Early on in this blog I pointed out that I try not to say “I miss you” because that statement implies that I am not happy about my current state in life. That general sentiment goes beyond just people. It applies to places as well. For a large part of my time in New Orleans I’ve had a general sense of New York longing, and don’t get me wrong, there are still things about New York that I wish were present here in New Orleans—lots of things. However, there is a difference between wishing that certain aspects of New Orleans would get better, things which just so happen to be good in New York, and wishing that I was in New York.  The longer I’ve been in New Orleans, the less I have had that active longing to be in New York. Part of this is undoubtedly the mere effect of being away from something for a long time. On the other hand, a large part of this is my rebuilding my social life here in New Orleans to rival what it was up north. It’s not quite there yet, but my social health is light years ahead of where it was 2 to 2.5 years ago and much more resilient than it was 3 years ago. It has been for a little while, but the pace at which it is getting better has been quickening and quickening.

     I spent today doing school work, tutoring a buddy, responding to emails regarding grad school from various folk, and then gamming the final hours of the evening and day away at Handsome Willy’s with an awesome lady friend I met a few weeks ago. Perhaps that meeting is what had all my attention, but I came away feeling that I had an extraordinarily awesome day and that I had not once “missed” New York. As a matter of fact, it’s been a number of weeks since I’ve had any feelings of “missing” NYC, and even then, those feelings were just because I had a friend from NYC visit and then leave. I can’t have physical pieces of the Big Apple ripping its way into my Big Easy universe and tearing up any scabs of closure that had begun to form without some sort of effect. In general though, I’m pretty happy here in NOLA. It’s been a fantastic and freeing experience to learn that I can pick up and move to a completely foreign place, put down new roots, and create a new and fulfilling life for myself. Well, I still haven’t done that financially for myself, but I’m getting there. Baby steps, haha.

     In any case, despite New Orleans being one of the most unsustainable places in our country, and despite it having more than its fair share of problems, I think I’d be content living here. It’s not exactly rocket science, but it’s definitely one’s personal contacts and connections that give a city meaning and fill a place with joy and good memories (or they play a major role in this IMO). It’s bittersweet that I’ll be leaving this place so shortly after I began to tap into the true beauty of the land: the people that can be found here. The people; and their accents; and the warmth from a kind New Orleanian calling you “baby” in the way that only they can; and the hilarity of “the dozens” here, with their “you ole’ ____” phrasings; and the laid back character of the place which, although diluted by the influx of others (myself included at times), I still very much appreciate; and so many other intangibles that I haven’t yet thought of how to coherently express.

     Time, of course, waits for no one, so even if I am late to the game, I’ll just have to make the best of my remaining days here, soaking up all the city has to offer. Because in the end, even though I don’t know where I’ll be headed after my undergrad career is done, I do know that I won’t be saying “I miss New Orleans.” At least not for long.