Do you wanna roll the dice?

I haven't posted in quite some time. I realized this weekend while having breakfast with a friend that I don't like posting during transitional periods in my life. I can openly say that I've been going through one for a while. If not just during this summer, for the last year, maybe even two. To demonstrate some of the changes that have taken place since my birthday, my working and living situations:

May 2 - Working for a major children's/family entertainment company in New York City, making a very respectable amount of money for an entry-level position. About to sign a $1500 a month lease for a studio apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. No plans to move back Upstate.

August 22 - A full-time MBA student at SUNY Albany. Working back in retail, making less than half per hour of what I was. Moving September 1 to a $830 per month one bedroom in the Center Square Neighborhood of Albany (Lark Street and Washington Park). The apt includes two off street parking spaces.

Also in that time period I went to the Dominican Republic for a week with my entire extended family. A wonderful time. I realized that I have been fortunate enough to do a fair share of traveling in the past few years outside the country. I enjoy seeing new things and experiences, and hope to do more time permitting in the future.

I volunteered for a week at Camp Fowler. It was a fantastic week with the AAA campers. A much different experience than being a staff member. After volunteering, I realized that I made such a wise choice by not applying for staff again this summer. I don't think I would have fit in, and my life wouldn't be where it is now.

And where is it now? I'd like to say in a much better place than it had been in. I liked New York. I still do. But it wasn't for me. I noted last year that I wanted to go to New York to stretch my comfort zone. I did.

I learned a great deal about what I want out of a job, living situation, community, etc. That's why I think Upstate New York, or the Capital District in specific is a better fit for me. While talking with someone in the MBA program today, they exclaimed how much they like this area, and not just because they are from here. I couldn't agree with them more.