#nyctosf

So I have a confession.  I had stopped my "100 days of writing" fifty days in.  But a week ago I started it up again.  So as my puppy basks in the sun and entertains himself with a dried up pig ear,  I wrote this.  Enjoy! ‪#‎AnotherLongAssPost‬

Day 59 of 100 days of writing – 12/11/2015

Home.  

They say when one finally leaves home, their appreciation for where they grew up increases ten fold.   For me,  it’s about a million fold.   Three years ago I left The Bay Area and California for the big badass dream making New York City.  I left for so many reasons: love for a guy, a dream in my heart, a hope to experience a bigger world, and to get out of my comfort zone.   I’ve done so much in only three years in New York City.  I’ve broken up with said “guy”.  I’ve premiered my one-woman show at the International New York Fringe Festival.  I’ve gotten positive theater reviews.  I’ve sold out shows.  I’ve gotten an industry manager.  I’ve gone on countless auditions.  I’ve booked a handful of lucrative gigs.  I’ve quit four daytime hustle jobs because I finally became a full-time actor.  I’ve gone on a $500 dinner date at the French restaurant “The Modern”.  I’ve experienced Fashion Week and all the post party craziness.  I’ve served brunch to Louis CK, met JLaw and partied with Scary Spice.   I don’t regret my choice to expand my horizons.  In fact,  I think EVERYONE should move to New York City at least once in their lives.   But despite all of the things I’ve experienced in New York…like Ms. Dorothy Ann says, “There’s no place like home”.  

There are no feelings of comfort in a city like New York.  There’s money and hustle and drive and millions of people.   There is no clean fresh coastal air or Redwood trees or miles of sandy beaches or rolling hills of green.   There is lots of smog and an hour ride to Coney Island or Jones Beach or The NY Botanical Gardens.   There is no familiarity for me in New York City.  There are new experiences and spontaneous adventures and secret speakeasies.    There are no close family bonds in New York City.  There is my aunt and two cousins who live two hours away in New Jersey.   And despite all my new New York friends and a couple of besties, there is no feeling of constant access to the close and loyal friends who can just hang out at a drop of a dime…because either NY friends are way too busy or they live way too far via the subway system.    

San Francisco, despite it’s current culture sucking facelift by the tech companies and Mayor Ed Lee, still has the spirit of an open armed, energy healing aunt who’s seen it all and despite all the shit you’ve gone through…she’ll always be there for you with sage burning, a plate of warm organic gluten free special brownies and a tall glass of soy milk.   New York on the other hand is the super rich aunt who makes you clean her full floor penthouse suite in exchange for a meal at “Per Se” and has you sleep on the floor in the living room to help you build character.  

After three winters in New York, I’ve built a lot of character, hustled a ton and have a sore back.   New York has been the greatest thing I decided to do in my entire life.  I know my time in NYC isn’t over but with the temperature dropping and the gas bill rising, I made the decision to come back to San Francisco for a couple of months.  Come back to the comforts of home.  Come back to experience the age my nieces, nephews and godchildren are now before their “too cool” for their crazy Auntie Nikki.    Come back to establish a bond between myself and my mom’s new Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy.  Come back to meditate amongst the Redwoods and along the coast of California.  Come back to special brownies at Dolores Park and BOGO deals at my local medical club.  Come back to friends who know exactly how to set me straight and make me burst into laughter with just one word.  Come back to my community of badass Bindlestiff artists who do this acting, writing, directing, and creative thing simply because they just love it and their community.  Come back to family who support and love me 10000000%.