Time away from Pittsburgh means time away from your beloved Kennywood Park. That means no post-Thunderbolt headaches from riding an ancient coaster, no moist rides home after sunset splashes from the Log Jammer, no Potato Patch grease on your hands, and no recent tallies on your Racer record. (But seriously, Red is the clear winner.)
And every time you talk to your Pittsburgh friends theirs seem to get stronger. You don’t think you ever sounded like that…
To you, Pittsburgh’s hospitals are second to none, so when you realized that the doctors in other cities fall far below the standard you’re used to, you decided to wait until you could see your real doctor back in the Burgh.
In fact, you don’t even know the best places to go in Lawrenceville. You still think the South Side is the only hot spot for a night out. Eventually you discover that Bayardstown is a café, light-dotted, members-only social club in The Strip, and Randyland is that eclectic bright yellow building on the North Side, which is actually a free public art display.
When you first left, you didn’t even realize that “pop” could be such a foreign word in other places. Then you had a long phase of adamantly defending it and refusing to acknowledge whatever “soda” is. But eventually, tired of the strange looks and confused waiters, you began jumping on the soda bandwagon.
And you’ve stopped unnecessarily using your emergency break. Without a daily ride through Pittsburgh’s sloping streets, the tolerance you once had for winding, dipping, pothole-ridden roads is slowly diminishing, as is your habit of pulling the e-break every single time you park, no matter the road’s incline.
Whether you bike, hike, run or even just walk, Pittsburgh always offered you an array of fantastic trail options. Between North Park, Frick Park, Schenley Park, The North Shore/Three Rivers Heritage Trail, and more, you never had to look far for the perfect trail for your activity. But outside of Pittsburgh, you’re realizing it can really be slim pickings. Nostalgia sets in along with an appreciation for the nature and beauty of this once-steel miner town.
And yet your Facebook feed is blowing up with iPhone pics of her, spotted at a Steelers game on Mt. Lebanon HS alum / Magic Mike hunk Joe Manganiello’s arm.
Because you’re having trouble finding a Primanti’s equivalent outside of the Burgh and for some reason putting fries and coleslaw on sandwiches hasn’t caught on elsewhere.
Away from your Most Livable City, you’ve almost forgotten how affordable, welcoming and comfortable Pittsburgh can be. But now your Pittsburgh friends are buying amazing apartments and still paying $2 for a beer, and you’re still just getting by in your overpriced studio, occasionally treating yourself the $7 beer on tap at your nearby dive bar. Maybe it’s time to rethink and relocate.
Is Pittsburgh a big town, a small city, or something right in between? You hear there’s a thriving job market, cool neighborhoods and a great cultural scene. Time away has proven to you that the big city life is overrated, the small towns are underwhelming and Pittsburgh is, really, just right. 