agree.
Then, around the beginning of February, I came home from work one day, sat down, and said, “Let’s move to Miami.” To this day, I don’t really know what made me change my mind. I think it was a combination of really thinking about Vishnu’s reasoning and the conversation with our friends and observing the way we lived a little more closely. I finally came to understand that living in the city would increase the quality of our lives. We really have no clue where we’ll be moving next, so why not enjoy the present and live it up a little. Who knows – we could be in small town in the middle of nowhere in a couple of years. Fingers crossed that doesn’t happen! And while this move means we won’t be saving as much every month, we can still afford it (I’ve done the calculations a million times).
Anyway, Vishnu was stoked…and confused…about my change of heart, but he took it and ran with it! A few months later, we started our search and here we are with moving day not too far away.
Our new neighborhood
I know this is going to sound crazy, but as the big day nears, I am filled with so much…gratitude. It’s hard to describe. Trust me – I’ve just typed, deleted, and retyped various sentences trying to describe what it is that I’m feeling but can’t put it into words right now. Maybe later.
Well, I’m off to pack…and pack some more. I hope you have a wonderful (and safe) weekend!
That’s so exciting! I think it’ll be fun getting to live in a fun, young city in this time in your life 🙂 Have fun!!
My [new] thoughts exactly!
Moving is always such an exciting yet daunting process but from the sounds of it, you and Vishnu have made a great decision. Especially when we’re younger, these are our years to enjoy…even if it costs more than we would like to dish out. We can always be fuddie duddies when we have kids and the highlight of our day becomes driving them to and from school 😉
Duddies! Love that. But you’re right – this is the time to make a move like this.
Good for you Parita!! remember, life is all about living in the moment. Enjoy it, live it and revel in all that you can, when you can really do it..like you said, in a few years from now, you may on a different adventure and a different phase in life where city living may not vibe well at that point. Am happy for you.
Thank you for this comment, Gia! Just what I needed to hear!
Good for you! It’s important to realize that finances aren’t the ONLY reason to choose a locale. Your sanity/happiness is worth a LOT. I’m totally coming to visit, btw. 😉
Anytime, my friend!
I am totally 100% with when you have to decide in between financial reason vs. your sanity/happiness – the sanity/happiness over weigh!!!
Can’t wait to see the place 🙂 love you my sunshine!
Can’t wait for you and dad to visit! You’re going to want to move down here!!
I’m so happy for you! It sounds like a great decision. I can’t wait to hear how you like Miami. I used to really want to live there when I was younger, and Tom would love it for all the golf course action 🙂 Living in a young, lively neighborhood is awesome. I don’t know if I could have it any other way!
Honestly, if you saw where we live right now, you’d wonder why we didn’t make the move sooner. It’s that bad! I’m so excited to be in an area where people are walking around and actually doing things!!
yayyyy I am excited for you guys. Even though finances play an important part but as long as you guys can work it out and afford a different city with much happiness and fun – yes yes yes 🙂 so happy for you Parita because last year I was going through same confusion but I chose what makes me happy and here I am 🙂 🙂 Happy Friday friend
Thank you, my friend! It was an awesome feeling once we made the decision, and of course, once we actually found a place!
That’s great! It’s funny how life works. I’ve had random decisions like that about job changes, and when asked why I just said “i don’t know, i just woke up one day and felt like it was right for me.” It sounds like that’s what happened to you. So exciting! enjoy it 🙂
Glad I’m not the only one that can’t answer that question! But I’m with you, I don’t know what it was but I knew that it was the right decision. Maybe we’re developing our instincts!
Yay, how exciting! We used to live downtown which was much trendier, way more alive, and um cost an arm and a leg but we don’t regret it at all. It was such a great time because we were at a different point in our lives. I’m so glad you guys are making the move because as someone commented above, your sanity and happiness is often more important than finances. Hoping the packing gnomes help you pack this weekend! 🙂
Thanks for sharing your story! I think this is the right decision for us right now. Who knows what the future brings!
A 2.5 hour commute? Oh girl! I can’t even imagine how you managed that – I get cranky if I have to spend more than 15 minutes going anywhere. I’m super excited for you though! And even more so because your new neighborhood is hip and young 😉 I love that you and Vishnu put so much weight on that, because there’ll be plenty of time to settle down in the future… now is the time to have fun 🙂
We really are trying to have fun right now. We figure we have the rest of our lives to be responsible (money saving) adults! 🙂
Wow…what an insane commute. So glad that you are moving closer to work, and in a safer area!
Sometimes I look back and think, I wish I hadn’t been worried about the expense and had done X or Y. Live your life with no regrets my friend!
So happy for you. Good luck with all the packing!
Thanks, Ameena! I’ll be walking distance to work after the move…I can’t wait!
It’s worth it P… it’s not worth it if you are spending 2.5 hours a day commuting. I commute about 50 mins each way, and I live across the Hudson, and I do crib about wanting to live in NYC a lot, but my rent would literally double and it’s already high. My area is cute with good restaurants and all, and slightly more relaxed than NYC so I’m okay with it.
If you are living in a neighborhood where you are bored and there are older people, you should definitely move and not worry about it, especially since you guys are newlyweds. You’ll earn the money back, you’ll save on GAS, and most importantly you’ll have fun. This time in your life is NOW, and 10 years from now, you’ll be glad you did the move.
Thanks, Nisha! And you’re absolutely right. I know that if we stayed where we are right now, we’d regret it BIG TIME later. This move just feels right. And the area we’re moving to is so much fun. I can’t wait! You would love it – come visit!
Congratulations!! I know you and Vishnu will have fun wherever you are but I am excited for you both to move to a young, exciting neighborhood!
Thanks, Gayathri! You guys must come visit us soon! 🙂
The move sounds super exciting! I’m sure your whatever anxiety you have will dissipate once you’ve settled in 🙂
Thank you! It is really exciting (and slightly stressful)!
This is a GREAT decision! I am so happy for you! David and I moved out of our fun neighborhood too early. We were young and childless, but wanted to be closer to his work, so we moved to the ‘burbs of Charlotte. It’s perfect for us now, but we missed out on a year or two of fun city restaurants and bars, so I totally agree that you should go live it up for a while! How fun!!
Thank you! We are really excited. 🙂
That is amazing. It is truly bizarre how where you live can make you feel older (or younger). I had been struggling with a similar feeling..like everyone around me was just a few years ahead or behind, and it was making me feel somewhat…lost? Good luck with all of the whirlwind to come! I know this will be a great decision for y’all. 🙂