I <3 T.O.
- At May 17, 2009
- By Cassandra
- In The Real World
2
I don’t know to explain it, but whenever I’m in Toronto I feel like I’m home. I don’t even have a place in Toronto anymore, but I can walk around downtown for hours and be completely content. There are some bad memories, but I don’t have to think about them, and there’s something about the hustle-bustle that feeds my soul.
I love my family, but I wasn’t ready to come back home. I don’t know if it was a mistake, but it doesn’t feel like home to me now. Although I ended a romantic relationship, I didn’t end my relationship with the city. My heart is in Toronto and has been for the last 10 years.
Even being in the TalentEgg office again, almost in my old spot, with all the other young, fun people that make the company so amazing, was invigorating and energized me more than I’ve felt in a long time. It was a little surreal and my mind was elsewhere at times, feeling a little sorry for myself that I’m not part of the team every single day.
So, although my first pay cheque is practically already spent and I haven’t even cashed it yet (dresser from Ikea, spay Sahara, pay line of credit and credit cards, hopefully have a bit of fun and buy some clothes I feel good in…), I know my goal is to move to Toronto as soon as it makes financial sense.
I still need to make a budget, decide how much of my student debt I’d like to pay off and then stick to it for a while, but that’s not too hard when I barely leave my house for about a week at a time, the fridge and cupboards are stocked with food and I don’t pay any room and board.
Fingers crossed. Well, actually, it’s not going to involve any luck, just hard work and discipline.
Nina
I definitely think you’ve made a smart choice. I know it’s hard living at home in your 20s. Esp. if you’re living in a city you don’t really fit in.
But a friend of mind, who’s our age, and also from Cambridge, graduated at the end of last summer from York (and when she was in school she was always working crazy hours and on the verge of breakdown). Now she’s working a full time job and two part time jobs so she can have her apartment, pay down her loans, and have a life.
She’s constantly on the verge of breakdown. She constantly has money problems. I house sat for her and I remember debt collection agencies leaving messages on her answering machine.
One of the many times she was super stressed, I suggested to her that maybe she go back to Cambridge for a bit to help her with her finances. She’s pretty stubborn about staying in Toronto. But she’s stressed to the max and I’m concerned if it’s really worth it.
Cassandra
Yikes. Well I think that could potentially be me if I chose to live in Toronto. I stress hardcore about money all the time and, as much as it sucks to live here, you’re right, I made the smart choice. It’s not the most fun choice, but it was smart and a much more sensible, older me will probably look back and say, “It was worth it.” I hope.
I hope your friend can see that too.