Making the Internet My Accountability Partner

On June 1, 2022, I had everything packed into a U-haul and drove myself 8 hours north to Boston Massachusetts. I had already signed a lease to move into an apartment on June 15th and I had a job, my first job post-graduation, starting June 13th. Until then I was spending nights on an air mattress in my best friend’s bedroom and days wandering Boston trying to find free things to do.

In the early weeks of summer with nothing on your plate, it is so easy to fall in love with the city. Once in the routine of work and life, it can be hard to find time to nurture that connection and gratitude of place. For me, one big factor has been the change of location. My best friend’s apartment was in a neighborhood called Brighton. It was a quick subway ride into downtown, so that was where I spent my time and nurtured that connection to Boston. However, I have since moved into our apartment in a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. It’s now harder to get downtown and feel that connection. Of course, I then ask myself why do I feel like my neighborhood is less a part of Boston than downtown?

A large part of that has to do with 1) my conception of city life and 2) the reality of the situation. When I picture being in my early 20s in a large city I have very movie-esque images with iconic skyline backdrops. I imagine the hustle and bustle of crowded sidewalks with something new and fun to do every night. However, that’s not the reality for me and it’s not the reality for the vast majority of people who live in large cities. The area where I live is very residential and despite being in Boston city limits still feels fairly suburban. There are no fancy high rises, there isn’t the wealth of restaurants, attractions, and nightlife that I picture as city life. It very much is everyday people going about their normal lives.

In many ways, I’m grateful for the area where I live. This apartment feels like home and rent is cheap enough that even with inflation raising monthly costs, I can still afford to sign on for another year, and likely more to come. I have relatively quick access by bus to natural spaces, a library, a grocery store, a pharmacy, and a farmer’s market. Now that I have a car, I have expanded my access to bulk stores, state parks, and loved ones who live out of state without having to deal with city traffic.

I have been through so many changes since I moved to Boston, but my love for this city, anchored by my stability on the outskirts, has only grown. Ironically June 1st, my anniversary of moving to Boston, will be spent hiking outside of the city to celebrate National Trails Day and preparing to drive down to Maryland on Sunday, June 2, so I can work from Maryland for the week and see my cousin graduate high school next weekend.