My early Christmas gift to myself: A home, in New Orleans.December 1st, 2009 View Comments |
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I’m moving to New Orleans, Louisiana. Here’s why.
Last year didn’t turn out as I had planned. This year I stopped planning and just lived, and in doing so finally created “The Good Year” that I had envisioned for a number of years.
My simple goal was to spend a year traveling, following my passions, exploring and creating without any expectations for it to pay off right away. I wanted to test my idea that the universe will take care of me if I let it and give myself the time and space to let the year lead to something bigger.
The original idea was to spend a month of two in about eight different places, to live, work and photograph lives in each city, to dig into each new place and culture as a temporary citizen. The goal wasn’t to find myself or explore the world, but to live and observe different lives around the world.
But it didn’t go as planned. For one, after I quit my job last November I spent the next twelve months driving across the USA, bouncing on trains throughout Europe and flying around the world. Each time I tried to stay in one place and slow down, I found myself moving on and going faster. Why?
In short, the draw of people and opportunities over the horizon, the beckoning of the next place, the next person to meet, the next experience to create.
And secondly, the planned year of observing became a year of interacting, creating and sharing. Each step forward, each hello, each exploration, each person and each story led me to another, simply by embracing the opportunity, listening, caring and giving. The solitary journey evolved into a shared adventure, connecting thoughts to thoughts, thoughts to people, people to people, powered by serendipity, part of an introvert’s awakening, thirty-one years in the making.
It wasn’t as glamorous as it sounds. Littered throughout the year were misplaced steps, missed connections, miscalculations, incomplete thoughts, failed challenges, hopes and ideas dashed by realities, limitations and mistakes.
But even with the numerous failures, I’m still looking forward to where it could lead.
And thus, with “The Good Year” drawing to a close, having tested and found the limitations of the way I lived this year, it’s time to change it up and find a better way to live another good year (and more). For me, for now, that means I need to live in one place and build a core to bring together the edges I’ve opened throughout the year.
I considered lots of places to live, focusing on the typical hubs of business, culture and recreation that regularly grace the “best places to live” reports and pop up in the “what is your city” quizzes I’ve taken repeatedly, trying to think about what’s important and envision alternate lives.
Nothing ever indicated New Orleans.
But that’s where this year has led me. New Orleans first popped up though introductions by Lyell to Chris and Jessica, my first real tests of a year of showing up, meeting new people and asking friends and acquaintances to help curate my life.
As the year continued, New Orleans kept popping up, interjecting herself into conversations, showing up in my mind, my heart, my memories. I lingered over photos I took of the Quarter and the Garden district. Every news article with a snippet about New Orleans drew my attention. I felt a tug every time I saw news about friends doing cool stuff in New Orleans, stung by a small bit of feeling of missing out. I extolled the virtues of New Orleans as an example of one of the few unique, culturally vibrant American cities, proclaiming my love for New Orleans to fellow travelers in Bulgaria, Japan, India, Australia, Malaysia and England.
But I never told New Orleans that I loved her, with the type of love that’s only seen a glimpse and is unsure what lies deeper underneath, but is sure of itself nonetheless. The type of love that needs to be demonstrated and shown, not just said.
What better way to show it than to move there?
And that’s my early Christmas gift to myself: a home, an opportunity, a life.
Of course, I’m going to need your help, New Orleans. I’m scared the rush of a new city will fade quickly. I’m worried it will take me awhile to settle in, based on my mixed past in establishing lives in past cities. I’m nervous about not living up to expectations. I’m worried about creating a professional life that fits my professional and life goals (more, later *). In a way, I’m scared of getting what I want.
But I’m going to try.
I’ve never truly loved a city or a community; New Orleans, I’m hoping you can help change that.
So New Orleans, I’m moving here for you and for me. I’ll love you and give you my all. All I ask is for you to love me back.
—
* Later, a deeper dive into why New Orleans is a great professional opportunity for me and many others. But first, start with Sloane‘s great summary of what New Orleans has to offer and my past thoughts on New Orleans’ opportunity to leverage its vibrant cultural life into a vibrant hub for entrepreneurs (video, about 1 minute in). More to come.
Kleenex, anyone?
December 1st, 2009 at 5:42
Taylor, I am so happy for you! You sound about NOLA how I imagine I sound about Charlotte. I hope that your move goes great, that you find everything you're looking for there and love that city for all it's worth. :)
December 1st, 2009 at 5:46
Taylor,
YOur eloquence astounds me. I shall now quit writing. Not really. BUt I stand inspired equally by your year, your decision, and every word strung together to relate your emotive experiences of late Thank you for sharing this passion for living.
