It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost a year since I sent out the first The Beau Yorker newsletter. The world has changed a lot since then. I’ve changed a lot, too, and I’m willing to bet you’ve gone through a change or two yourself.
The more I settle into life in the South, the more I question whether or not I actually belong here. When we set out on this new adventure, we didn’t have a timeframe in mind. We found a house online in a town we’d never been to, toured it virtually with a local real estate agent named Maurice, and made an offer which, to our surprise, was actually accepted.
The rest, as they say, is history.
The first summer we were here, we were swept up into fantasy of the whole thing. After 14 years of apartment living, including two years of a global pandemic in a one-bedroom apartment, preceded by four years of college/roommates before that, our first home, with three whole bedrooms and a fenced-in yard, felt like a dream come true. The fact that the house is pink was a bonus.
The problem with dreams is that, eventually, you wake up. And in this case, once the reality set in that we are outsiders, damn Yankees no less, living in a red state with no connections or roots or familial ties has been a bit of a wake-up call.
Don’t get me wrong, we’ve managed to make a good life here. We’ve found a tight-knit community of friends comprised largely of fellow city defectors and other “outsiders” (Northerners) in search of a different way of life.
There’s no bodega to quench my frequent BEC (bacon, egg, and cheese) cravings, and if I’m being totally honest, the bagels aren’t that great here. But we have found our niche and our people. Saturday’s at the Port Royal Farmers Market. Coffee at Urban Brew. Special occasions at Old Bull Tavern. Sushi at Locals Raw Bar. Sunday beers at Shellring, preferably post-Barre class. And if we’re really going all out, the tasting menu and wine pairing at Blacksheep. More than just places we go to grab a bite, we’ve come to know the people at these places on a first-name basis, and that’s something I’m proud of and that I’ve never had before moving here.
Still, I can’t help but feel like something’s missing. I crave those perfectly brisk fall days in New York and getting together with my friends on a random Tuesday for no other reason than to kvetch and talk about all the things happening in our jobs and our lives. I miss a good slice of pizza, long, boozy brunches, and the day-to-day hustle and minutiae that city life affords. I used to tell people you really have to want to live in New York. It’s expensive, and the day-to-day hustle can grind you down. But the adrenaline rush of being there and making it happen for yourself and persevering is inexplicably the most rewarding experience and sense of accomplishment I’ve ever felt.
The grass is always greener, and we don’t know what the future holds here. Maybe it’s just a bad case of imposter syndrome. I’m still feeling the effects of my latest bout with Covid last month, which really knocked the wind out of my 35+ year-old sails. I’ll figure it out. I always do. Maybe a quick trip back up to the city is just what the doctor ordered.
In the meantime, here’s what else I’ve cooking this month:
Newly published stories
Here are a few of my recently published stories! Stay tuned for a few stories I filed recently for the NYPost, Robb Report, Elite Traveler, and TripAdvisor!
Upcoming Trips and Assignments:
I’m working on a few holiday-centric stories and destination guides and am planning a few trips to the following places over the next few weeks:
Charleston —> New York City (November)
Savannah —> Northern Italy (November)
Santa Barbara —> Las Vegas —> Deer Valley—> San Diego (December)
Turks and Caicos (TBD/ late December or early January)
That’s all for now. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy November, and I’ll be back with a few new stories and a year in review in early December!
Ciao for now!
Michelle
Island Bagels in Bluffton is about as good as it gets for bagels - and, as a former NYer now living in the lowcountry, they really are 👍🏼
Hi Michelle
Loved reading your story. New York is a great place to visit, but sounds like you are home in Beaufort? I didn’t see Florida on your list of travel places! Keep up the good work, looking forward to hearing about your next trips!
Sherrie