Moving to the Slums

Today, I vacate my plush NBC office and move to what we are lovingly referring to as – “The Universal Lot Slums.” The new offices are a hop, skip and a jump from our current location, but as in any neighborhood, the difference between here and there is substantial. This is the third office move in three years at the network and over the years, since I was 24, I have moved too many times to enjoy the sight of boxes and packing materials.

To me, moving when I was so young was a new beginning – an exciting chapter of my life where the ending was unknown. I never really knew what my relatives thought about me leaving for a state 3000 miles away, but as is typical of me, I never gave it much thought. What others think of me is none of my business. It may bother me for a bit, but you either love me or in the case of some ex-friends, really hate me. Either way – I have always stayed true to myself. I’ve looked at my past as events that have shaped and molded me to the person I am today and I wouldn’t be where I am if I had taken another road. A decision in life, no matter how big or small affects everything.

It was New Year’s Eve, 1989 into 1990 when I called my mother from my hotel and told her that I loved California so much that I could live here. I had stepped off the plane in San Diego that December to spring time temperatures and instantly knew that I never wanted to shiver in below zero temperatures ever again. My friend Bruce and I nixed going to Los Angeles and opted for San Francisco instead and for years, that one decision has filled me questions. If we had come to Hollywood and I’d chosen Southern California as my destination, who would I be today? Who would be my friends? Would I be in a relationship? Would I be a porn star? (My secret is out – I’ve always been fascinated by the what if of that scenario.)

My mom laughed uncomfortably at my news, but she knew deep down that what I said would come true. Determination to follow my own path is something I’ve never lacked. These days, major moves are a thing of the past for me. Even when I buy my place in Palm Springs – I plan on not packing up from my current residence. I’ll simply live in the desert and reside in Los Angeles during the week. There won’t be any boxes to pack or movers to hire. After all these moves – I finally know what my destination was to be all along. The ride has taken me on quite a circuitous and complicated route and patience, which I do not possess, is needed to finish the journey. There is no doubt that more moves on this lot are in my future, but these are "industry slums," and at least, unlike a friend of mine who lives in Oakland, I won’t have to worry about walking around after dark.