It is with the most mixed emotions and a bittersweet heart that I am saying goodbye to my beloved Boston…for now.
A couple of months ago, Terry and I were discussing what life in Boston would look like once the baby arrives. We had always intended to give birth here in Boston, have the baby in our brownstone, let family come visit for extended periods of time and then consider relocating South at some point in 2021-2022. I envisioned strolling around the city, having play groups with other local moms, taking our little one to Red Sox games and having our parents spend weeks on end here with us to enjoy every moment as our family grows.
Then Covid-19 hit.
Suddenly our dream of a cute family of 3 in the city was crumbling. We were striking out with buying a home here left and right. Reality set in that finding childcare was an incredible challenge and our families would no longer be able to come stay with us, without worry. Our jobs both shifted to virtual and we felt trapped in a small space. How could we bring a baby into this hectic space? How could we raise a baby so far away from our families? We both grew up close to our grandparents and cousins and want the same for our child. Throw in a due date smack-dab-in-the-middle of New England winter and we both had a change of heart. We have decided to move down to Georgia (where I am from) and spend this next phase of life in a home with more space, in a warmer climate and, most importantly, closer to family.
I would be lying if I said this doesn’t hurt. In fact, just as I typed that last sentence a tear fell from my eye. We are so not ready to say goodbye to Boston. We both love this city and have such a strong connection to our South End neighborhood. The community feel we have here is something I have yearned of my whole life and my heart breaks to be leaving it. But I know it is the right decision for the baby and for our family.
I came to Boston almost 8 years ago, knowing nobody and having very little expectations. I started this blog here shortly after I moved so my family and friends could follow along in my journey (read my first ever post). Though I was mid 20s when I came here, moving to Boston was the first true independent decision I made in my life. I was on my own – financially, physically and emotionally. I learned so much about who I am, who I want to be and what I want out of life. I truly found myself here.
Boston has been incredibly kind to me these past 8 years. It has gotten me through heartbreak, loss of a family member and distance with friends. It has seen me through three different jobs, seven different apartments, countless awkward first dates, a plethora of new friends and many, many amazing stories in between. I’ve explored almost every square inch of New England and absolutely fell in love with a region of the country I quite frankly knew nothing about prior to moving here.
And, perhaps, the most important thing that dear Boston has given me is the gift of love. Meeting Terry here 6+ years ago shifted the direction of my life in the most positive way possible. We have built a strong, loving community of friends here and we started our family here – I am so grateful to be leaving this city with Terry, our 6 year old Frenchie, Mela, and my 7 month pregnant belly. I know deep in my heart that the best is yet to come.
Boston, thank you for guiding me in the right direction, always.
Thank you for teaching me to be a tough, strong woman while keeping empathy and compassion in my heart.
Thank you for introducing me to new friends, new cultures, new ways of thinking and a whole new world that I would have otherwise never met.
Thank you for welcoming me with open arms and I hope you’ll welcome me back when I return.
Because, mark my words, this isn’t the end of our journey together.
Goodbye Boston, for now…
“Goodbyes are not forever, are not the end; it simply means I’ll miss you until we meet again.” -Unknown
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