Making that first big post grad move can be tough. No matter where you head, your friends and family are going to have questions. Unless you tell them you are moving to Detroit. Then they will have statements. Statements about your safety. Statements about your quality of life. Statements about your sanity. During what seemed to be an endless critique of my future city, I nodded. The expectations of Detroit are far from the realities, but ingrained perceptions cannot be battled with facts and a smile. These are truths that need to be experienced.

I tucked those concerned statements away as I made the move to the city that everyone told me to not to. I remained certain that my experiences in Detroit would shift their perceptions. Then my car was stolen. Yes. That. My story is one that has been lived 1000x before me. Small Town Girl Moves to Detroit, Becomes Victim of Car Theft. That thing that I told everyone wouldn’t happen, happened. Go ahead. Breathe it in. It is okay to smile. In fact before dipping into a puddle of anxiety, I laughed. I laughed so hard I cried.

For your benefit I will skip the insurance agent phone calls. For my benefit I will skip the sad moments. So here we are. Some might call this the good part. The aftermath. The resolution. I once again have a reliable method of transportation. However I am not at a point where I can say this experience has ended. In little moments I am regaining my sense of security, but this process will not be quick by any means.

In my last blog I ended with saying my experience in this city would not be bright and shiny everyday. This statement has never felt more true. This city, and any city for that matter, is an ecosystem. This place and all the spaces and faces within are entropic by nature. That is what makes revitalization such a complexly layered topic to discuss. Detroit is not all good. Detroit is not all bad. And anyone who adheres to either of those beliefs is simply wrong. If you are looking for a reason to leave you will find it. Crime. Oppression. Inequity. If you are looking for a reason to stay you will find it. Community. Passion. Progress. The choice is really up to you. I am staying.