Las Vegas: The Next Chapter

It’s official: my boyfriend Tim and I are moving to Las Vegas, NV!

Photo courtesy of lasvegas.com

It probably comes as a surprise to many, as it’s very obvious how much we both love Los Angeles. I would live in LA forever if I could. However, this decision has been long-coming. Back in September (not even a full year ago), we had made the decision to move to Phoenix, AZ. We visited, found a place, I interviewed for a job, and we had a moving date set. I only told a few people, and I’m glad it was only a few- Tim and I decided not to move to AZ after all (for me, I wasn’t ready to leave LA, and Phoenix didn’t feel right at the time). However, the idea of moving had stayed in our minds for quite some time.

Fast forward to March of this year. We fell on some tough times. Tim finished school, which was a big source of income thanks to the GI Bill. While he continued working his courier job, I found it difficult to find a full-time job. LA just isn’t the place to (generally) start your career. I either didn’t have the experience or the right degree for many of the jobs I looked at. I’ve also been in the process of filing for disability (for bipolar disorder). It’s very difficult for me to work a full-time job due to the unpredictable episodes I experience. There will be times when I can’t get out of bed for a day (or longer), times when it’s very hard to shower, and times when I need to take weeks, or even months, off work. There’s also the episodes of mania, when I’m very impulsive, reckless, and dangerous.

With LA’s ever-increasing cost of living, Tim and I decided it was time for our next chapter.

The #1 thing we want to do in our lives is travel. When I’m on my deathbed, I won’t be thinking about the things I’ve owned, the tedious day-to-day life that is so accepted by so many. I’ll be thinking of the experiences I’ve had. Don’t get me wrong, many people love and thrive on that kind of work (office jobs, 9-5s, things like that), and we obviously need them for society to keep going. But I’ve known in my soul since I was in grade school that I was not meant for a life like that. There’s a quote from the book Walden by Henry David Thoreau that has stuck with me throughout the many years since I’ve read it,

Most men, even in this comparatively free country, through mere ignorance and mistake, are so occupied with the factitious cares and superfluously coarse labors of life that its finer fruits cannot be plucked by them.

What I take that to mean is that we’re so preoccupied with our day-to-day lives, that we often forget to truly live. And that’s where I’m stuck. They say to live each day like it’s your last, and if it was, would you be happy with how it was spent? I recognize that not every day is going to be amazing, but I also recognize that I’m not trying my best, and life is meant to be lived happily. While I know it’s a bit more challenging for me to feel happy often (due to bipolar disorder), I do believe pure happiness is real and I believe I can feel it more frequently if I’m living a life I love.

With all that being said, Vegas isn’t our last stop. Truthfully, it’s not even a destination. It’s a stepping stone. Vegas provides a much cheaper cost of living than LA. Tim can still work there with his courier job, I can continue to write for Locale Magazine, and we’re still within 4 hours driving distance of LA. By saving money, we’re able to have more choices. Financial struggles are such a huge cause of stress, and it’s not a way to live. It’s sad, stressful, and demeaning. I’m choosing not to live this way anymore.

By saving money, we’ll be able to travel. While I’m sure there are people who don’t support our decisions, we feel in our hearts that this is what we want to do. And it’s entirely possible! My aunt and uncle, upon retirement, sold their house, bought an RV, and now travel the continent. Yes, it’s a bit different because they’re in retirement, but they ignored the negative comments and followed their dream. They’re been traveling for at least 10 years, and I’ve never seen 2 people so happy in my life.

This quote pretty much sums up exactly how I feel, and why Tim and I are moving on:

I don’t owe anyone an explanation, but I love you all and I felt this was the easiest way to answers the questions our friends and families have. 🙂 Tim and I are really excited, and I can’t wait to share about our lives in Las Vegas with you! You best bet I’ll have posts about the parks, attractions, and awesome events happening in LV.

Thank you for reading & for your continued support!

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