• After nearly 12 years in New York City, I felt like I needed a fresh start. • I got a job in Pittsburgh, excited to start my new life in the Midwest. • Pittsburgh wasn't what I'd hoped for, but it helped me realize where I truly belong: Los Angeles.

I was almost 33 years old, had $200 in my savings account, and had felt adrift in New York City for years. So in December of 2012, after almost 12 years in the big city, I packed up my tiny one-bedroom apartment and moved to Pittsburgh, excited to restart in the Midwest.

I grew up in Cleveland, only two hours from my Shadyside neighborhood in Pittsburgh. (Well, only 80 minutes depending on how quickly I drove on the turnpike, but please don't tell my mom.) While the catalyst for my move was mainly for a big Copy Director job at a fashio

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