Peoria
Okay, I had been looking for work for over five months and finally found a job a few weeks ago. It didn’t work out. I don’t want to get into it, so it’s best to say it just didn’t work out. Jobs in the industry I work in are shrinking and moving out of the city. Other jobs I can get don’t pay enough to live in New York City. Even though I live in a rent stabilized apartment, the cost of living is becoming too high for me to live here. So I’ve decided to move. The obvious place for me to relocate is the town I was born in, Peoria, Illinois. My family is there and I have a lot of friends in that city and I’m fairly confident that I will be able to find a job there before my unemployment runs out. So I’m moving there in a few weeks.
What does that mean for this blog? Well it means in a few weeks Tripping With Marty will be over. My third blog in three years is coming to an end. But as always, one ending means a new beginning. I’m going to be starting a new blog in November, once I’m settled in to Peoria. If you’d like to be notified when that starts, please send me your email address if I don’t have it.
I had a great time here in New York and feel like I’ve accomplished everything I wanted to do when I moved here 19 years ago. Life hands you exit signs and you should know when to heed them. My time’s up here and it’s time to move on down the road. I’ve met and made some wonderful friends here and I will miss all of you, but we can keep in touch via the internet, emails and when I come back to visit NYC, which I plan on doing often.
I really want to thank all of you who have followed me on my blogs and on my journey of life. A new chapter starts in about six weeks, I hope to see all of you there. Peace and love to you all. Thanks for being my friend. You make my day and nights with every page view and comment. I feel lucky to have an audience and hope you all will stay tuned for my further exploits in the midwest. See you soon.
Now I have boxes to pack.
P.S. I’ll continue to update TWM now and again while I move, so stay tuned. I’ll live blog my trip back to Peoria when that happens in a few weeks.
Further Reading: 365 Bars, MAD, POP.
So catch me if you can,
I’m goin’ back.
Surprise link...click on it, I dare you!
-----------------------------------------
Bonus Beer Photo From Decker!
My friend Decker (pictured on the left) is a world traveler and he sent in a photo of himself and a friend having a beer from one of his stops on a recent trip. If you can correctly guess where in the world this took place, Decker will buy you a beer there the next time he's there. You, of course, are responsible for traveling expenses. Cheers and thanks to Decker for sending this in!
Decker, Moving, New York City, Peoria Posted on Monday, September 24, 2012 at 10:25AM
Reader Comments (80)
@csp: Thanks and luckily I have a friend in the car insurance business that's not a lizard.
@Peter: One of the great things about the blogs I've done are all the great friends I've made and you are definitely one of them! We'll keep in touch and hang out when I come back to visit.
@Brooksy: Thanks, mate, maybe you and Clacky can schedule a trip from Oz to Peoria! Cheers!
@Kat: Thanks for the good wishes and kind words! Sorry we didn't get to hang out in NYC while I lived here, but I'll be back and if you ever want to take a road trip to Peoria, I'll be happy to give you a tour of the town!
@Ken K in NJ: Thank you sir, I appreciate you chiming in here and glad you'll be following my exploits in Peoria!
@Spike: Thanks and I'll be in touch. We definitely have to have a goodbye beer or seven!
@Marco: Thanks, you're right, sometimes in life you have to do what you gotta do! I'll do my best to live up to the "Playing in Peoria" slogan!
Good luck in Peoria Marty! Sorry to hear the TWM blog end. YOU WERE / ARE TRUE NEW YORKER! You made the city come alive, exploring the places hidden in plain sight and those obscured in the dark of night. Your blogs should be in a time capsule for archeologists to study. Believe in your future. I am in no position to offer advice, but perhaps a lifestyle change is overdue. You know, shake things up once in a while. I hope you find the change of scenery will energize you. I do have a question for you though: How old are you?
OK, so it's taken me a couple of days to put up a comment. I know we've emailed and I knew about your decision, but I feel like Art. Chris and I just got to meet you and you're leaving...this sucks. Everybody here is aware of what's happened to this once-wonderful city, and how it's making it impossible for great, interesting people to stay. Mick is right, New York has had it. Not much to stay for. Have you thought of Berlin? Really, that's on our radar. Not as cheap as Peoria, but you can live there without being a Bloomberg millionaire.
You name a night for a get-together....hey, we still have access to the backyard, grilling is not out of the question! And next bar gathering, you drink free. Order the good stuff! lol
@mattyanza: Thank you so much for the kind words about myself and the blog! I'm ready for a change of scenery and I think my work here is done. Time to shake things up in Peoria! And as far as my age...I'm old enough to know better! Har har har!
@dark1p: I hear you, I wish I met you and Chris years ago, always great to meet kindred spirits. I haven't thought about Berlin since "Take My Breath Away" dropped off the charts. (Rimshot!) Let's definitely try and get together before I leave. We will stay in touch and I'll be back to visit often. New York hasn't seen the last of me!
Eh...with all the global warming going on, NYC's destined to be underwater in the next couple years anyway. Oh, sure, I'll miss your "scoop" on the best places to eat and drink, as well as those classy meat, cheese and party mix parties on West 16th. But, shit, we can always go back to visit, right? It'll be just like visiting Venice - but more expensive.
Happy trails, Marty! See you soon.
I'm sad at the news of your departure but happy for you that you appear to be at peace with yourself about the move back to Peoria. Thanks for "365" and "MAD" and "TWM". Although I hooked on at the very end of 365, I've had a great time following you, figuratively and literally, in your travels around NYC. Thanks to you I've been to Mars Bar, HiFi, Sophie's and a whole bunch of other fun (or not so fun) places that a middle-aged office troll probably would never go to. My wife always asks me "How did you know about this place" and I always tell her "Marty told me". I'm looking forward to a Peoria blog so that if I'm ever there, I know where to go for the most gigundamous cheeseburgers and beer (and can continue to impress my wife).
