Happy Anniversary (To Me)!

Today is my 2-year Moving-to-Los Angeles anniversary! I’m not sure that it’s customary around the rest of the country to mark things like this but it’s a big deal here. My theory is that this is because the population is so transient and about 97% of us moved here in pursuit of a big creative ambition that is progressing at a snails’ pace and has chained us to a solitary, penniless existence with very few occasions to celebrate so we cling to this one small milestone that reminds us of a time when we were idealistic and enthusiastic and had savings accounts.

I'm always surprised that, whether I'm at an intimate dinner party or a noisy bar, whenever I tell someone new that I moved here from New York City they almost always ask “What brought you to LA?” I find this sweet because a.) It's more probing than "Cool." and b.) It means that people here are not so jaded as to assume that I came here to be an actor. I mean, I did totally come here to be an actor but I value the open-mindedness of supposing I could just as easily have moved here to be a policewoman or open a restaurant or raise horses.

As for my answer, I still don’t have a satisfying one. I usually say, “Livin' the Dream!” which seems unfairly glib, considering how much I appreciate the question. What did bring me here?  On the surface, yes, it was a career move (The Great American Tradition of moving West for opportunity!). I was also fleeing a gut-wrenching breakup (The Great American Tradition of moving 3,000 miles to amputate a relationship!). But why, really, really why down in my core did I leave a life I loved to move here? I guess the truest answer is that I needed to grow.

That’s not gonna fly in a noisy bar, I know. I guess I’ll have to keep my airy, "Livin' the Dream!” for those moments… but you and I will know the real answer :)