Again, well said. I agree with you. I, too, have some good friends who live out there (cannot fathom why).
I like the raw energy of NYC, something no place in CA has, not even LA, and I lived out there for almost 4 years. NYC trumps any large US city for pure energy and things to do. I can be in Europe in a few hours, Canada in no time, the food is second to none, the weather is decent, as you tend to get four seasons instead of warm and cooler.
I've lived in Europe, Asia, and 7 US states. NYC is by far my favourite place in the US to visit, and perhaps one day, live. NYC is walkable, something few US cities can boast. Not even Chicago comes close to NYC in amenities -- and Chicago cannot seem to get a grip on their gun violence problem, something NYC has all but stamped out.
Let's not even mention the plethora of museums, restaurants, theatre choices, educational institutions, and more that NYC has going for it. No other US city can compare.
Agree on most counts except the homebody thing. I'm mostly a homebody and moved here to NYC 8 years ago and love it. I like that I can just go on a walk and get a coffee or groceries or something, and just the liveliness of all the people out and about gives me some sort of energy. Other cities (US at least) feel desolate.
I still do normal social stuff sometimes, and yeah there are exceptionally great opportunities for that here. But even knowing they're there waiting for me when I want to do them has value to me on the 90% of days I'm just at home.
Thanks for the thoughtful response! I like cities. But NYC, which I visited recently, felt really crowded and overwhelming. I do get the appeal honestly, and I after your comment I'll consider it more thoughtfully.
The New York night life cannot be beaten in the US for many reasons.
The sheer volume of people also means that people have a good chance of having good ties to NYC even when never having lived there. Love the weather out here in the Bay Area, but there is a part of me that will always miss NYC and the whole tri-state area (well, minus Long Island anyhow ;) ) - hell, the whole east coast in general.
i went to college in central florida, and now reside in NYC paying $2800 for a small studio. it's been nearly a decade of putting up with expensive rent, lines, loud headache inducing noises everywhere, occasional first encounter with a rat on sidewalk, and yet, no plans to move out.
some reasons to to like nyc:
it's no Tokyo, but it's actually pretty big. each neighborhood has its own vibe, and there are dozens of those in manhattan alone. The food is simply unbeatable. 2000 restaurants at any given time with new ones opening up every week. I'm having a hard time visiting all the good restaurants in my neighborhood alone. it's not too big where there is still a neighborhood feel (i'm super friendly with small business owners and personnel in local shops, my neighbors). in my experience [majority of] people have been very nice and open. i keep meeting people from all over the world every weekend. i have friends that are starting and running businesses that give me energy to go on. shit ton of good jobs. models. rich history on every block.. great for photography hobby, looks awesome in winter with all the snow.. looks awesome in the fall with all the leaves.. looks awesome in the spring with blooming spring blossoms.. easy to meet intellectual people.. models. lots of healthy living options, some nyc areas have turned into shopping malls, but the city still has an edge. to name a few.. i love going to miami to relax and party, but can't imagine actually living there. possibly when i'm ready to "slow down" whatever that means?
You made a very understandable mistake, the same one that a lot of my friends do whenever I rave about how great New York is. Just because it's the best in several aspects doesn't mean it's the best place to live.
And you could be right about the size of a city being a much larger factor in quality of life than easy public transportation. I actually like SF very much, despite the shitty public transportation, and a big part of that is because it's smaller (about a tenth the size of New York) and yet still has high population density (second highest to only New York). My friends in even smaller places like Boulder (a tenth the size of SF) love the lifestyle and startup scene there too.
Either way, this conversation seems better suited in person, like the kind you'd have over a beer after a workshop in some other city.
Pros: Amazing food, music, "culture" in general. In general, if you enjoy some cultural niche, it is probably most at bloom in the U.S. inside the doors of some random address within the NYC boroughs. Compared to many cities, it's relatively easy to make new friends. In most neighborhoods, you can be born, go to school, play, eat every meal, go grocery shopping, get married, get divorced, spin out, find yourself, etc. in a walkable or at worst bikable distance.
Cons: wickedly expensive. You can trade-off some things to make it more affordable, but you have to get creative. It helps to know a local. If you want consistent access to real nature, you realistically need a car. Owning a car in NYC (usually) sucks.
