Summer of Change

This summer marks the end of an era for me.

Mitchell and I are not renewing the lease for our Lowertown apartment. He may purchase a house closer to his job, and my boss approved an out-of-state move for me.

He’s keeping Hugo, and I’m taking Gunter.

Gunter the Chiweenie, who is thrilled that it is no longer freezing in Minnesota.

I’m still undecided of where to move.

My company specifically cleared me to move to California because we have offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California. I also have a lot of clients in both places.

Both San Francisco and Los Angeles seem insanely expensive. Do I overpay for a closet-apartment in a trendy area, or banish myself to the suburbs?

I’ll likely have to sign a lease based on pictures – what if I end up with another nightmare building? Will I end up in a terrible situation and wish that I kept my Minnesota lifestyle?

Nighttime dog walks around the Mississippi River in Lowertown, St. Paul.

Bottomless mimosas and magazines at Mason’s brunch in downtown Minneapolis.

Saaaaang.

A post shared by Dennis Jansen (@memosandmirth) on May 15, 2015 at 7:42pm PDT

Arnellia’s Nightclub in St. Paul, Minnesota.

And then there’s Florida.

I don’t have any clients in Miami, but it is close to family and I’m familiar with the neighborhoods. I could probably find something reasonable that isn’t completely roach infested, especially if I get a spot in Wilton Manors or Fort Lauderdale.

South Florida is definitely more in my comfort zone than California, but it may be a risky career move because Thomson Reuters doesn’t have an office there. What will a promotion look like for a remote worker?

Florida also presents some lifestyle changes – I can be outside year-round, but the city is way too expensive for the sprawling brunches and bar nights that I enjoy in Minnesota.

A girl passed out on the patio of Lush Food Bar in Northeast Minneapolis. Too many bottomless mimosas.

Eating solo in the Uptown Tavern in Minneapolis’s Uptown neighborhood.

Leaving Minnesota coincides with a quarter-life crisis of sorts.

I’m turning 29 in under two months and I’m trying to figure out what I want my lifestyle to look like in my 30s. Will I be a power gay? Will my career stagnate? Will I finally trade the Ketel One for Kettlebells?

I’m excited, but scared out of my mind. More to come!