Hey, blog buddies! The first part of my July vlog is here… and it captures a pretty big shift! I don’t know about you, but change is feeling pretty good right now. After locking down for the pandemic for months in our cramped apartment, we knew it was time to take the leap and find a new place to call home.
In my June vlog I’d mentioned that we unexpectedly found a place that felt ideal and we got approved for it. I signed the lease and we rented it without actually going to see it in person (major yikes, in my 15 years of living in NYC I never thought I would do that… but, #pandemictimes).
Well, the mysterious abode is finally revealed! This vlog features our very first official visit to the new place after it became ours, an empty apartment tour, some soothing rooftop views of Brooklyn, and a tribute to our old apartment.
Check out the vlog here:
2020 has had a lot of twists and turns, but for us, this one was pretty epic. I hadn’t imagined we’d have the chance to move to a new place this summer after a winter and spring that inspired so many hopeless, “stuck” feelings.
But I also credit the pandemic and quarantining in our old place by allowing us to take the leap. When you spend that much time inside an apartment that’s not right for you… something has to give!
Our last apartment was our first official home together and we made a lot of memories there. E actually moved in with me in 2018. And honestly, we’d been unofficially living together for years before that. 🤫 But we’ve always had roommates and less-than-ideal living situations. This one is finally ours.
Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to subscribe and hit the bell if you like content about creative living and everyday magic. I’m trying to hit 100 subscribers by 2021! 😉
Look for part 2 coming soon.
Here’s to the future and making it brighter.
P.S. Need some tips on finding an apartment in NYC? Check out the post I wrote after seeking out apartments in various neighborhoods for over a decade:
How To Find An Apartment In NYC: A Serial Mover’s Whimsical Guide
Important!
You can’t make a post about moving to/within New York City without mentioning gentrification. The ever-increasing influx of new residents has caused real estate inflation, problematic development, and over-policing.
It’s our job to do something to counter the negative impacts our presence might be having. If you’re financially secure and living in the city, especially in neighborhoods where gentrification is causing marginalized communities to be displaced, make sure you’re giving back in some way. You can do this by doing things like…
Supporting local small businesses instead of large chains (groceries, clothing and home goods stores, etc). Walk around your neighborhood to find these places and make a point of patronizing them.
Donating time, money, and resources to local organizations, both neighborhood-specific and citywide. Here are a few I give to:
Bushwick Ayuda Mutua is a network of Bushwick neighbors supporting neighbors. Update 2020: This is the organization that fed over 2K Bushwick residents during the COVID-19 crisis and continues to do great work.
Clean Bushwick Initiative is committed to cleaning up parks and streets as well as connecting the community through environmental awareness, education, art, and fun.
Bushwick City Farms provides free food, access to space and education programs for community members. They operate by a “give what you can, take what you need” philosophy.
Brooklyn Bail Fund supports those impacted by a discriminatory justice system that targets BIPOC and low-income communities. They also created the Immigrant Freedom Fund.
Girls Write Now is a writing and mentoring organization for NYC girls and gender non-conforming youth.
Materials For The Arts collect arts and crafts supplies for NYC educators to utilize in their classrooms and programs.
EV Loves NYC delivers free food to those who need it most in NYC.
There are many more here.
Participating in street clean-ups and grassroots neighborhood projects without making it about your involvement. There are so many of these, including projects initiated by some of the organizes listed above. Google projects in your neighborhood, pay attention to local signage and local social media content.
A recent project co-founded by my friend Fei is Plants For The People Brooklyn. They provide free plant clippings, gardening tools, and information about growing plants to community members. They also participate in street cleanups.
Be a good neighbor. People will always want to live in this city. It’s magical, challenging, and inspiring. The memories you can make here are unreal. But yes, your presence will impact people. After all, it’s home to many, even though it’s treated as a playground by some people passing through.
Whichever neighborhood you pick, commit to being a good neighbor. Consider giving back in a tangible way. Many neighborhoods have blogs dedicated to them so you can keep tabs on local politics and happenings.
And it’s not said enough, but just be friendly… and know when to mind your business. That’s the magic formula for living in NYC.
