Things I'm learning.

1. How to negotiate suburbia.
Everything is 10 minutes away.  I'm sure its not really complicated, it just seems that way.  And did you know you can barely make a left turn in NJ?  You turn right to go left.  Its just a NJ thing.

2. How to negotiate the city.
Being far older then DC and way, way older than Miami, Philadelphia has tiny streets with people parked on both sides and sometimes right in the middle.  There are cars, pedestrians, dogs, bikers and all manner of beings right up on the curb.  These pedestrians are not shy.  When their light turns green, they step out.  Don't mind the bicycle in the road which is barely big enough for a car.  Don't mind the folks who wait until the light turns yellow to start across the street.  Oh and parallel parking is back in a big way in my life.  Good thing I was always pretty good at it since I'm calling on all of my skills these days.  Just yesterday, I put my car in a space where it just had no business fitting.  But I needed that spot and there were no others in sight. So in I went.

3. Apartments come in every shape and size in this city.
I am just at the beginning of my apartment search and have only seen about 5 apts.  One was just plain icky.  One was boring but fine.  One was downright cool but a third floor walk up.  One was totally doable with small fireplace.  I'm holding out for more space. Then there are the ones I've driven past which have been vetoed for the neighborhood alone.  Oh yeah, there was a reason I could afford that 1450 sq loft apartment.  In about 5 years that will be a happening neighborhood.  Right now, however, its  more than a bit edgy for this kid.  I'm out of practice.  Four years in Coral Gables has made me soft.

Things I'm re-learning.

1. How to say water.
That's "wooder" to you non- Philadelphians.  Is it a DC accent I've adopted?  Is it just a "not a Philadelphia" accent?  Now I'm stuck in the middle somewhere.

2. A healthy respect for Philadelphia parking enforcement.
Ouch.  An expired meter ticket is $36.  What the heck is up with that?  No worries, parking enforcement, I won't make that mistake again.

3. Hands free cell phone use.
In Miami is was almost required to get in your car and get on the phone.  Everyone did it. Hands free laws, nah, no need for them.  We were Floridians, we didn't need no sticking laws!  Up here, its a different story.  All jurisdictions are hands free here -- and they ticket!  So after attempting to figure out not one but two blue tooth devices, I went with the old fashioned earphones.  It works just fine and I'm legal.  No more lurking with the phone and dropping it down when I think I see a police car.  Oh wait, its just a roof rack.  Guilt is a terrible thing.

4. How to miss your friends and keep going.
So for the second time in four years, I've left friends behind.  I miss you Miami friends.  I miss our chats, our dinners, our brief or lengthy encounters.  I miss who you are and how much you came to mean to me.  

I miss my book club in advance.  I miss lizards.  I miss orchids everywhere. I miss some palm trees but not others.  I miss mangoes despite the 200 that I brought up with me.  I miss cafe con leche.  I really miss cafe con leche.  But most of all I miss stability.  The known.  The safe.  But that's okay. I'm my way.  I still feel like I'm on some weird extended vacation -- just with more of my things. But I start my new job on Monday.  That will feel real I'm sure.  Then I'll just miss time off.  :-)