When I first started writing about my time here on the West Coast, I vowed to give it a solid chance, to do my best not to compare it to NYC and to really just make a life here. And I truly feel like I have put so much energy into doing that – which hasn’t been hard because Vegas, and everyone I’ve met here, is actually pretty awesome.
But I’ve been here for 7 weeks now (O.M.G.) and had a realization this weekend – while I’ve set an intention to commit to living here, I haven’t totally acted on it yet. I love my friends from home more than anything in the world, but in some ways, making nightly phone calls to people back home and having lots of visitors has made it a little harder to REALLY connect with my new life. The friends who have visited from the East Coast have all been amazing, low maintenance and helped so much with my transition. But it’s like I’ve been on vacation since I moved. A really, really awesome vacation with some of the people I love most. But a vacation nonetheless.
Now it’s time for reality. I want to make friends here, learn more about the local hidden gems and stay home and watch TV once in the while. Fine, scratch that part. But it’s more about building a routine, something that makes me feel grounded and present, HERE.
Aside from a work trip to LA next week and 7 days in NYC for Thanksgiving, I’m going to stay put. There will be loneliness and I’ll surely be begging my friends from home to come see me, to ease any anxiety about my new life. And I will love when they come. But I’m ready to really, truly be a Las Vegan.
Going Confidently 
Casey,
You will have no problem planting roots but the only way to do that is to have that time alone…. to stumble onto something great, to meet someone and have the time to grab dinner, and to explore a bit. You can’t live with one foot in and one foot out, I agree. So be your sparkly self and the line will form outside your door!