It’s been three years. Three wonderful years on the West Coast, but our time here is up and we’re heading back home to Boston.
I couldn’t be more excited.
I wish I could say that I’ll miss LA, but the truth is that leaving feels like a relief. At the same time, I can’t say anything negative about our time here, because the people, food and views were lovely. But for me, my time in LA has just been a sort of limbo, a waiting period, a time in my life where I sort of drifted around and had no structure or roots. For the first time in my life, I spent the majority of the daytime alone. As an extreme introvert, I kind of loved it, although I did feel quite lonely at times. As someone who also thrives on structure, order, deadlines and schedules, being in a place where that was N/A made some days feel like I was going crazy with each day passing by Groundhog Day-style … slow, shapeless and long.
Despite all of this, I did experience great things and had awesome opportunities come my way in LA. One of the best parts were the friendships I’ve formed with people here which I am so grateful for, and look forward to maintaining through blogging and social media. I also got the chance to do some paid professional food styling (while being Jeff’s photography assistant), web content planning and freelance writing, a few cooking-related gigs here and there, and recipe development for some vegan brands. Some of these things definitely would not have happened if I was still at a day job in Boston, so I am thankful for and loved all of these opportunities. I hope all of it continues as we make our way back to the East Coast. At the same time, I want to move forward towards a life that feels more grounded and stable, where I feel more connected to the place I live, and one that offers that specific and familiar rhythm+pace that I love being surrounded in, and closely matches my own.
What I’ve learned and found over the past few years is that when things break up and fall away, it’s entirely possible that they are *maybe* just getting rearranged and put back together in another way that just doesn’t make sense quite yet. I hope that it all comes together as we transition over to and build our new life on the East Coast.
Thanks if you’ve read down this far, and continue to read or subscribe to this blog. I really love creating content for it, and hope you like reading and cooking from it.
Some things that I’ll particularly miss about the South Bay:
Taking walks at sunset, and catching some views that I don’t think I’ll see anywhere else.
Redondo Beach Sunset
Boat spotted on a walk to the Redondo Beach Pier
Redondo Beach Pier
Walking towards Redondo Beach
Long exposure shot of a cross-street near us (taken by Jeff)
Vicente Lighthouse
The food. These pictures only represent a fraction of it, but everything was always amazing.
Bar Amá in DTLA
Auc Lac’s Salt and Pepper Yam Shrimp
Carrot Lox Bagel at Crossroads in West Hollywood
Fried “Chicken” plate at Doomie’s
Pizzanista
Ramen Hood Vegan Ramen at Grand Central Market
Gravy and Biscuits at Little Pine in Silver Lake
Thanks to this little 16-year old lady who was literally by my side all day, every day. ❤️
Daytime sleeping spot
Evening sleeping spot
Nimrod
Celine Steen says
Safe travels, Erin! I wish we’d have had a chance to meet while you were on this coast. Speaking of which as a fellow super mega introvert, I hear you on being alone all day having its perks but also its major downsides.
erinwyso says
Thank you Celine! I hope we can meet someday. Best of luck with your new book … it looks fantastic!! 🙂
Jillian Lauren Lisitano says
Wow, congratulations on the decision and your move.
We moved out here from Vermont a year ago and I miss New England something awful.
Safe travels and best of luck with all you do! ?
erinwyso says
Thanks Jillian! Vermont to CA is a huge change. I hope you can make it back for a visit soon!
Johanna says
It’ll be great to have you back in New England! The funny thing is is that I watch so many people on YouTube in Los Angeles, and I just want to experience that for a short time myself. As you know New England does not really offer the same variety as Los Angeles as far as vegan options.
erinwyso says
Thanks Johanna. It looks like Boston has gotten a few more options since we left … we gotta do a little more digging to find some new spots!
Rachel says
I just barely transplanted to Boston after 30+ years in salt lake city – so cool that you are returning now as well! Best of luck with the feline relocation (I brought 3 cats with me and it’s still fresh on my mind)!
Which restaurant are you most excited to come back to? 🙂
erinwyso says
Thanks Rachel! I am super anxious about 1 cat — 3 is a lot!! We’re keeping a close eye on her t make sure she’s comfy and happy as possible.
I am excited about hitting up Veggie Galaxy in Central Square for their salt and pepper biscuits with gravy, and Addis Red Sea for their butecha!
