I never craved the crowds, hungered for the grit, or idolized the opportunity. To me, New York was just a means to an end – a place where the team and project I wanted to work on happened to be. I wasn’t dragged to New York, but I wasn’t running there either. As I packed up my life into suitcases, had one last hurrah with the people I loved, and turned to say goodbye to the state that had birthed me, taught me, nurtured me, and launched me into the world – I knew New York wouldn’t last.