I caught up with my dear friend who prefers to stay anonymous. She is a Nuyorican living in the South. She was born and raised in Brooklyn and has lived all her life in New York City. She decided to retire from her job as an ophthalmic technician and is currently living in the South.
1. What motivated you to move out of NYC?
I left my native New York City less than a year ago because I wanted a change of life and a different environment. I needed to do it for my well-being.
2. What was the deciding factor on when to retire? It was a personal decision. I truly needed to decide due to a toxic work environment. There was one individual that I was working with which was a very difficult personality type. I had a demanding and stressful workload. I feel it was just time for me to make a change in my life and I’m very happy that I did.
3. How are you enjoying your retirement? I feel shaken up. This is unfamiliar territory. I’ve never lived in the South before. I also feel it’s a new and strange experience. I wake up and I feel like I should be doing something other than being in bed. I actually like working but at this point of my life, I do need a mental break.
4. What do you miss the most about NYC? What I love about New York City is the excitement, the energy, and the ambiance. It’s the city that never stops and I really miss that. I was the life of the party, the rockstar. I was free. I also did everything I wanted to do in New York City. It was a very freeing time in my life.
5. Do you have any new hobbies? I have taken up gardening and I just love being in nature. I love having that respect for nature, a true reverence. I truly enjoy my new hobby. I love the brand-new baby plants. I want to nurture the plants as I take care of them. I feel good knowing that I’m growing something when it comes to nature. There is a world out there that wants to sustain you and that makes me feel at peace with myself. There are other hobbies that I would like to try such as getting into fitness and diet. I want to rediscover self-care. Taking care of myself is part of my journey with my new lifestyle.
6. How does moving to the south change your view on life?
I moved three times in my life. This time was one of the riskiest moves because I had no idea how to blend in with the people. I am a city person and moving to the south is definitely a change of ambiance, but it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I am now a Southern gal.
7. What do you enjoy the most about your new lifestyle?
I enjoy living generously without regrets or fear. Fear just makes you afraid of tomorrow, but it has no power because tomorrow is neither here nor lived. It has not happened yet, so why are you worried? Don’t be fearful.
8. What would you tell your younger self?
Trust your instincts. If your gut tells you that someone or something is off. Trust it.
