Big town. Small town. — Mary Mott Tells A Story Of Life

When I graduated from college, the only cool places to live were New York City or Los Angeles. NYC or LA.

The place defined you.

You became the person that lived in that place.

I chose NYC. Had a tiny midtown apartment on the third floor of a hypnotist’s office. Worked in the Pan Am building where you were assigned morning start times so that there weren’t too many people on the escalators. Worked in advertising when it was a creative business and women were allowed to break the glass ceilings.

We worked late, hit the clubs, ate Chinese, shopped excessively and spent every cent we earned.

I loved it. I was a New Yorker.

It seems different now.

You don’t have to go to a labeled place to earn your own label.

You can define the place.

Two friends just moved to Boise. Which is in Idaho.

They moved from California. He a whip smart business guy…and she an artist.

They work remotely, live on a mountaintop, hike everyday and love it.

More people are moving to Boise than practically any other US city. Most from California.

And Boise’s not alone.

Cleveland. The world famous Cleveland clinic is there. Cleveland. Where the river burned when I was in college.

Seattle… with that entrepreneurial, new business cred.

Miami… art.

Austin and Nashville… music.

“Travel and Leisure” chose Charleston as the top US city to live in. And Savannah, it’s sister city, as number four.

A young friend from San Francisco just opted for Portland, Maine, as her new home base. She works virtually and just liked the vibe.

Options.

Finding that place that best fits who you are now. And might be later.

A place that you can help to define. Where you can make a difference. As opposed to the other way around.

I like that it’s not just New York or LA anymore.

Of course it could be….but you have options.

Really cool options.

Originally published at https://marymottwrites.com on July 13, 2021.