Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Like clockwork...


Having two homes, having a life and your heart on two different continents sounds like a dream life to many people but it's not as wonderful as it sounds. I've been living a "double life" for over 10 years now and while it does have its perks, it also has some downsides.

For the past 3-4 years I've been spending winters in my beloved New York City (for work) and then migrating back to Rome for the rest of the year. Every year, like clockwork, when November rolls around I begin to dread the idea of packing up and heading to NYC: I feel so comfortable in Rome, I don't want to miss out on the autumn fun, I don't want to face the cold East coast winters, etc. Once I arrive, it usually takes me a good 4-5 days to feel fully settled and at home. AND every year, like clockwork, when February/March roll around I begin to dread the idea of heading back to Rome: I feel so comfortable in NYC, life is so easy and convenient, I begin questioning my decision to live in Rome, my life there, my future there, etc.


Both places feel like home. Both places have pros and cons. Do I have the best of both worlds? Or am I complicating my life unnecessarily?

2 comments:

J.Doe said...

My vote is that you have the best of both worlds. I bet many Romans (and Italians) are jealous of any salary you earn in your time in NYC and the lifestyle it allows you to live while in Italy.

Romerican said...

Thanks J. Doe! Though I don't know how enviable my life really is: my time in NYC is mainly spent working on a 12-week gig then I go back to Rome and start working my "real" job. So it's a lot of work on both continents, though the American pay is much better (of course!)