I Choose Indy!

Alright, here’s my story. I’ve traveled to all the states in the continental United States. I’ve been several times to Europe, Caribbean, Mexico and Canada. I admit that I love to visit big cities with international flavor like Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Berlin. As a child I dreamed of living in places like New York City or Boston. I took a semester-long, college internship in Philadelphia, and had a blast! I did a lot of post-college, globe trotting. I had some exciting experiences. I was in Berlin in the winter of 1989 when the big old Berlin Wall came tumbling down. I lived for a while in Flagstaff, AZ, and I also lived for a while to Nashville, TN. Thanks for my theme song Johnny cause I’ve been everywhere man.

But time & time again, I keep choosing Indy, WHY?

In 1992 I landed a good job in downtown Indy in media. I lived in downtown for nearly a decade as a single person and as a young married person. I rented apartments and owned several homes. I lived downtown before and after the Circle Center Mall. WOW, what a difference that made in terms of dining, shopping, etc. I lived close to the office, and enjoyed all the outstanding amenities that downtown had to offer.

I’ve had so many chances to leave town. I can remember many conversations and visits to media companies outside Indiana. It was pretty easy to say “no” to places like Iowa, Arizona and Ohio, but I can also think of a several companies that courted me that had some serious geographic advantages including Florida, South Carolina and California.

Each time, after weighing ALL of the factors (including Indy’s reasonable cost of living, good wages, shorter commute times, friendly atmosphere and our downtown amenities) even the allure of the new job, a pay raise and the proximity to the ocean could not lure me away.

Well, there you have it. I keep on choosing Indy. Indy feels like my very own “not-so-big” big city. Frankly, it is my home, and for me the very best place to live, to work and to raise my family.

Darrin Gray