Why I'm leaving Spokane after my Service Year

I came to Spokane a little over six months ago. About six months from now, I intend to leave Spokane.

My time in Spokane has been a huge learning experience. I came to get away. I came for adventure. And I came to see if I could make life work in the mountains. I don't regret the decision.

Spokane is a tough town for young people. I'm not original in saying that. Yet one of the things I like about Spokane is the various communities that pop up around trying to create a space for young people. The (currently down) Spovangelist, Spokane Faith and Values, various gathering spaces like The Shop, Jones Radiator, Boots, and Zolas. I joined the UU church right as a young adult group was starting. Young people are involved in non-profits. Project HOPE has an incredibly young and awesome Board. Through all these connections, I found that a lot of young people like myself were just passing through, looking at Portland and Seattle as places to relocate to. Putting words in their mouths isn't fair, but I got the impression that for many of them, staying in Spokane would be accidental, not intentional. And I didn't want to make that same accident.

After some professional success back in the Midwest, I learned that I found my happiness in the life I kept outside of work. I worked a rewarding job 60+ hours a week. I worked a shitty job up to 80 hours a week. But it was the life outside of work that kept me even-keeled emotionally. I'm proud of myself that my time in Spokane is marked by social success. I once said to a friend that I may have liked Minnesota better (though I didn't live through the horrible winter they just had), but I was happier here in Spokane.

Despite the social success, it's a struggle to see myself staying here and finding a person to start a family with. Too many young people leave; some come back once they find a partner. As I was sending personal emails out to colleagues and friends about my intent to leave at the end of my term, I was struck by how many people understood what I was going through. Two people shared stories of their own - leaving Spokane, finding their partner, and moving back to have a family.

I don't know what my plans are. All I know is that by deciding I'm leaving, I get to focus my efforts on finding a job and home in another place. I hope it will be long term - I haven't enjoyed the feeling of just passing through. Yet by being public that I intend to leave, I also hope that helps balance the changing incentives I face. I know it's tough to maintain difficult partnerships are harder when I'm just passing through.

I still have a decent chunk of time left, and I intend to make the most of it. Looking forward to it - and if the days keep staying as beautiful as today was, I think it will be great.