Kimberly Reed Photography

or at least, i’m starting to. and that’s something you never would have heard me say five years ago. or even one year ago.

i grew up in the ‘burbs north of pittsburgh and was actually in the city maybe half a dozen times before i went to college in town. all i could think of, along with most of my friends in creative fields, was ‘how do i get out’? there were not enough jobs in pittsburgh in the creative industry to support us, and as soon as i graduated, i did indeed move, to philadelphia. the possibilities in philly seemed limitless, there was always something to do, somewhere to go, something new to see, and you didn’t have to look hard to find it. i loved philly… but not enough to stay.

i’d read an article about a small town in montana that seemed like it would be the perfect place to retire someday. nestled in the gallatin valley of the rocky mountains, it was a university town close to skiing, hot springs, and yellowstone national park. so i packed up my car and moved out there. and i loved it. the blue sky and the fresh air and the friendly people and being surrounded by so much natural beauty. but somehow, i ended up back in pittsburgh.

still though, i was always looking for my next opportunity to move. even marrying my husband, a pittsburgher, was conditional on his agreeing that we wouldn’t stay in pittsburgh. that was almost three years ago.

and then this summer, things changed. we moved to the northside. practically in the city. i started going out more. i’ve met some really great people. i’m starting to explore my town. and i’m really enjoying what i’m finding.

don’t believe me? try it yourself. read i heart pgh, sign up for this is happening and pick up a copy of the city paper. you’ll be amazed at how much there is to do in Pittsburgh. Plus, my friends and i like to joke that instead of ’six degrees of seperation’, in pittsburgh it’s two degrees. once you get out and start meeting people, you’ll often find you have mutual friends, or know each other through so and so. it seems we’re all connected in pittsburgh, one way or another.

now, if only there was a little more sunshine…