What brought you to NYC? Did you always want to live there?
It’s surprising to me that I ended up here as I never ever thought I would actually move to NYC. I’d always been intrigued by it (I am a dancer and followed the arts scene). In graduate school, I got the chance to study and do an internship here. I decided to go for it. I was about to start a life transition anyways, so what did I have to lose? My plan was to give it a try and leave at the end of the semester if I wasn’t happy. Turned out that I really liked it here. Everyday feels like an adventure, and my first few years were very hard, but I made it work and have grown so much in the process.
How do you live in Manhattan and maintain the lifestyle that you do on a nonprofit job salary?
My secret to making it work—budgeting and networking. Every single dollar I make gets assigned to an expense. I use a budgeting program called You Need A Budget that I am obsessed with. Budgeting helps me plan for upcoming things in NYC that I want to do, but I’m not able to regularly afford (like seeing a Broadway show, having a nice dinner out, taking a trip, etc). Basically I plan ahead. My thought is I won’t live in the City forever, so I want to do those fun things that make NYC the kind of place it’s known for. My other secret is networking. The only reason I have the job I have now is because I was recommended for it. That was the big positive of working multiple part-time jobs my first few years here: I got a lot of experience at other organizations. I worked very hard at each job and made great contacts along the way.
I have always wanted to move to NYC. What advice would you give me?
Before arriving, I’d recommend setting a clear set of goals for yourself. In your first few weeks, it’s incredibly easy to get wrapped up in the magic of the City. When I first moved, having the goals list really helped me to stay focused and keep working toward what I wanted. Secondly, find a support system. For me, that meant making friends that I could lean on during the adjustment period. I made a great friend who’d already had over five years experience in the City. She was kind enough to act as my guide during my first year here. Thirdly, just do it! I know it’s scary and a huge risk, but take comfort in knowing that you can always leave if it’s not the right fit. I have never met someone who moved here, left and regretted taking the chance.
How do you work full time and stay creatively motivated?
It took finding an office job that also energizes me. I freelanced for a while when I first moved to NYC and I got to test out different work environments and positions. I found this investigation helpful. I’m with an arts nonprofit now and love that I get to work on behalf of artists all day. It’s incredibly motivating for my creative life. I also block out times for writing and relaxing ( and Netflix!). Yes, it’s hard to stay disciplined and sometimes I don’t want to write. But I find that once I pick up the pen and paper, even if it ends up being just a few sentences, I’m still exercising that creative part of me. Finally, exercising consistently has helped me too. I can work off the office stress and have more time to focus on my creative life.
Do you have any book recommendations?
Why yes I do! My top five are: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer; Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk; The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice; and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.
Would you try online dating again and if so, what resources would you suggest?
I had a great experience with online dating and would try it again. It’s such a personal process, and I think everyone’s experience is different, so I’d encourage you to give it a chance. You can always take your profile down! I recommend picking up this book Love at First Click by Laurie Davis. It’s a sort of go to guide on how to date online and will help you figure out which sites are best for you, how to write a profile and online date safely.
I read that you’re writing a book. When will it be published?
Yes, I am writing a fiction novel and have been working on it for a few years. The first draft is finished, and I’m editing it now. I’ll just be glad if it gets published—no timeline in mind!
Are there any housing sites you recommend in NYC?
Yes, there are two that I like and search on from time to time. The first is actually a Facebook group called Gypsy Housing. A lot of artists who go on tour post on the group, so it’s great for finding short-term sublets. The second is a website called Naked Apartments. The search function can get super specific, which I like a lot.
