After 175 weeks of writing for The Takoma Park Gazette (that’s about 3.5 years for people on the outside), my time there is coming to an end.  In mid-June, I’m going back to public relations, working for a small firm that a former colleague started five years ago.

Truth be told, it’s an exciting prospect. I left public relations five-odd years ago in a complete flame-out as the hi-tech bubble came crashing down. But things are much different this time around, primarily because of where I’ll be working.

The firm is small (10 people; I’ll make 11) and the focus is on being people first and flacks second. People care about each other, and I think there may even be an unwritten “No Jackasses” rule (thanks for that term, Laura!).

But I’ve got to admit that it’s going to be very difficult to leave The People’s Republic (of Takoma Park) behind. I have met some incredible people who have the richest stories to tell. It’s a place where I’ve learned a lot about myself and about the world around me. And best (or worse) of all, I think I “get” Takoma Park. Since the beginning, I’ve understood what it is that makes that place different, and I’ve respected it. Maybe even I’ve communed with it, in a journalistic kind of way.

Regardless, I feel a connection to Takoma Park, and I know it will be my favorite destination outside of the District. And I hope to keep some of the friends I’ve made there.