The upsides of solitude

Moving to a new city where you know fewer people can make for a surprisingly peaceful life, even if your new home is one of the more bustling metropolises in the world.

Where previously almost every hour was blocked out on the calendar and evenings booked up weeks in advance, now I find I have a significant proportion of time that is, well, free.

It's liberating. I can spend more evenings devoted to the rewarding (and previously rare) pastime of reading a book - currently Eleven Minutes and The Art of Choosing. I can spend time researching interesting industry trends and planning my ascent into the lofty heights of Sheryl Sandberg-esque greatness. There is time to dream, and time to relax into the anticipation of life in New York, especially now that I've done the hard yards and am deciding between two equally exciting job opportunities.

So although my American address book is growing thicker each day, for the time being I'm quite content to spend some time alone, settling into the city and adjusting to the newness. And for someone accustomed to a hectic social schedule, this is quite revolutionary.

View over the New Jersey skyline at sunset, seen from Hudson River Park