Best wishes for success and happiness.
@Biff: Thanks, Bifferoonie! We'll have to schedule trips back out here and I see a road trip to Ohio in my future!
@Dave - Everywhere: It really makes me feel good that you discovered some cool places in NYC via my blogs! Particularly the Mars Bar, I feel sorry for those that never got to experience life on Mars. I'm really excited about doing a Peoria blog and I'm glad you're following me along on the next ride!
Marty,
So sorry to read this, but I look forward to reading the happenings in America's Heartland.
Best of Luck!
@anonymous271: I'll miss you and everybody else, but sometimes you gotta move on down the road and that time has come for me. Hopefully we can hang out before I vamoose!
Hi Marty,
Have enjoyed your blog and will follow your next one and always remember that Midwest is best...
Emily
@Emily: Thanks so much for following the blog and I'm glad you'll continue to read the Peoria version. I'm looking forward to heading back to the Midwest!
Good Luck with Your Move & Change is Good.
To bad your not moving to France.
Looking forward to your New Blog & maybe you will recreate The Marty Wombacher Show.
Cheers !
Gosh. This is a king size drag for us, and for NYC. I echo those above who realize that we're losing someone that brought a life and color and zing to the city, and in the trade we'll get some little shit anybody nobody who's taking up space. But for you -- lotsa stuff to look forward to when you get back in the P.I. Groove.
@JHWang: Maybe I'll try France after Peoria! I hear you about change. I felt a little bit in a rut the last year or so and I think this will be good.
@Grade A Karen: Thanks for the kind words! Let's try and get together before I hit the road to P-Town!
I hate it when Peoria wins.
:(
:
:
So ... what's happening with your rent controlled apartment ...
@John: Ha ha ha! Do you know how many times I've been asked that question? Well, I can't tell, it's a secret between my landlord and I and I'll never tell since they let me live here in rent-controlled bliss for well over a decade! Hope you follow the exploits in Peoria!
Hey Marty:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0MfNopnfY4
http://internationalbar.wordpress.com/gallery-1-2/#jp-carousel-297
http://internationalbar.wordpress.com/gallery-1-2/#jp-carousel-297
@Uncle Waltie: Thanks for the linkage, the memories and the drinkage! I hope to run into you before I leave the city. SIP AHOY, my friend!
oh fuck Marty. nothing stays the same...... thats good when it sucks and thats bad when its great. fuck.
Marty, you've been such a good friend to me. ugh......I'm not sure I can accept this. What if I kick my cat out and you move into her room. sure, its not NYC and it smells like cat piss but we can make this work.
damn Marty...... on the up side, your parents are adorable. thats the best I can come up with right now.
Wow, what a bundle of great comments from friends here!
@Green Monkey: Actually this is a good thing for me and I think you'll enjoy the Peoria blog. And as I've told others, you now have a good reason to visit Peoria!
@onemorefoldedsunset: I agree and I appreciate all the kind words and wishes more than you know! Thanks, everyone!
ZONTAR sez......
......change is the ONLY constant in life
......you had the WONDERFUL opportunity to enjoy NYC before it morphed into Bloomfuckville
......you NOW have the opportunity to explore your mind in NEW wondrous ways
......that Peoria is the Paris Of The Midwest.......ENJOY!
......you will meet a most magnificent VERY wealthy woman who wants to spend ALL of her money
keeping you happy
......you will imbibe MANY new midwest Craft Beers (but probably stick with the Buds)
......your Mom will have STILL been the BEST lookin' babe on any of your blogs
......your journey will be blessed by all the love you have created in the hearts of your readers
Break a leg, Marty...... ALL the BEST!
Last June I was in New York with my friend Lex. Broadway, Times Square, Top of the Rock, Katzs, Moma, Shakespear in the Park AND.....dinner with Marty!!! Nice to have met you. Love your blog. Sorry to hear you have to leave. I am looking foward to Marty in Peoria. Best wishes and Good Luck Marty!
@DrBOP: Thanks for all the wonderful Zontar predictions! I hope they all come true and I'm looking forward to this new journey in life. One dorr closes, it hits you on the nose, you drink a beer and them move on down the road! Cheers!
@Debbie: Thanks for the good wishes! Glad I was still here in NYC when you and Lex came to visit! I had a blast and if you ever get to the Midwest, we'll do it again. And maybe I'll take a trip to Canada one of these days!
Someone said it earlier - you bring humanity to the Internet. I'm saddened by what the city has been transformed into, but I'm glad you got here in time to experience it when it was still the greatest. Your blogs have always been an important part of my days, and getting lost in your adventures in 365 helped me find a little happiness when I was going through a really tough time - I will never forget that. MAD was simply one of the best blogs the internet has ever hosted. You really are one of a kind, and the former NYC always had a strong demand for just that. This is another loss that makes the city a little less great than it was.
I look forward to the new blog and the eventual rebirth of Fishwrap!!!
@JAZ: It really makes me feel good that the 365 bars blog brought you happiness in a bad time. That's the highest praise a writer/blogger/weirdo like me could ever hope to get. I'm anxious to get to Peoria and explore the new blogging canvas in the Midwest, I'll be happy to know that you're along for the ride!
Whoa! Back to the ILL! Crazy! I moved back to my hometown a few years back and it has strangely, worked out okay! God-speed and safe travels, maybe we can meet up for a beer, now! Also: The Kinks, rule!
@Ash Pungsnotded: Yeah, I'm coming back! Let's definitely meet for a beer or 10, I'll send you an email soon. And yes, to the Kinks!