The Talking Heads made it famous, "Once In A Lifetime". The song is ironically melancholy compared to it's upbeat tempo. However, I choose to find the silver lining and see the positivity out of it.

In case you haven't heard the news, I'm no longer in New York City. Yeah.... I'm one of the many cases that went to NYC and then left it.

It's not that I didn't LOVE it there, I truly did! Actually, I can't wait to get back! It's just that it wasn't my time to be there. I grappled with that hard fact for a long time, but now I'm happier than a fat kid eating cake.

I had a once in a lifetime chance, and I DRANK THE KOOL AID! As David Byrne would like you to think, it's your past that you wish to change, because you can't believe where your life has taken you. I beg to differ, I couldn't be more grateful for where I'm at in life.

It's taken me a while to get back to normalcy, but I'm moving in the right direction. My new location and job description is as follows... You're looking at one of the many ski instructors in Vail. WOOT WOOT! Can I get a Halla Back!??!

However, I didn't want all my stories to go to waste, since I did have a fair share of them while wandering around the Big Apple. So here's some things that I'll miss from the City that Never Sleeps.

Being able to read the newspaper on the subway, and having the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and many other newspapers at my fingertips.
Listening to weird renditions of classic songs in the subway, AKA Van Morrison on steel drums, anyone?
Having no car and walking for miles everyday
Having a tourist ask moi for directions, "Yes, I'm a local!", but that was a bit of a stretch
Eating copious amounts of cheap bagels, pizza, bagels, pizza, bagels, pizza, etc.
Being able to understand any reference to NYC locations in movies and t.v. shows
Always on the lookout for famous people, especially when walking down 5th Ave or in the West Village. I must not have been looking hard enough though!
Enjoying the ability to hate the same subway lines with others because they smelled like stanky leg, or were ALWAYS inconsistent
Walking through Central Park
Pretending I owned enough money as Donald Trump, and going into Stores like Tiffany's, SAKS, Henri Bendel, Bloomingdales, and let's not forget Bergdorf's. BUT I never went into Harry Winston, what a shame...
WINDOW SHOPPING!!
So MANY INCREDIBLE museums!
People watching
You could get anything you wanted at any time of the day. Can you say spoiled much?
SEAMLESS. Only the best gift god will ever give us. For those who don't know, it's a food delivery service
Meeting a wide range of very eclectic people
Being mistaken for a runner in the New York City Marathon, Heck Yes!
Realizing New Yorkers are SUPER friendly, fo rizzle
Enjoying Halloween in many parts of New York
Hot dogs from street carts
Always having the right away as a pedestrian. Cars worship the "Streetwalker"
Never having to worry about a sober driver!
Pop up street markets

Things I won't particularly miss, but won't necessarily regret being apart of.

Seeing the rotating exhibit at the MoMA, beyond weird!
Sleeping on some couches that might have had one too many infestations on them
Seeing a broader view of the drug world. That Shit is CRAY, and in case you didn't know, COC is whack!
Realizing that Tinder/Grinder and NYC are a match made in heaven. I'm still in the "I'll pass on grass" phase
Eating out for every meal
Having to carry several suitcases up and down walkups, brownstones, and pre-war buildings. Elevators are so not choice in NYC
Having to hear "It's SHOWTIME" on the subway. Those shows should only be reserved for the blind and deaf.
I loathed walking through any of the "fun" places an out-of-towner would enjoy, ie. Times Square, Herald's Square, Union Square. Just avoid ALL SQUARES and you'll be much happier.
Figuring out many coffee shops banned you from using electronic devices, lame sauce.
Working for two random businesses for a very short amount of time. I'm not a fan of a trial and error approach to a job.
Having to use my umbrella as a force field when walking down side streets in the rain. Cabs WILL spray you.
Getting hit on by AirBNB hosts and people interviewing me for jobs. Yes, what a great time to bring that up!
Having to carry around multiple shoes for every occasion
The temperature being too hot or too cold. Take a lesson from Goldilocks, please and thank you.
The cab fares between Manhattan and Brooklyn
Trying to buy a Halloween costume day of. P.S. Sex shops do turn into Halloween costume shops. WHOOPS, my bad.