December 1st, 2009 at 5:47
Un million de felicitations! I'm excited for you man. Having made a similar leap last year (up and leaving an NYC job for Chattanooga, TN), I can empathize with your quest. My only (unsolicited) advice for you is establish the life-work balance quickly. I think I spent too much energy on the life side and have struggled to establish the true professional roots that really drive me. See you soon!
December 1st, 2009 at 6:11
Can't wait to come visit, but this will make it hard for us to continue our short tradition of meeting up before you embark on your journeys. :)
December 1st, 2009 at 6:55
Tell New Orleans I said “What's up!?”
December 1st, 2009 at 7:08
Taylor
Welcome home. As for your fear of maybe getting happy feet and wanting to move on again… hold that thought. When I moved here it was a 5 year plan… that was 15 years ago… place gets into your blood and gets really, really hard to shake.
But then, you already knew that didn't you.
Let me know when you get settled… we'll grab a bite to eat and maybe a cocktail or three.
Glad to have you here.
@Tom Martin
December 1st, 2009 at 7:41
Congrats on finding a place to call home. I'm living in one place, but have yet to shake that feeling that there is something better over the horizon. I'm positive I'll be back in a moving van before too long. Hopefully headed somewhere with as much enthusiasm as you are showing for NOLA.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:45
Now the real challenge begins!
I loooooove New Orleans – although the first time I was there it was an immense disappointment. It is a city that one grows to love. It is not a coup de foudre like Paris. But you know how biased I am. My childhood dream was to spend time in New Orleans (the music, the Mississippi, l'ancienne France) so it is awesome you will be there and I am hoping it will be for a while 'cause I am booking my in-depth tour of New Orleans now!
December 1st, 2009 at 9:13
New Orleans loves you, Taylor. We're so glad to have you as part of this community. I never would've guessed. But if you're looking for a home, there's no better city than New Orleans; you'll see.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:23
Lovely :-)…Wishing you the very best of luck and life as you make new beginnings!
December 1st, 2009 at 9:28
Taylor – you bet we'll love you back, we already do down here. You've got a lot of friends and fans. Thanks for your committment to us, down here. This is truly an early Christmas present to NOLA. You and the Saints. A good combo.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:36
Great choice, and congrats on reaching the end of that search. Now be prepared for a constant flow of visitors to your new home.. sounds fun.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:41
Congrats, Taylor, and welcome home! You are going to find that this city DOES get into your blood, I don't claim to know how or why, because I've lived here all my life. I guess it's the combination of the people, culture and history… but it will be HOME for you. Now don't get me wrong, it is not easy to live here – there is a darker side to the city that's not always easy to get your head around. But like every local New Orleanian does, you have to take the good with the bad and realize that it's worth the struggle to live in this incredible city. And please promise me that, every Monday, for lunch or for dinner, you will eat red beans and rice. OK? Good luck honey!
@MindyMoo
December 1st, 2009 at 10:11
All of us here in New Orleans welcome you with open arms. There are many oppurtunities hear to invent or reinvent yourself, be free young man and enjoy what this area of our wide world has to offer. bty, do you eat raw oysters?
December 1st, 2009 at 10:43
I've never moved somewhere and had people say “Welcome home.” In my first full day in New Orleans, that is what I keep hearing. So that's what I'll say to you Taylor, “Welcome home!” And for the work-life balance and fear of living up to expectations and the nervous excitement, I can't tell you how glad I am that we're going to get to share in that together. We'll always have our nomadic minds and intellectual curiosity, but to not have to keep moving every few days – it's time. After all, now that we have homes again, we can plan trips away!
Get here already :)
December 1st, 2009 at 11:55
congrats on choosing a place to explore for a little bit longer than you've explored most in the past two years, taylor. sounds like the beginning of a new adventure! :)
December 1st, 2009 at 17:31
Congratulations Taylor. Many good wishes.
December 2nd, 2009 at 4:57
I think I just did :)
December 2nd, 2009 at 4:58
We've got one more still ahead, perhaps before I head down to NOLA?
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:06
I realized this morning my incredible oversight in neglecting to mention the role @Tribecon played in my decision; coming down for TribeCon and getting to meet so many great people confirmed the rumblings in my mind that NOLA was the right place for me to move.
To me, TribeCon felt like a celebration and a family get-together as much as a conference, and it showed how conferences can have an impact in reminding locals and showing outsiders the great people and opportunities that a city has. So, for that, thank you to you, Tiffany and everyone else that helped create and contribute to TribeCon.
