I Dream of Living in a Big City

I’m a girl in my 20s in Northern California, and I’m bored to death here. I’ve lived in the same town my whole life. My city is so boring, I’ve been standing on street corners with a sign that says “Honk If You Fart” just to make people laugh and talk to strangers. It’s probably the most exciting thing that’s ever happened here haha. I feel suffocated and trapped here. Recently, I went on a solo trip to Tokyo, and it really solidified the fact that I need to move out into a big city ASAP. I feel like I miss out on so much by not living in a bigger city. The FOMO is huge and I’m becoming depressed. I love music, alternative fashions, weird and fun people, art, good food, etc. It sucks having to drive over an hour just to go to the club or a concert. (I’m a nervous driver and it’s exhausting) Every time I’m down in the city (SF) I feel so happy to be able to just walk around and be surrounded by other people. I love talking to strangers and people watching. I’m honestly just happy to sit around somewhere like Mission Dolores park and be surrounded by other human beings. I also just got a camera and street photography is SO FUN. I would like to live somewhere with a lot of other young people and artists to connect with. 

In my town, I could go to the town square and see maybe like 5 other people. I struggle to make friends here. I’m trying to go on daily walks to stay active, but it’s lonely and boring walking around in a quiet neighborhood I’ve lived in for 24 years with nothing new or exciting to see. I feel like my town is mostly a place people go to retire or settle down and have a family. Recently, an article came out in the local paper saying our city was one of the least fun in the entire USA. The most exciting things to do here are wine tasting, the mall, or the movies. I try to make the most of it, and go to local music shows and stuff whenever I can, but lately I’ve been getting depressed about how much I hate it here, and I’ve been doing nothing but going to work and coming home and playing video games. Overall, I feel like I will never reach my full potential here and I’ll just rot away. My brain is screaming at me to get out of here, and my gut is telling me moving away will make me happy.

I’m thinking about moving to LA or San Diego, though I’m leaning more towards San Diego just because the idea of driving in LA every day scares me haha. I know the only thing holding me back from moving is myself. I live with my parents and I’m really close with them. My mom and I are like best friends. They are really supportive and offered to help with whatever I need, and that I’m always welcome to come home if it doesn’t work out. I would really miss them and my dog. I’m also scared of being broke, since I just have a high school education, even though I’ve saved up a decent amount of money. I’m thinking about aiming to move out by winter 2025. Ideally, my boyfriend will come with me, but if not, I will go by myself because I can’t wait any longer. Anyways, thanks for reading this if ya did, and hopefully some other people out there feel the same.

TLDR: My town is boring. Wanna move out to somewhere exciting but I'm scared to be broke and will miss my family.