Lessons from New Hampshire

I live in New Hampshire. It's been a year since I moved here, but I left out that vital piece of information in conversations. Many people assumed that I was still writing away from my office in New York. Whether it was due to the fact that leaving NY and moving here was too much to fathom or maybe I didn't want people to think that being in NH meant that I didn't have any say about NY fashion anymore, I am not sure. In any event, I have in fact spent the year in New Hampshire where my wonderful fiance lives with his fantastic 6 year old daughter, and our dog Elton.

Never in a million years did I think I would end up back in Brooklyn, but folks, we are heading that way. The lessons I have learned this year have been invaluable and it has also taught me that I am SO not in the drivers seat.

Though I was away from New York & Brooklyn, my love for fashion remained true. In the early part of the year I started to appreciate the L.L. Bean way of life with the signature Bean Boots and just how awesome a faded flannel looks on a casual day. There were days where I struggled to put on more than comfy pants and a tee, because I wasn't headed to any office in NoHo where I needed to look my best. There were days when Eric would come home and I would be crying because I was having a hard time adjusting to this new life. But alas, I picked up my pity pot and acted as if.



It's really beautiful up here in New Hampshire; the natural landscape paired with the crisp air is quite special. I appreciated the fact that we were an hour from the ski slopes, two hours from some breathtaking beaches in New England, and closer to my family. I have met new people who have taught me that there is something to be said for a simpler life. I figured I was meant for the city and needed to be running from meeting to meeting, coffee to coffee, 24/7 and 365. However, with my forced time away from all of that, I think I slowed down.

New York poses serious threat to my bank account because let's face it, I am deeply, madly in love with the world of fashion. Buying something kicks up some sort of high for me that I felt I needed to survive. When you are sober, there's not too many highs left and that's OK with me. But shopping is one of them, and I have really gone without this year. What a gift that has been; I am not my clothes, I am not my shoes, I am Kate, and that is enough. I forget that sometimes.

I am thrilled beyond words that we are heading back to Brooklyn, it's a feeling of going home. But now that I am leaving the place that scared the bejeseus out of me, I need to share my appreciation for it. I fell deeper in love here, I got engaged here, I met new people here and I have fond memories that I will take with me.

Here's to our new journey! I don't know what the future holds and frankly, I don't want to know. Happiness comes in all shapes and sizes, and I have never been let down with the roads I have traveled.