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:08
Thanks, and I'll be ready, I've got a lot of people to pay back from just this year alone :)
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:16
Thanks! Maybe someday I'll travel and explore like you, but for now, this is the best thing for me. And as you've said before, “mundane everyday activities can become magic when you look at the world through a nomadic lens”.
That's the lens I hope to bring to daily life in New Orleans.
(and judging by Sloane's comment above, I think that's a shared view)
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:17
Dear Mr. Taylor; it was on one of your past trips that we happened to bump into each other at Tuttle. I think during our short conversation I actually asked you “Why don't you stay still?”
For the past 3 years I have been a bit of a world traveler myself but I think those travels were only made better by the fact that I did have a place I call home. Home is nice :)
Good luck in New Orleans….I'm sure she'll make a good lover :)
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:18
Thanks! btw, you'll still be in Austin for SXSW, right? I'll be there: http://sxsw.com/node/3854
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:22
hmmm … tempted to say, see you in shanghai late 2010 .. anyway, we are not driving our lives, it is “something else”, call it the higher self if you well … enjoy the ride
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:24
That is indeed how you sound about Charlotte; I only hope to love the city and its charms as much as you love Charlotte. It's an odd thing, how we create our love affairs with cities and places, much harder to understand with our heads than with our hearts. But I'll try to explain the “head” behind New Orleans soon…
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:32
having a home doesn't mean I'll stay put the *entire* time :) finding the right blend and the right flow is going to be the hardest part. trust that wherever I am I will continue to test and explore, same as you …
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:37
What was my answer?
(I usually say something like “I'll settle down when I've got a good reason to settle down.” which is stolen from something I've written before: http://www.taylordavidson.com/qaa/5.html )
And I hope so :)
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:50
I grew up around the water, I eat almost anything from the sea :)
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:52
I remember the moment quite clearly actually…I asked you “Why don't you stay still? and you smiled and said “That is a really good question.”
Then someone else said something totally off topic and we got completely distracted :)
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:52
Thank you; eloquence doesn't come easy to me, only it fits and spurts. My hope is to continue to create more experiences and to find bits of words (and photos) to share them; I hope NOLA will help me find that…
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:54
Unsolicited, but spot-on (as always). Creating the balance of personal and professional isn't going to be easy, but it's going to be worth it.
And yes, see you soon…
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:57
Thank you Tom. Actually, I don't have a fear of happy feet, I have more of a fear of not being able to find a life in a new place, and then being torn away as that life just starts to become visible. It's happened before. My hope, with the aid of wisdom and help of people like you, is to not let that happen again.
And would love to catch up once I get down there…
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:01
Then I got saved of having to find a good answer :) (by @sizemore, most likely)
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:05
I knew I could count on you to remind of the real challenge. My nose will find the grindstone soon. I know I've told you that before, but I don't think I can drag it out much longer!
Yes, I know you're biased, we have very different takes on cities. Open invitation, anytime, and hopefully me and the rest of New Orleans can show you the experiences of your childhood dreams. It's a safe bet that many of the people in the comments here would be happy to help :)
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:08
That's the hope (just please, no more repeat adventures from last time? :)
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:33
That horizon is a tough, right? Always something better? The idea of “something always better” has troubled me throughout the years, but one of the few things I've learned from chasing the horizon is that it's impossible to ever grasp it fully. Some places just bring you closer to it than others…
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:36
[this is good]
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:38
Why Monday?
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:38
Hopefully…
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:40
The dark sides are always there to any place, person, idea, etc. But conflict helps create vibrancy. At least that's my naive opinion…
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:45
Looking forward to hearing “Welcome Home” soon :)
And yes, bringing the same curiosity to a single place is going to be fun: Kareem said it perfect in a comment on your blog: “mundane everyday activities can become magic when you look at the world through a nomadic lens”.
That's my hope: to keep the lens, the viewpoint and the need to create, but to reframe it and focus it a bit better. That's how edges become cores. That's how we take ideas into action.
(and yes, even with a home, the trips don't end :)
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:00
In homes and in restaurants, eating red beans and rice on Monday is a very old New Orleans tradition. I could explain it here, but Wikipedia does a great job so I'll just link to it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_beans_and_rice
See also: http://www.gumbopages.com/food/red-beans.html
http://www.labellecuisine.com/features/louisian...
Personally I'm trying to make sure the tradition doesn't fall out of favor with my generation. Although I didn't eat it every Monday as a child, my husband and I make a pact that every Monday we would eat it for dinner. I make a huge pot (about 2 lbs of beans) on the weekend and then freeze it in 3 cup containers. Then on Monday when we get home from work, we just dump the frozen beans in a little pot on the stove and add a little bit of water. It defrosts in about 10 minutes. Serve with hot rice (white rice is traditional but sometimes we use brown for health reasons) and maybe saute' some sliced smoked sausage on the side. Takes about 20 minutes to get it on the table, and viola!