Carrie Lee McClelland says
Awesome Share, Erin….so refreshing to see congruency not only in what you are sharing with us here..but also your personal alignment in your real time living. Wishing you the very best in your transition! Thank you for your great blog as well!
erinwyso says
Thank you, Carrie! 🙂
Jennifer Washington says
I’m new to your website and enthusiastically subscribed!
Your recipes I’ve tried, I’ve loved and use regularly.
My home is in western Canada. We”ve spent our last 3 vacations in the San Diego/Carlsbad area and I can report that the veg/vegan food all along that coastline up to Huntington Beach is fabulous. Your recipes seem to reflect this area which is just so yummy!
Best of luck with your move and relocation!
I look forward to some east coast inspired deliciousness <3
erinwyso says
Thanks for your kind words, Jennifer! LA offers some great food ideas for sure, and I’m so happy to bring some of those back with me to the East Coast. Huntington Beach/Fountain Valley was one of our favorite spots — for Au Lac’s salt and pepper yam shrimp alone!
Ivy says
OMG, your post made me sad! I follow a few vegan blogs, but yours is one of my favorites – your recipes are amazing, the pictures beautiful, AND, I always thought to myself, “she lives SO close, genius in Redondo!” (I’m in Santa Monica). It’s irrational of course, it’s not like I can’t still make your recipes as you invent them in Boston. 🙂 I’m also envious. I’m originally from San Diego (quite close, but still quite different from Los Angeles) and I’ve been itching to move back to be closer to family and just to be back in the comforting familiarity of the city where I grew up. I bet it’s going to feel WONDERFUL when you’re home again. Best of luck on the transition and THANK YOU for all the wonderful recipes!
erinwyso says
Giving you a little wave right now from Redondo, Ivy! We’ve been to Santa Monica and San Diego a couple of times, and both are lovely, but the best place is one that feels like home, for sure. Thanks for your kind words about the blog … I’m so excited to be heading back home soon!
Fifi says
Thanks for the post. The photos are spectacular. But New England is HOME.
erinwyso says
Thank you, Fifi!
Gena says
Change is always bittersweet, Erin, but it sounds as if this is the right time for you to be making a homecoming. I so love the observation that what feels like rupture can actually just be meaningful rearrangement. Also, hooray for us now being on the same coast! 🙂
erinwyso says
Thank you, Gena! Yes, I am aiming for more normalcy, but hoping for some change too from my previous Boston life. Excited to see what develops. 🙂 Please let me know if you are ever in Boston, I’d love to meet up for coffee or lunch!!
JD Johnson says
Hi. Congratulations on your “Homecoming”! I will be moving to Boston in October 2021, and have been doing extensive research, when I came across your blog. Short story: Originally from Ohio, moved to Los Angeles 28yrs ago, went through Boston on a road trip with my parents in 2015, and in that VERY SHORT time, my SOUl seemed to have connected with the city.
After 5 yrs of toying with the idea, I have FINALLY made the decision to take a leap of faith and make the move, and I must tell you, I haven’t been this excited in a long time.
My exudes from LA has been a long time coming. I am grateful for the experience(s), all the wonderful friends I’ve made, and I can certainly appreciate the topography, fine cuisine and variety. However, I need to be closer to my aging parents, and at the same time, live in a city that suits my soul with the east coast familiarities I grew up with. I do hope I like it there as much as I believe I will, but I’m pretty certain, I’ll be just fine. Thanks for your blog!
Sue says
Erin, welcome back to Boston! Your photos on this post are amazing!,,
erinwyso says
Thank you, Sue!
Andrea says
I’ve loved your blog for a long time and just saw that you are Bostonians. I feel your nostalgia at leaving a place, even though it’s something you really want. In three weeks, we leave Boston (JP) and move to Tel Aviv. I’m excited at the tremendous vegan scene there. Boston is just not where it should be in terms of veg restaurants. Here’s to great home cooking though!
erinwyso says
Andrea,
Thanks for your kind words … and I had no idea Tel Aviv had a great vegan scene — it may need to be added to our future places to visit! Best wishes on your huge move and next big adventure.
Hakyung Chung says
I would really like to know how you moved your stuff. I’m on a process of moving from LA to Boston right now and can’t decide whether I should do a road trip or choose other options. I would love to hear your story!
erinwyso says
Hakyung, not too much of a story — we used movers and flew back with our cat! Good luck with whatever you decide to do and welcome back to Beantown!
Katherine Hart says
Thank you for posting! I am also considering moving back to Boston from Los Angeles for similar reasons. This West Coast vibe is just not mine…I miss my New Englanders. Thank you for the perspective, and the confirmation that I am not crazy. Hope all is well!