Meet Britta: NY Escapee
Some ladies just have it together. You know what I mean… the calming energy, the patience of a saint, eyes that are true windows to the soul, and the most sincere smile that says “Sure, I slay dragons, and work a full time job that has me traveling back and forth to NY, and play hide and seek with four children, but I’d love to grab a cocktail with you!” Britta is that badass babe. She was introduced to my blog (and thus, me) by a mutual and dear friend in New York, blogger extraordinaire Sheri Silver, so I knew she was a good egg. She’s since become a member of our famed Un-Book Club, and I’m proud to feature her NY Escapee story here.
Name: Britta Alexander
Occupation: User Experience Design
Family 411: My husband Ian and I have four children: Isaiah (9), Judah (7), June (4) and Teo (4). Having twins was the biggest surprise, challenge, and joy of my life.
Describe yourself in 3 words: Enneagram One (aka Perfectionist)
How many years did you live in NY and where in NY did you live? I was in New York for 14 years. In my early 20’s I lived in Manhattan (Kips Bay, UES), mid-20’s in Brooklyn (Williamsburg), and 30’s in Hastings-on-Hudson, a gorgeous Rivertown in lower Westchester that’s recently become a darling of HBO series and the NY Times.
How long have you been in the Triangle and where do you live? We moved to Chapel Hill one year ago, in August 2016.
Why did you move here? We wanted to spend less time commuting and more time with our kids. We wanted to buy a house big enough for our huge family and guests and spend well under a million dollars. With those things in mind, we specifically chose the Triangle because it’s a highly educated, tech-focused, culturally diverse pocket of the South. It’s affordable, beautiful, and closer to our extended family.
What was your first scouting visit to NC like? Surprising! My mom watched all the kids while my husband and I spent a weekend here. We stayed at The Durham and were honestly blown away at the unique sense of “self” this area has — from Counter Culture coffee to microbreweries to the adorable Lucky Strike Tobacco Factory to the Durham Bulls games. It did not feel like “Anywhere, USA.” We wanted to love it, but we walked away loving it even more.
Thing(s) you miss most about NY: I’m super fortunate because I was able to keep my NY job, so I still get to step into my “old life” pretty frequently. I work from home now, which is wonderful, but I do miss the daily in person interaction with my team. I think my husband misses the pace of the NY workplace. We miss our sweet little town and all the friends we had to leave. [Before moving here, I thought I’d say the food, the smart people, the energy — but I’m happy to report that we have all of that here.]
Thing(s) you’re most glad to leave behind in NY: Having an au pair feed my children 3 meals a day because I was commuting during breakfast and dinner.
Thing(s) you love most about living in the South: The daily “Free on front porch” postings on our neighborhood’s private Nextdoor group. It’s so cute and hospitable. Plus, that everyone even has a front porch…
Things you still haven’t gotten used to here: All my kids’ friends calling me “Miss Britta.” That’s just not something kids do in NY, and it melts my heart every time I hear it.
That’s just not something kids do in NY, and it melts my heart every time I hear it.
Your favorite local “secret” or spot: We live in Briar Chapel, and the pool here is ridiculous. There are actually two saltwater pools and a giant splashpad. There are water slides, diving boards, waterfall “mushrooms”. The little neighborhood restaurants make poolside deliveries. It’s where we live during the summer.
A friend is visiting you from NY. The first place you take them is: Downtown Durham.
Your favorite drivable getaway? We are taking our first trip to the mountains next month, so I’ll get back to you!
One thing you can’t live without: All the friends we’ve made in our neighborhood. We live in a new part of Briar Chapel, so this past school year was new for pretty much every kid at the bus stop. Everyone is in the same boat, and the moms have bonded together quickly. Someone is always there to help with bus pickup, lend you a pack-n-play for weekend guests, and even (once) pick up your sick kid from school if you’re stuck in a meeting. Many are from the Northeast, a few are from the South, and some are from abroad. I’ll super grateful for finding this group of moms so quickly.
Thanks, Britta!