I sum it up as a three-legged stool. It's a great place to have few-to-no responsibilities, be youthful (at heart, at least), and very gainfully employed. If you're short one of those three things, it becomes a shaky proposition. I've wanted to leave at one point or another for at least half the time I've been here, I'll probably still be here in 10 years.
I work remotely and live in NYC. Honestly, I cannot imagine living anywhere else. Present conditions notwithstanding, I believe New York to be an ideal place to base oneself. The connivence to both everyday needs, world-class food, culture, and yes, employers, is unparalleled. And on top of that, there is perhaps no better place in the US from which to explore the world.
People say it's expensive but they act as if you get nothing in return for what you pay, which is certainly not the case.
NYC is the only place in the US I was actually impressed by, and if I was a single guy with no family I could consider living there. Everywhere else I traveled was meh.
I am actually thinking on doing the opposite move. NYC is great If you earn a lot of money and don't mind spending it.
Also everything that is a commodity elsewhere, in NYC is a luxury. (A car, washers and dryer, etc.). It's also unbelievably overcrowded.
In the end it can be tons of fun, but if you like good weather, less crowded, cheaper places and more laid back relaxed environments then NYC is not the right place.
I would much rather prefer san Francisco or Santa Monica
I can't speak for others, but for me, I actually like big cities. Watching people. Don't need to own cars to get around. Food variety. Interesting buildings. Cultural stuff.
I guess that's why people in NY pay almost 45% of their after tax income towards housing related expenses, which is the highest in the U.S.
NY is definitely amazing. I lived there for a few years and just recently moved to SF. I miss the food, the people, the nightlife, the transit system (MTA > BART/MUNI), the women, the competition, and culture. DUMBO has emerged as one of the coolest hotbeds of digital talent and was awesome to work around.
But I do not miss the incredibly humid and uncomfortable summers. The (at times) ridiculous line-ups/congestion. The pedestrian/bike/vehicle wars (thankfully covered by the Gothamist every week). Tiny apartment spaces with narrow staircases and no central air. Having to store portable A/Cs... somewhere...anywhere! And feeling completely removed from nature (Prospect/Central Park are great... but most people don't pass by it everyday). And having to deal with people who think they are the shit just because they live in NY.
Hey, I ain't trying to slag NY. I love it. But... I finally understood how people could become exhausted by it.
having lived in NYC, which has a more intense albeit similar vibe, I have come to appreciate having a comfortable place to go back to at the end of a day. I think that makes a total difference on your experience. That and commute time. Cities like that offer so much, but I personally prefer to take bites of it whenever I feel like it. I think the biggest wins are the job market, career progression, the business opportunities, the fact that it's one of the best travel hubs in the world, and the insane amount of quality and diverse food, entertainment, and shopping options.
I live in NYC now and have spent enough time in SF, MV, and PA to know what it would be like to live there. It’s certainly expensive in Manhattan, but there are a number of advantages:
* I don’t need a car. This has been as freeing for me as for others.
* I don’t worry at all about logistics, ever. The subways run all night, taxis are ubiquitous, and walking is safe and pleasant.
* Everything is close by, so I don’t need to worry about meetups at the opposite end of the bay.
* I can find good food nearby regardless of the time of day. This city never fully sleeps, which is great because you can set your own schedule.
The city is also distracting, but after a while you get used to it and build up the self-discipline to stay in and work. I’m not convinced this is any harder here than it would be in any other place that I had friends.
For what it's worth, You sound alot like me, but I've never visited California. On the other hand, I've lived in New York my entire life and I love it.
Agreed, being high income and living in Manhattan or nice parts of Brooklyn is great, but other than that, I find the quality of life to be much better in many other cities.
I like the raw energy of NYC, something no place in CA has, not even LA, and I lived out there for almost 4 years. NYC trumps any large US city for pure energy and things to do. I can be in Europe in a few hours, Canada in no time, the food is second to none, the weather is decent, as you tend to get four seasons instead of warm and cooler.
I've lived in Europe, Asia, and 7 US states. NYC is by far my favourite place in the US to visit, and perhaps one day, live. NYC is walkable, something few US cities can boast. Not even Chicago comes close to NYC in amenities -- and Chicago cannot seem to get a grip on their gun violence problem, something NYC has all but stamped out.
Let's not even mention the plethora of museums, restaurants, theatre choices, educational institutions, and more that NYC has going for it. No other US city can compare.
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