I’m spending a lot of time thinking about my relationship to cities. I didn’t grow up in a big one, and I have lived in places of varying sizes since then. My current home is by far the smallest of all. This is not where I expected to be as a 35 year old gay man? Particularly not as a single one? However, I’m really happy in Virginia! I love my community, the scenery, and my peace.

And yet, there are things I really miss about cities! I’ve been walking so much and planning so many different experiences. Tonight I’m going to see two silent films with live accompaniment for free! If I feel up to it afterwards, I’m going to walk the 3 miles back to my place. It’ll take me through Alexanderplatz and by the Fernsehturm, which are lovely in their own East German way. It’ll be a good opportunity to take some pictures with my camera! I do think I miss city walking the most.

The everythingness of a city is exhilarating and exhausting in equal measure to me. That tension was a little bit too much for me to handle in NYC, mainly because alcohol became my go-to stress relief. But with that out of the picture, I’m practicing distress tolerance in the other ways. Eat greens and drink plenty of water! Go home when I’m ready to go home! “Doing something” can be as simple as a walk or bike ride around a new neighborhood! No one can tell me the correct way to experience a city – the endless possibilities mean I can make my own adventure :).

Me arriving home after dinner with a Berlin-based coworker. Yes, there’s an elevator here!!