@MindyMoo
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:07
haha man, you've been traveling and exploring *more* than me for two
years now :)
best of luck in NoLa, i'd love to come visit – never been.
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:12
Open invitation, extended…
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:13
thanks :)
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:03
Like it! Best of luck pal. Just finished reading your 25 secrets learned through failure blog post, its been on my to read list for ages but glad I did some really fantastic advice in there that made me think. In particular though it is the most boring one I agree I need to stop messing around with “understandings” and instead create legal agreements.
December 2nd, 2009 at 14:59
Failure is the practice that leads to success. I'm glad to have bumped into you on the way! See you in Austin for our annual meeting, and enjoy your home. It's going to be great.
December 2nd, 2009 at 15:15
I always understood it to be a dish with cultural significance in New Orleans, but I never knew why. I like how the dish was a part of daily life, and it's interesting to see it survive in some fashion even though the old reasons have fallen away.
Looks like I'm going to have to learn how to make red beans and rice :)
December 2nd, 2009 at 15:16
[very good, I hope]
December 2nd, 2009 at 15:17
Thanks; and if I don't see you in London over the next couple days, then I'll see you in Austin in a couple months…
December 4th, 2009 at 10:26
I love that town, even though it has been ages since I've been there. One of the few places I've come close to being arrested. In a nice way. I envy you your travels.
A while ago I realized that some of my most vivid memories trips and outings were the errors. The storms. The mishaps. I've come to relish them over the years. Never pleasant to work through, but if you make it through they become the interesting stories of your life. The ones your kids don't roll their eyes over when they hear them for the tenteenth time.
Best of luck in the new haunts.
December 4th, 2009 at 14:50
Almost arrested? :)
And you get it: those are the stories I want to continue to create. And share. Trust that I'll be sharing and learning through sharing. Thank you, in advance, for your thoughts and ideas…
December 15th, 2009 at 7:48
Hi Taylor – I'm late to the party, but wanted to add my congratulations to the pile! I enjoyed this post a lot and have thought about it a number of times since I read it a few days ago… I'm excited to follow your adventure of finding the right mix of seeking the horizon and becoming a local grounded in one place. It's one I definitely share! Best wishes for you in NOLA!
December 15th, 2009 at 22:45
Welcome home :)
There's so many things that I relate to in this post. I too, had designs on finally having “The Good Year” which turned into a series of “failing upwards” experiences and experiments. I learned a lot, came out of my shell, (I actually told Jess the first time I met her in person that she'd never see me again b/c I'm so introverted) and even though there are some major things that didn't pan out, I believe in the promise of the coming year and beyond.
I know I've said it before: if you need anything, just let me know, I'll do what I can to help make this city stick.
Glad to have you home!
December 16th, 2009 at 5:58
Thanks! And I find the same problem with the boring stuff :)
December 16th, 2009 at 6:03
You had a shell? Seriously?
I love “failing upwards” experiences. One of these days, though, I'd like to have a “succeeding upwards” experience :)
(And of course, if you need anything, just let me know…)
December 16th, 2009 at 6:54
Thanks! And I'm looking forward to the adventure, to keeping an open, fresh eye, and to digging in and getting involved.
May I ask: what are you most interested in hearing about? What type of stuff would be most interesting to you? I ask because I'm trying to figure out what to write about here, elsewhere, etc…
December 18th, 2009 at 6:55
Sure. I'm interested to see what you enjoy most about NOLA, how you keep things interesting creatively and professionally despite increased routine and creature comforts, and the difference, if any, in your photography.
While everyone's preferred mix of travel and home will be different, I'm also interested to see where you fall after a year of so much travel.
Hope this helps?!
December 18th, 2009 at 6:57
It does! Thanks…
December 18th, 2009 at 14:55
Sure. I’m interested to see what you enjoy most about NOLA, how you keep things interesting creatively and professionally despite increased routine and creature comforts, and the difference, if any, in your photography. rnrnWhile everyone’s preferred mix of travel and home will be different, I’m also interested to see where you fall after a year of so much travel. rnrnHope this helps?!
December 18th, 2009 at 14:57
It does! Thanks…
December 25th, 2009 at 7:18
I read your profile today and it was so good to me.i feel you are the only one missing in my entire life so i decided to stop on and let you know that i am interested to be a friend first.When the fight begins within himself, a man’s worth something
December 25th, 2009 at 17:25
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