DevinRitchie.com

I did it. I bought a one-way ticket to New York City. I leave May 18th at 11:51pm and arrive the Next day at 8:05am.

I have been talking about moving on for a long time. I want a big change. I am 23, I finished all my obligations here, no classes, no plays, no real job, no relationship. Friends are moving on and getting out here too. Everything in my soul tells me the time for action is now.

Sure, I could wait for the perfect situation, when I saved up a significantly more money, set up a job, and know exactly where I’m going to live. But that will never happen. I see people postpone their dreams daily. It has to be this way. I’ve saved up some money, not a lot, but enough to survive a little while. I will be couch surfing with a few friends, primarily Maggie Muldoon at first. Staying in Brooklyn. Once I get there I will be looking for work, HARD. Then a room to rent, probably in Bushwick area. I have already applied at a few jobs online, nothing fruitful yet.

If I don’t do this now, I never will. I need to take this opportunity.

A lot of people thought this was a great idea, until I actually bought a ticket. I hear a lot of  “you aren’t actually like moving though are you?” or “you’ll be back in like a month, bet on it” or my personal favorite “OH NO, YOUR GOING TO MISS (so and sos) BIRTHDAY!” People have their doubts and that’s fine. People think I’m going to have a moth long drunk vacation and mooch off the poor suckers I fooled to letting me couch surf. Please understand I am going to work and work and work to survive there. I’m only coming back if the city truly does chew me up and spit me out. If I cant find a job, friends, place to live, or I just plain don’t like it, I am realistic enough to come on back. In the end of the day, y’all can think whatever you would like. The negativity fuels me to prove you wrong.

I have already been in contact with the NYC Comedy Sportz, and I will hopefully start performing there soon after. I intend to take classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade over the summer.

I know this may sound incredibly idealistic, the whole “go to New York City with nothing but the clothes on my back and the hope in heart” attitude. Perhaps I have been lulled into this dream of New York City by Carrie Bradshaw, Alisha Keys, and watching too many Friends reruns. Even so, I’m going to go see for myself. I wanted something to totally shake up my life. San Francisco or LA is just to0 close and I know too many people. Too safe. I need to be independent. I need an adventure. I gotta do it on my own this time.

I sit here waiting for May 18th to get here and I am more and more confident of my decision. My friends are in different places in their life and I can never have the life I want here. I cant wait to get away from some of the petty drama that has followed me. I get a fresh start, a new reputation to build and new friendships to make. I sit in the same houses and bars drinking away the days cycling through a new batch of people that come and go every year. Saying to myself “how long can I keep doing this?” and “if you want something else, go get it.”

I always thought that I wouldn’t leave Sacramento until I beat it. What does that mean? Well, I wanted to get the town to work for me. Find my place in it. Be successful. Be comfortable and popular with a lot of friends. I don’t want to move away from somewhere I haven’t conquered yet. I feel like I have beaten Sac now. I didn’t know a single person here 5 years ago. Then I spent 5 good years here performing, making great friends, partying, networking, working, and going to school. Now I can walk into a bar and not pay for drinks or cover. I have a huge network of friends that I can depend on several things for. People said I was a bad actor/singer/dancer so I took classes, kept doing plays anywhere and everywhere and got better. Which lead to me getting lead roles and I got an Irene Ryan scholarship nomination. I have been apart in so many different social scenes from ravers to theatre people to gutter punks to yuppies to church people to goth kids to hippies to you name it. I have had PLENTY of life experiences here and it’s time for my next chapter. I am not leaving because Sacramento has got me down and I can’t make it work for me, I’m leaving because I did already. I guess I have a different idea of what successful is compared to other people.

I have my reservations about leaving of course. I’m really scared. And excited. I’m leaving everything I have ever known. I’m leaving being comfortable. I always lived with my mom, I’m the baby. And now I am just leaving her high and dry taking care of my elderly grandmother by herself. But I keep having to remind myself that this is for the long term greater good.

So, Sacramento. Lets hang out before I go, bury any hatchets, have a beer or whatever. Stay tuned.

peace.

*pics are from our recent trip to chico.