Will I Ever Stop Being a Tourist?

I'm coming up on my one-year residential anniversary with this city, and yet just this morning I was snapping away pictures right alongside the tourists in their Harvard and “I’m the real Green Monster” t-shirts. I was walking along the outskirts of the Common, rushing to the Park Street station to get to my lunch meeting at least somewhat on time, when I looked to my left at the picturesque Massachusetts State House with the golden dome (that is covered in real 23k gold leaf, as I remember from my duck tour eleven years ago) and decided I couldn’t pass without taking a picture. What a tourist.

But I do this quite a lot. And I justify my frequent trips to American Eagle and Urban Outfitters because they’re located in Quincy Market, and the H&M is mere steps away from the old state house. So obviously I should be spending time in these historic places, no?

One of my favorite things to do downtown is to see how long I can walk on the Freedom Trail inconspicuously. I mean take each step right on that wide red line—without mowing down little children who get in my way.

At least I find a way to have fun every day, even if it makes me no better than a tourist. I like to think I see the good in things and try not to take even the simple little joys for granted.

“If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.”

(I’m not sure who first said this, but it’s on a lot of yoga and meditation websites…)

And vitamin gummies? Best invention ever.

The Grass is Always Greener: Things I Miss and Will Miss

Things I miss from home...

-food. real food. from a kitchen. made on a stove or in the oven.

-space. for clothes, shoes, coats, books, food, a sock monkey, myself, and my sanity.

-a refrigerator that's larger than a hamster cage.

-did I mention food?

-my clothes. I've worn the same 8 outfits for 68 days now.

-nice people. Are friendly salesclerks/waiters a Midwestern thing... or just a non-New Yorker thing?

-nature. I know I pretend to be allergic to "the outdoors" once in a while, but I really do like nature. And now I miss it terribly. I don't like concrete.

Things I'm going to miss from the city...

-Banush plain cheesecake. Cream-colored heaven on a plate.

-$2.50 NY style huge slices of pizza just a block away.

-an excuse to go buy said pizza slices three (or more) times a week.

-cinnamon raisin Europan bagels, toasted with cream cheese.

-a never-ending list of things I want to see or do in the area.

-keeping an eye out for famous people.

-Central Park.

-the cute restaurant in Little Italy with the best $7.50 lasagna I've ever had.