I Moved to Buffalo, New York!

I know I’ve been talking a lot about my cross-country move without ever actually saying where I landed.

I truly appreciate your patience, but the wait is over… I moved to Buffalo, New York!

Thank you to everyone who has been following along (and even sending me your guesses) — your company truly meant a great deal during the process.

Why Buffalo?

I know the big question on everyone’s mind is why Buffalo? Out of all the cities in the country, why did I choose here?

When I started planning my move, I gave myself a blank slate and just started researching. My criteria were:

• Affordability
• Walkability and/or public transit
• Things to do
• Democratic leadership
• All four seasons
• Safety

I started by only looking at Democratic states and then searched for affordable cities. I looked at Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, and even Rhode Island. Some places looked terrific on paper, but affordability is always relative — and apartments weren’t matching up to what I needed.

I spent way too many hours on Reddit trying to get a sense of what it’s actually like to live in each city. Many places had their perks, but also seemed to have undergone significant changes since COVID (including Buffalo, which still passed my internal test).

By last fall, Buffalo was at the top of my list. Not only did it check all my boxes, but it had extras I hadn’t even considered: culture, history, and architecture.

Visiting Before the Move

In February, my best friend and I planned a visit (I wrote an entire post on it, here). I wanted to see Buffalo in the winter (without risking getting snowed in).

While we were here, we explored neighborhoods, met a ton of kind people, and even toured a few apartments I had my eye on.

I didn’t want to overwhelm myself, so we kept the focus on experiencing the city. But quietly, I knew: if it felt right, this could be home.

Making the Leap

Fast forward to one month ago — I arrived in Buffalo, moving truck, cat, and all. And honestly? Sometimes I feel like a complete dope walking around with my jaw dropped at just how perfect it all feels: the weather, the people, the cleanliness. I keep waiting for something bad to happen, but so far, it’s all been wonderful.

I moved into a renovated historic building from the early 1900s, into a studio I instantly fell in love with. It’s on a corner, with a curved wall and big windows that let in tons of light. I’ve always wanted to live in a studio, and now I get to sip my morning coffee while looking out at the city waking up.

First Impressions of Buffalo

When I got here, I could’ve spent all my time unpacking — but I wanted to get out and experience the city instead. In just a few weeks, I’ve:

• Gone to several concerts (including Dashboard Confessional and the Goo Goo Dolls)
• Strolled through a weekly farmer’s market
• Tried out local coffee shops and restaurants
• Explored the Erie Canal, just half a mile from my apartment (bonus: there’s ice cream nearby)
• Went to a Buffalo Bisons baseball game
• Attended a community reading event
• Ate loads of wings at the annual Wing Fest

And true to everything people told me, Buffalonians are kind. On move-in day, when I managed to get my truck wedged into a tight spot, someone from my building hopped out of their car and parked it for me in about two minutes flat. I was speechless.

Balancing Excitement & Nerves

Of course, moving across the country isn’t easy. There are moments of anxiety: Did I make the right choice? Will I feel fulfilled here? Will I meet people?

But I’m giving myself grace and reminding myself that what’s meant for me will find its way. For now, I’m focusing on enjoying this sparkly little gem of a city and embracing the life I’ve dreamed of building.

What’s Ahead

This next chapter feels exciting because it’s completely different from anywhere I’ve lived before. Here, I get to:

• Live car-free in the heart of a walkable city
• Experience all four seasons (yes, including the snow!)
• Explore concerts, happy hours, and festivals
• Soak up architecture, history, and culture

I still have so much to share with you — from how I chose my apartment, to what it’s like living without a car, to how I’m preparing for my first real fall (and winter!) in decades.

But until then… GO BILLS! ❤️💙

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