I’m unhappy and lonely living here in my mid-20s (was born & raised here), but feel I can’t leave now for awhile due to local job I just started, which is a pretty good job. Any advice?
I don’t really know the purpose of posting this exactly. I was born & raised here, and went to college in the Philly area (loved living there and even lived in center city for some time). But despite my many attempts, couldn’t land a full-time job around there, and ended up unemployed for months before moving back in with my parents. I miss that area every day. I finally recently started a pretty darn solid full-time job in the Scranton area, which I felt lucky to land.
But I still feel unfulfilled & sad. Everybody I grew up with lives in major cities throughout the east coast & south. I hardly know anyone my age who is here now except for a couple relatives and a few coworkers I am acquainted with. It feels like there are so few young, single, childless adults around here to befriend. And although the city has improved drastically from what it was a decade ago, downtown is looking much better nowadays, it still isn’t a good fit for me right now. I had a wonderful childhood here, but I don’t think I am in the right stage of life to enjoy living here right now.
I joined a gym which has boosted my morale a little. I try to think about the things I am grateful for, and that my life could be a lot worse than it is. I sometimes regret accepting the job I have now because now I feel I need to stay in it for a few years since it is my first real career job, but I am constantly fixated on wanted to move somewhere bigger—NYC, Philly etc.
Should I keep trying to leave, or do you think it is possible for someone in my circumstances to build a fulfilling life around here?