A Farewell to Washington DC
December 2017
Everyone seemingly does a stint in Washington DC. Will's been in DC since 2010, and I followed a year after. DC did us a lot of good. We met in DC, fell in love in DC, created a community in DC. I've been granted unbelievable opportunities and political access: working two presidential convention cycles, two presidential inaugurations, five State of the Union addresses. Since 2011--excuse the cliche here-- it felt I had a front seat to history. As a young person interested in politics, it took me a while to come to terms with the fact that just because DC was right for me five years ago, doesn't mean it is now. Did we change, or did the current political climate become increasingly unbearable? Likely both. When we talk of leaving, we're both grateful for what we accomplished . However, we believe we have more to give than our current situation allows.
Washington Redskins vs New England Patriots, December 2011
Radio TV Corespondents' Dinner, Washington DC, March 2012
New Year's Eve, December 2012
Johns Hopkins Advanced Academic Programs of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Masters Graduation, Baltimore, MD, May 2015
More recently, I accepted the idea of DC not being a forever city. Will and I have had a lot of chats. A lot of after dinner walks (ADW). Perhaps it was talking it through incessantly, but honestly, we were fortunate that we felt this undeniable sense of restlessness nearly simultaneously. We're at different places in our career, but both feel an imminent need vacate our current environment. It's a wonderful place when you're young. You're surrounded by driven people and constant networking opportunities. However, the hyper-competitive atmosphere can feel draining. And ultimately, the anxious, fast-paced nature that's so intertwined in every facet of daily life was not sustainable for us.
Red River's Christmas Party in December 2015.
Our Wedding Party at Rappahannock Cellars in June 2016
A hike at White Oak Canyon in Shenandoah National Park in August 2016.
When traveling domestically, and when we tell people we live in DC, we receive a comically high response rate of "Oh I did a stint in DC!" It's not unoriginal to get started in DC. Accordingly, we've achieved a good amount during our stint. But, for us, our stint in DC has come to a close. We're ready for the next adventure, wherever that may be.
Women's March, Washington DC, January 2017
