I’m moving to Edinburgh!

‘It seemed as if the rock and castle assumed a new aspect every time I looked at them; and Arthur’s Seat was perfect witchcraft. I don’t wonder that anyone residing in Edinburgh should write poetically.’ – Washington Irving.

Change is afoot…

In July 2014, I put up a post announcing that I was moving to New Zealand. I remember feeling full of excitement and trepidation. I might as well have been moving to another planet – I had no idea what to expect. The move felt radical, a huge shift in my life. An abrupt way off the tracks I’d been following for probably a year or so too long. Suddenly, everything had been turned upside down, the rulebook was discarded and the predominant emotion I felt, alongside my understandable nerves, was elation. I was going to be free! I was finally going to travel, something I’d wanted to do for years! Finally, I’d plucked up the courage to take the plunge and just do it. Go for it.

Two years later, upon arrival home from two of the most fantastic years of my life, full of adventure, excitement, exploration, fun and pulsating life, I found myself writing another post. This time, I announced that I had unexpectedly and quite suddenly moved to London. I’d been back in the UK for only two weeks. A month long temp job had come up that I’d taken, as I was broke, and I’d gone just like that. That month long temp job turned into a five year tenure at that company that only ended in 2021. I grew professionally and finally found a career path I wanted to stick to. I enjoyed my life in London, often balancing time in the city with travels both at home and abroad. Life felt… good.

But life sometimes has a way of surprising us. And so now, five and a half years after I first arrived in London, I’m here to announce another change. In a surprise twist, in 2022 I will be moving out of London.

In fact, I’m moving to Edinburgh!

There are many factors contributing to my move out of London to Edinburgh. Some reasons for my move are personal, which I won’t share. Others are more about practicalities, like the fact I am now thirty three, would really love to live on my own, and unfortunately cannot afford to do so where I’d like in London.

While I could’ve moved to the suburbs, or to one of London’s many commuter towns, my gut instinct told me that such a choice would make me unhappy. I love London, and don’t want to have to move to its fringes to enjoy it. For me, London is an all or nothing kind of place. As I can’t afford all, I’m choosing ‘nothing’ as my alternative.

The details about my move

I say ‘nothing’ because of course I will still be visiting London frequently. My job is based in London. While the company I work for have been hugely supportive and understanding, they’re not a fully remote company. As such, I’ll be travelling down regularly to spend time with my lovely colleagues in the office. I’ve not quite worked out the logistics yet, but I’m determined to be around for social gatherings as much as possible, and get continued face time with the team IRL.

Of course, I also have a great network of friends in London. I want to continue seeing them as often as possible! While many will visit me in Edinburgh, I will also make the effort to spend time with them whenever I’m back in London, whether that’s staying at theirs, grabbing dinner or having some drinks!

I will be moving towards the end of March, and will be visiting Edinburgh beforehand to find a new flat. I’m looking to rent for at least a year while I decide if I want to settle in Edinburgh in the longer term. At present, this move feels like a temporary thing, a much-needed change. It’s like a new spark being breathed into a London life that, two years into the pandemic, was beginning to feel a little stale. I’m yet to find out if the change will stick…

And why Edinburgh?

Edinburgh’s exciting! It’s cool, it has an amazing roster of bars, restaurants and pubs. It’s close to nature, an easy drive from many beautiful beaches, from the Cairngorms National Park, from ALL of Scotland’s jaw-dropping scenery. Edinburgh itself is easy on the eye, full of gorgeous architecture. The city feels vibrant and fun. I’m excited to see what it holds for me. I’m excited to live alone, to experience that. It’s fun to think that I will be within easy reach of some of the UK’s most awesome landscapes, that I’ll be able to take quick weekend breaks and visit incredible places. I fell in love with Scotland in 2020 and 2021. I want to spend more time there.

So in 2014 I felt full of excitement, hope and elation at the thought of my big move to New Zealand. In 2016 I remember I felt more uncertain about moving to London, I came because I needed work quickly and this was where the jobs were. And now?

Now I feel a real mix of emotions. I’m excited, yes, but anxious about the change. I worry about making new friends. I wonder how I’ll settle in, whether I really will love living alone (I imagine I will). Embarrassingly, I currently spend hours stressing over whether my large plant collection will survive the move! I have worries now that would never have crossed my mind eight years ago when I brought upheaval to my life then and moved to New Zealand. I have security now that I didn’t have six years ago when I rapidly took myself off to London to make money and avoid being broke.

But… It feels like the right decision for now.

It’s time to try Edinburgh.

Want to read about my adventures in Scotland to date? Look no further than the Scotland Archives for all my posts about this beautiful country!