living in new york city

Four years ago, I moved to NYC from Colorado with a car packed full of clothes, my laptop, and a whole lot of expectations. While I loved the five years I spent in Colorado, I craved a faster pace of life. I figured since I had an itch to live in NYC, I owed it to myself to test it out, and there is no better time to do so than in your twenties.

While I was growing up on Long Island, I made frequent trips to the City, but it is hard to truly know what it is like to live here until you actually do it.

Everyone’s New York saga is different, but for me personally, the realities of moving to the City have exceeded all of my expectations. 

If you have an itch to move to New York, there are a few things that I think you should know.

Lifestyle. Each neighborhood in New York City has it’s own personality, and if you ever decide to move here, I recommended doing a lot of research on what the right neighborhood is for you. All of the neighborhoods have everything you could ever need: food from every corner of the earth and world-class shopping, but with its own twist. Whichever neighborhood you pick will turn into your own little city. I’ve certainly created my own little bubble on the Upper East Side.

Lack of space. Although you rarely see square footage posted on an NYC apartment listing, it is no secret that apartments here are small. When I was touring apartments here what surprised me the most was that because of the lack of square footage, there is frequently an absence of what I once thought were “household essentials” (e.g., a dishwasher and washing machine). Thankfully my apartment has a dishwasher, but I have to walk three blocks to wash my clothes. Not having easy access to laundry is by far the worst part of living here.

Getting around. If you know anything about me, you are likely aware that I hate driving. Just talking about driving makes me physically cringe. If you can picture the stereotypical grandma driver then you have a pretty good idea of what I look like behind the wheel of a car. You just have to replace the 90-year old woman with a 27-year old. So it is easy to say that moving to New York has been heavenly for me in this sense. Of course, rush hour is not as pleasant as it seems in the movies. There is pushing, delays, and a parade of beggars, and you rarely get a seat on the subway but in my mind, it is better than the alternative.

While we’re on the topic of getting around, I have a few tips for you, even if you’re just in NY for a brief visit. Follow them, or you may be exposed to the bluntness that New Yorkers are infamous for.

• There’s no such thing as jaywalking. It is acceptable to cross the street whenever traffic allows, but remember that cabbies may disagree.
• Keep right if you are moving slowly. This rule is not only for the streets but also the sidewalks and most importantly on the escalator.
• Always be suspicious of empty subway cars. There is usually a reason that they’re empty.
• Never make eye contact on the subway. It’s always best to look down at the floor.

Budget..everything. I am not going to bother telling you that New York is expensive because it’s almost common knowledge at this point. This means that it’s important to set a budget on both your time and finances. There are so many wonderful and unique things to experience and people to see in New York, but make sure to know your limits. Otherwise, you will burn out.

In terms of finances, you can still save money in New York if you are careful. One way is to not allow yourself to get tempted by the many amazing restaurants that surround you and will deliver to your door at any hour of the day or night. At least, don’t let yourself get tempted too often. The best way is to prepare and cook your own food as you would in every other city. It is important to note that shopping at grocery stores with good prices, like Trader Joe’s and Fairway, is similar to war. The accepted norm is to act if an apocalypse is coming, and you are stocking up your shelter. Also, never buy more than you can carry home.

Weather. As a native east-coaster, I am familiar with the weather in New York. I grew up with the humidity. It makes any temperature feel colder or warmer than it is, and it constantly ruins my hairstyle. But New York City makes you experience weather in a new way. The combination of blacktop in the summer and old heating/cooling options in apartments make the weather here worse overall. In the cooler months, NYC apartments are typically heated by old school radiators, and unfortunately, they seem to only have two modes: either 95 degrees or off. To find a temperature in between you typically have to keep your window open even when it is 30 degrees outside. In the summer, most apartment have window air conditioning units, which are definitely a lifesaver but not ideal.

New Yorkers tend to leave the City in the summertime in search of beaches and open spaces. Luckily, my mom still lives on Long Island, so I have a summer escape.

I was upfront earlier about some of the cons of living here are, but I think it’s important I’m clear: I would never trade the experiences I’ve had in NYC. It’s one of the only, if not the only place where you get all of these things.

• Living in the city affords you the opportunity to live a lifetime in a day. From a morning run in Central Park to some of the best food imaginable in the afternoon to an evening watching world-class theater and comedy. New York really can be like the movies. There is always something calling if you just say ‘yes.’
• You have the opportunity and privilege to watch/ learn/ taste some of the most inspired art, theater and food in the world.
• People are driven- Many people are just sleepwalking through life, but it’s too expensive to do that here.

While I likely won’t call New York City home forever, I plan to continue making the most of my time here. New York has so much to offer, so I plan on exploring it all, except for Times Square, because there is nothing good about Times Square.