What compels a 28-year-old single male to uproot from the Midwest and embark on a life-changing trek to Las Vegas without knowing a soul, but for a handful of future counterparts at a leading Las Vegas advertising agency? In my case, a sense of adventure and a craving for something new is all it took. In June, I accepted a job offer so enticing I left my position at a Chicago advertising firm to try my hand in Vegas. My mother will tell you I employed no logic in this decision, but I’d like to think I did.
Being single and in no hurry to settle down, I figured leaving the state I’d been born, raised and educated in was an adventurous, now-or-never determination. The decision is not one I came to easily as family means the world to me; experiencing another section of the country trumped my inborn affinity for Mom’s home-cooking and appreciation for Dad’s continued habit of slipping me a twenty during every visit, warning to, “Put it to good use.”
Road Tripping One Way for One of Us
The logistics were simple once my decision was made. I reserved a U-Haul and recruited long-time partner-in-crime, Jack, to endure the road trip with me. It was a last hurrah of sorts for him and me as giving up our regularly relished midwestern brand of debauchery was nearly as painful as bidding adieu to being home for every holiday.
We plotted our route, outfitted ourselves with the latest travel apps and set out on the most ballsy adventure I had ever undertaken. For those of you who have not traveled several states in a 14-foot U-Haul, take me at my word that the ride is less-than-smooth, anybody other than my best friend would have asked to be rerouted home via Greyhound after 500 miles and the touted 10 MPG is just a wacky estimate.
With more fuel going on my Amex card that I’d anticipated, we secured lodging in a seedy hotel after a full day on the road. We were worse-for-wear and painfully reminded we are no longer the 20-year-olds who road-tripped to Florida in a minivan packed with 7 guys and four beer coolers. All we wanted was a clean bed and a few hours of shut-eye to erase our road weariness.
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada
A hot Tuesday late afternoon greeted us as we pulled the U-Haul into my apartment complex after more hours on the road than we’d hoped. I’d seen the layout of my place in a display unit on my trip to Vegas to interview. I like it well enough, but will settle on something more permanent when I have a few months residency and can make an ideal selection on location.
By Wednesday afternoon, I had furniture in place with scattered boxes littering my limited square footage. Jack’s early Thursday morning flight left us in short supply of time to kick back on the Strip, but we had to hit it given he has never been to Las Vegas and was anxiously awaiting taking it in, even for a short while. We sampled several libations sold street-side and were safely delivered via cab to my new abode after checking out a string of casinos.
While we didn’t hit up anything too upscale, I was taken by the activity level for a Wednesday night outside select clubs. I am definitely stoked to start checking out the Las Vegas nightlife. Taking in things to do late-night in Las Vegas excites me, and I cannot wait to discover the adventures awaiting me in my untried environment that is fast proving to be hotter than Chicago in more ways than one!
My Mission
Chronicling my transition to life in Las Vegas on this site is my way of having a record of it all and hopefully making friends along the way. Given my current state of trepidation about making my mark in Vegas, I hope this site serves as a Las Vegas travel guide for visitors and new residents. Perhaps a lofty goal, but I also hope to provide long-time residents a fresh look at their remarkable city through the wide eyes of a new resident.
Navigating the city and learning its ways enable me to share the good and the bad with an honest, fresh approach. My goal is to create a worthwhile site helpful to anyone seeking a look at Las Vegas off the beaten path while also having a plethora of in-depth reviews of some of Las Vegas’ major attractions.
Thank you for taking the time to learn my story. My hope is you check back often for weekly reviews and personal anecdotes.