Monday, May 09, 2005

New York.

People sometimes ask what its like living in New York. What makes it special, different, worth living in? I also meet many people of the "love to visit but could never live there" variety. And I always wonder "how could you feel that way?"

For me, living in New York is a lot like other things in life. Everything has a balance and an equality to it. The good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly, the peaceful and the disruptive. Living in New York boils down to this; the city, its pace, its atmosphere, its people, all exact a price from you. The city asks for certain things from you and its up to the individual to decide whether what you get in return is worth the price of admission.

SOME OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT LIVING IN NEW YORK

Instant and relatively affordable access to some of the greatest cultural treasures in the world.

The city's progressive and liberal citizenry.

The ability to be whatever you want be.

The fact that almost every single country, ethnicity, nationality and religion in the world is represented here. The food, newspapers, thoughts, culture and languages of the world all reside in one corner or another of New York.

Its history as the staging ground for almost everything America was built on.

The sheer amount of opportunity available for personal, professional, spiritual and intellectual growth and learning.

It's relatively easy access to most of the rest of the world.

The food, oh the glorious food.

The great sports.

The crowds.

Our superiority complex.


THE THINGS THAT DRIVE ME MAD ON OCCASION


The never ending cacophony of sirens and horns.

The ubiquitous smell of piss in the subways in July and August.

The occasional zero-sum game of winners and losers.

The awful attitudes of self-important and horrifically shallow wankers, both the domestic and imported varieties.

The ever-rising price of apartments, food, basically everything.

The crowds.

Our superiority complex.