It is physical - You will sleep like a damn log your first three months. You will be moving and your senses will be overloaded. walking, walking, and more walking, going up and down subway stairs, running to catch the bus, third floor walk up, fourth floor walk up, dancing, carrying bags, hauling groceries, dodging tourists. We are in the elements. We are not going from big box store to work to farmer's market in our heated or air conditioned cocoons on wheels. We are *in it*!
Headphones - I break this rule a lot, because walking around Brooklyn with a soundtrack is a beautiful way to spend a day, but generally I keep headphones in on the subway to protect my precious hearing from the grind and squeals of the trains, but when I'm walking around I take them out. Not really for safety, although it is a good habit for safety, but more for the great things you could hear people say or the tunes your neighbors/restaurants/drivers are putting out there. It keeps you more connected to your community.
Itās ups and downs - One moment you could be getting romantic about the city, the characters you encounter, sunsets so beautiful you start to actually appreciate air pollution, watching a violinist make a kid smile and clap in wonder as she plays La Vie En Rose. The next minute something doesnāt work, or someone gets angry, and youāre late for your thing and youāre thrown into bouts of hot frustration by a subway system that borders on myth.Ā Sometimes it feels like a cage and but most of the time you donāt know how you could live anywhere else. Sometimes you want to escape and then after a few days you want to come back and when you do it feels like home.
I could keep going, but I'm jealous you have so many new things ahead. As sofi said, don't give up!
Feb 22, 2024
Related Recs
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š decent living situation ā awful roommates, deadbeat landlords, or psycho neighbors will make you super miserable so try to get this one locked down!
š« homies ā making new friends can take a long time, but if you commit to putting yourself out there over and over youāll connect with some truly inspiring and amazing people
š¤ income (even a little) ā yes you can get by on dumplings, no Ubers, no bars, etc. but being broke here feels particularly like a prison because most things are stupid expensive. Be on your grind and then blissfully spend it all away
If you end up getting all 3 of these youāre probably gonna be hopelessly addicted to being here just like me. Welcome to NYC :)
Feb 21, 2024
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It was a big risk, but I was just laid off from a job I hated and had a fresh breakup on top of that. I had decent prospects as far as potential jobs go, but I wanted to stay in āthe cityā and I felt like I hit a ceiling in San Francisco. Plus, Iād lived there nearly my entire life. Thus, I had a suspicion that if I couldnāt be happy in New York City, then I wouldn't be happy anywhere.
That was a little over six years ago now and Iām the happiest Iāve ever been. A LOT has happened here, and Iāve dealt with a ton of grief, but man, I love it here. I have a great job, made some real friends and community, and am living outwardly as my truest self.
Iām sure I couldāve had this in SF if I tried, and I know that this lifestyle will change inevitably, but I love living in a place with an energy that emanates throughout the city.
Mar 6, 2024
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Iām from the midwest, moved to manhattan for college, stayed for a bit after, have recently moved to a few different cities, and have wished to be back living in new york ever since. Itās often talked about like a thrilling dreamā itās obviously not. But what I can say is that I think in many ways living there helped me grow into a person I really understand. I was listening to a podcast recently where this comedian brittany carney said something like living in new york slaps her in the face every day but she likes that about it so she stays. I think that was a pretty accurate way to describe it. It took me a while to feel comfortable living there, but I still remember the moment I realized that it had become my home, and ever since no home Iāve made for myself has felt quite the same.
Feb 4, 2025
Top Recs from @Shadowbeni
a study issued last month found that dancing is the most effective way of treating and mitigating depression. Walking, therapy, and yoga also outpaced SSRIs. and if you're saying 'oh this was probably funded by Big Dance', there's no evidence of that and if you're saying 'that's just what a Big Dance shill would say', well honey you're right
Mar 4, 2024
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Reminder that most of what we do is a performance
Feb 24, 2025
Oct 3, 2024