What do you do after college when your lease ends and you're still unemployed?
Answer: Move home.
I'm moving back to Massachusetts in a week. I'll continue the job hunt from my parent's house, where the lodging is free and they don't mind if I eat all the food, provided I cook dinner every now and then. To be honest, this isn't the worst thing in the world. Summer at home on the pond is close to heaven, and I'm looking forward to 3 more family-filled weeks of summer before Labor Day.
Before I ditch DC, I thought it would be amusing to do a little reflection-by-the-numbers on the time I spent here...
Years spent in DC [off-and-on]: 4
Different DC residences: 4
Bloated dead squirrels removed from water-filled trash barrels at said residences: 1
DC parking permits that are still on my car: 3
DC parking permits that were ridiculously overpriced: 2
Times I felt homicidal when driving in Northern Virginia: a good many
Illegal left turns taken this City That Forbids 90% of All Left Turns: a few, I will admit
Times I got stuck on Clara Barton Parkway because I forgot about the whole "one way during rush hour" thing: 1
Smartrip cards used: 2 [RIP Smartrip loaded with $20 that I lost during junior year]
Times I threw up on the metro: 0, which is more than most AU students can say
Longest metro wait time- 30 minutes
Yoga studios I tried before I found one I liked: 5
Hiking trips taken: lots
Races run in DC: 3
Times I ran from Dupont Circle to AU before realizing that running straight uphill for 3 miles is idiotic: 1
Times I feared for my life while biking in traffic: every single damn time
Rail trails utilized for biking: 3
Pizzas, salads and beers consumed at my favorite neighborhood restaurant: an embarrassingly high number
Loaves of bread and sandwiches purchased from the Bethesda's most delicious bakery: countless
Friends I will miss: many
Length of time until I return to DC: yet undetermined
this is exactly what I did, and there is nothing shameful about it. my lease ended on July 1st, so I've spent the last few weeks of summer at home in Vermont with my family. I gave up some independence and the convenience of city life, but the free meals and my parent's Netflix account makes up for some of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm on round TWO of moving back in with my parents. Although it bites, have no shame. The economy sucks, and your bank account needs coddling. Save money, build your resume, and be able to live like a human (and not like a homeless person) when you finally move out.
ReplyDeletei love this! moving back in with your parents won't be so bad (we'll talk soon). good luck!
ReplyDeleteI also can relate to moving back with the rents. It is hard to give up the independence, but i am grateful, and you learn to live for the perks. Even if they are few and far between.
ReplyDeleteI should have done something like that. It's really interesting to reflect upon a life somewhere in terms of numbers. It feels like thousands of minutes since I've lived there, and it probably has been.
ReplyDeleteHope MA is treating you well.