When we moved upstate to the Hudson Valley 4 years ago, I knew deep down that we would get back to NYC at some point. After spending 8 years living in the city during college and post-grad, I was completely burned. My nervous system was beyond shot, I desperately needed to touch grass and honestly as lame as it sounds, I needed to HEAL.
Well I did. I’m a completely different person now, for the better. But over the last year, our family started getting pulled back to NYC. Both of our careers were calling us back, so we picked up the phone and said BET! In April, we got an apartment uptown in Yorkville and it’s been the absolute best. We didn’t want to fully leave upstate either, so we’ve been split our weeks between here and there. It really is the best of both worlds, at least for me.
It’s been a wild few months of NYC apartment hunting, moving and getting settled, finding new routines – all the things. WE ARE TIRED. But I’m happy to report that living in two places at once is not only very possible but also very amazing, mostly. This is a look into everything I’ve learned along the way so far and hopefully, a gentle reminder that you hold the blueprint to your dream life (and it doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s). I feel really lucky and grateful that we have both worked ourselves into a position to be able to do this at all. As someone that has worked their way up from the very bottom, no like literally rock bottom, it feels like an important milestone to be able to choose and live a dream. Living in two places at once definitely isn’t for everyone, but it is for us in this season of life and I’m excited to share more about it.
The hardest part of all has been (finding) making and keeping a new routine that includes two places at once. As a professional Type-A, control-freak perfectionist (God Bless This Mess™), this transition has definitely forced me to be okay with letting some things go. I used to be the kind of person that tried to squeeze a square peg in a round hole with stupid things that don’t actually matter in retrospect… like planning to leave on a Sunday night but last-minute deciding to leave on Monday instead.
But really, loosening my grip on my routine and the need to control every aspect of it has actually been the most freeing part of all. Moving with the assumption that things can and will change has created space for me to actually just go with it instead of unnecessarily planning life… in a feeble attempt to “smooth it” – make it easier or better or faster or more logical. It never actually served me anyway.
I’ve realized that there’s a difference between smoothing it and just being smooth. Smoothing it is forcing out the bumps. Being smooth is a state of mind. Being smooth doesn’t take away the bumps, it just makes the ride feel less bumpy.
So I’ve been trying to be smoother with the flow of life recently. Less reactive to sudden change. More flow. Even with such a massive life change, it’s been helping me to stay grounded while finding my new norm again.
It took me approximately one week to realize what we needed to buy doubles of because I was incessantly thinking about needing to tote them back and forth. We’re accumulating them slowly, because, well, it’s a lot! And we’re not in a rush. Most of the fun comes from just being grateful to be here and there at the same time. I didn’t anticipate how much gratitude I’d have for all of the quirks that come with that too.
It’s a unique life. Frankly messy AF at times – what with coordinating two schedules, being in offices, working from this place or that place, having a dog, having friends and family and plans here and there at the same time! It isn’t always easy. It’s honestly way more complicated I think? But I wouldn’t trade it for anything else at the moment. For now, more is actually more.
Anyways – our NYC apartment is pretty small, the intention was truly to be a little crashpad for us so that we had a place to stay when our office days are stacked and we’re both getting lured into cool and fun evening and weekend events. One pro of having a small apartment is not needing a lot of stuff! Obviously we furnished an apartment – but it came together relatively quickly and easily because we already had some doubles laying around our upstate home that could be better utilized elsewhere.
But there were a few things that we didn’t already have doubles of… that we knew we couldn’t live without in NYC. These items are our most favorite things that ranked high on our list of must-haves:
Crown Affair Hair Towel (Genuinely can’t live without)
Brooklinen Sheets (I love the stripes: THE BEST)
The funny thing about living in two places at once is that you basically always have a duffle packed to go to and from. It also illuminated the fact that I actually didn’t own a duffle that I truly loved. I had a Dagne Dover one that has carried me ages, literally like 10 years. But she’s seen better days and I need something with more pocket storage. One that can ideally double as a great carry-on travel bag too!
I just recently pulled the trigger on the iconic Loeffler Randall Tote, and am so excited to bring it around with me everywhere I go this summer. I’m sure it’s exactly as amazing as everyone says it is, and if you’re in the market for a solid tote too then look no further!
Packing a good duffle is an art and a practice. Don’t laugh at me! It is! To be able to work within the confines of the space and yet need nothing more or less – it can be a challenge. An exercise in being intentional about what you carry around. I’m enjoying the process of editing my stuff. Of really understanding what my favorite things are. What’s actually worth coming with me? You quickly learn what those things actually are when you’re constantly reaching for the same pant or tee or sweater or what-have-you. Knowing what you love really well is a cool feeling.
I appreciate you so much. Thanks for being here. If you enjoyed this post, send to a friend! New letters every Wednesday.
Until then, you can find me on Strava, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Join my Hudson Valley RUN CLUB – we’re stomping around in Kingston this weekend 6/14, come hang! Shop my favorites here and here. For collaborations, partnerships or to work together, send me a note at kristinearocho@gmail.com.
And since you made it this far, enjoy a recent Otis photo below. See you next week!
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.