What is it like to live in New York?

Question

I want to live in New York someday. (Preferably after I get my bachelor's degree and go for my masters) My mother is trying to discourage me from living there. I suppose I could live close to New York and visit on the weekends. Anyway, I been to New York several times, but can any of you tell me what it's like to live there?

Answer 1

Definitely try it or you'll always regret not doing it. There are plenty of top schools there so going to school there is a good way to live there in safe situation at reasonable cost. Some people hate it & some people won't live anywhere else. My son went to school there 15 years ago & is still living on the Lower East Side (in the same neighborhood where my grandparents first lived when they came over from Russia almost a hundred years ago). The best thing about NYC, believe it or not, is the people. You can stand in one spot -- like Union Square, or Houston & Broadway -- & within minutes see every conceiveable shade of human skin color; all living & working in the same city & all getting along & respecting each other's space & occupation. It has been said that "You don't live in New York City; you live in your neighborhood." That is true. Virtually every block is its own mini-neighborhood, with its own Korean Grocery, Pizza Place, Laundromat, etc. You get to know your neighbors, their dogs, their favorite food delivery guy, etc. They'll all be happy to give you advice on where to buy clothing, get your shoes repaired, which movies have discount tickets, etc. Living in NYC is a truly great experience. Everyone should try it -- when they're still young enough to enjoy it

Answer 2

I've lived in NYC as long as I can remember and it just seems like there are no good things about it, but perhaps it's me being jaded. From a perspective of an outsider NYC is exicting and sometimes I try to imagine myself as a tourist so I can try and see it with new eyes. NYC is immensely overwhelming and foreboding in so many different ways and if you like that than all the more power to you. You should consider what NYC stands for though...It caters to the powerful and the wealthy and on the other side you have the artsy and/or the inner city aspect of things. Anyone in the middle just seems somehow lost and it's difficult to find people you can connect to in a hugely populated city. But if you're into food, fashion, entertainment, glitz, glamour, money or just about anything you can think of New York will have it waiting for you. Since it's such a densely populated city the result is that there is not a lot of personal space which can make people very uptight and not at all nice. If you're really interested I think you should take an extended vacation here and just get a feel for the vibe. Really try and do everything here and at the end of the trip you can determine if it's the right move for you. You'll be armed with a series of experiences which can help you with your decision. You could always go for broke and just move because you can really learn a lot about yourself that way too. If you love it than that's great but if you don't that's great too because you found out a little bit more about the types of places you don't want to associate yourself with.

Answer 3

I like living here, but I grew up here. It's really loud and noisy and you have no privacy because you have neighbors everywhere... but I like that. I don't really care for privacy, I think of privacy as isolation.

You just have to get used to sharing space and finding those alone moments by blocking out the others. It comes naturally to me, but I've heard that a lot of newcomers have a hard time with that.

You also get very un-phased. Like a woman threw up at my feet yesterday while I was walking down the street and I didn't even think two thoughts about it, but then thought it would be a funny story to tell my out-of-town friends because they would have been phased by such a thing.

The good things are that everything is open late and available to you anytime you need anything, and there are people always in cause you get lonely

Answer 4

I've spent a few months there in the Bronx by Pelham Station.
Its exciting, the people are so different looking and of all nationalities and I have not sensed any racial hatred though there are places you should stay away from especially at night
like 5th and 114 street. I'm an artist and ny inspires me but it is grungy and expences arn't cheap but eating out is. Its very busy with lots of people, so you would need to adjust to that. I find the place friendler than Charlotte where I live. You should go check it out if you can. Take the Amtrak and support alternative transpotation?

Answer 5

I would live in NYC in a heartbeat. Despite the high cost of living. Now most of your your high end wage earners live New Jersey,others commute from Connicut and Massacheussets to work. But New Jersey would be the closest bet to living to NYC. U could take a train, ferry into NYC.

Answer 6

Everything is more expensive than you could ever imagine, and rent is ridiculous - you work to just pay the rent. On the upside, you have access to anything you want pretty much whenevr you want it- the world is only a subway stop away.

Answer 7

my sister lived there for a month...she initially said she would love it...but after a month or so she gave up....she lived in queens...pretty decent place...lots of greeks (astoria)...she wanted to pursue her art/painting...but it turns out she spent her days just being in her apartment...she went there knowing she didnt have any close friends...I guess thats the problem...you have to have or make friends to enjoy NY...not unless you are better off alone...personally I like the diversity ...and alot of stuff you can do...winter would be a whole different story although Ive never been there in winter I could just imagine...