I moved from DC to Los Angeles to save a relationship. We broke up, but 10 years later, I'm still living here.
A personal essay detailing the author's experience moving from Washington, DC to Los Angeles for a relationship that eventually ended. The author reflects on the process of building a new community and finding personal fulfillment in a new city.
Why it matters
This piece highlights the intersection of personal life choices, career mobility, and the psychological impact of relocation.
I knew that moving to Los Angeles would make or break my relationship. Rena Goldman I moved from Washington, DC , to Los Angeles, in large part to support my boyfriend's career. We broke up three years into the move, but I decided to keep giving LA a shot. I got involved in my city council, which helped me make friends and fall in love with my community. I was content living in Washington, DC, but my boyfriend wasn't. He'd moved there with me in 2012 when I secured my first full-time writing job, but DC wasn't really where he wanted to be. He was an actor with dreams of making it in Los Angeles — and although he was getting some acting work, it wasn't enough to quit the day job he didn't love. Things weren't going as well in the relationship as either of us had hoped.
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