#46: putting down roots...but where?

So I've been here in the UK about 6 weeks now and I literally just unpacked my suitcases. I'm not sure what took me this long. It might have been just plain laziness or me trying not to get too settled.

The UK seems to be someplace that I could actually enjoy living permanently which leads me to my big decision. Which side of the Atlantic do I really want to be on?

I keep flip-flopping on this. For a while it seemed like I would definitely prefer to stay here and then for the past few days I thought I'd be better off back in the US. Even an hour ago, I was telling Billy that I'm 90% sure I'll return to New York.

And now somehow, I'm not sure again. This is driving me insane.

It'd be much easier if I hated either NY or London. The problem is that I don't. I see them both as cities that I could very easily live in.

Pros on the NY side are well, it's fricking New York City!
Although, it's fricking London!

But also, my company is headquartered in NY and it's always a good idea to be close to the center of power. There's also all of the friends that I've made in my time there.

Not to mention that there's an actual summer where it's actually hot unlike the weird summers in London that seem stuck in the high 60s/low 70s from what I've heard.

London has the advantage of being close to all of Europe which is hard to ignore. Weekends in France or Amsterdam. Trips to Spain. It all sounds so amazing.

Then there's the you know...very significant fact that MY SISTER and some of my extended family live here unlike the US where I have no close family although I do think of my friends as family.

I guess it's not really about the location so much as it is "What is the best opportunity which puts me on the right career path?"

Unfortunately I'm finding it hard to exclude the location from my thoughts.

Not that it makes it easier by including it. It actually makes it harder because both cities have things about them that I love.

I think part of the problem is that I'm trying to make this decision without understanding completely what my job role would be in either location. It's like putting the chicken before the egg.

This is a decision that not only impacts my career but also changes my entire life. It's as big a decision as deciding to leave the Caribbean to go to school in the US 3 years ago.

I've done my fair share of moving around but this is it. Wherever I decide to be, I'm ready to put down some roots.