Why You Should Try Life in NYC (at least once)

Blogger Holly Lee of Cooks and Travel Books shares her experience in preparing to move to New York City (Congratulations Holly!) Here are her reasons why everyone should consider living here, at least once, and tips on how to navigate the process. Thank you Holly for sharing your adventure with us!

Growing up I always heard that you need to live in New York City, maybe not forever but at least for a few years to get the experience. Personally, I’ve always wanted to live in the Big Apple and there are countless reasons why. I’m a city girl, the hustle and bustle energizes me. I’m not high maintenance; I don’t need a lot of things or much room either–which is good because in NYC I won’t be getting them. Both of my parents lived in New York, it’s where they met actually. They’ve long discussed what it’s like to fall in love with a city and I’ve always craved that feeling.

I think I stayed in my town for so long because of my boyfriend. Well, now he’s my fiancé and just as adventurous as I am. Needless to say, we started looking for an apartment, found a moving company and in a few months when I graduate we’ll be living in New York City. A lot of my friends think I’m crazy for the jump–both my fiancé (wow, that’s weird to say) and myself are established in our current town—so I’ve comprised a list of my favorite reasons to move to New York City.

 CULTURE

There isn’t another city like it in the world. New York City is the largest city in the U.S. with 8,175,133 people reported in the 2010 census. Around 36% of the city is foreign born. Living here will be my only chance to be exposed to some of the diverse people, foods and practices that flavor our world. New York is also a hub for sports, cuisine, tourism and the entertainment and performing arts. By living here I can watch some of the best plays in the world, eat some of the best food in the world, see some of the most amazing artifacts, historical sites and watch notable people walk down the street.

OPPORTUNITY

I will be moving to the city without a job lined-up. I can’t tell you how many people mention how difficult the job market is and how many people will be applying for the same positions. But they always forget how many positions there are! Yes, there are more people but there are more jobs. I don’t think the competition is a deterrent, especially if someone is a really impressive candidate. I just keep thinking about the possibilities. Someone could work in, say, the marketing industry in his or her hometown. They may even work their way to the best marketing firm in their town. They may work their way to the top position at the firm, but then what? In New York City that ceiling is much higher. The possibilities are endless.

TRANSPORTATION

The city’s density, low automobile use and transit system make it one of the most energy efficient cities in the U.S. Personally, I love the idea of kissing my car goodbye. You can meet friends out and never worry about how to get somewhere or who will drive. The system is speedy and dense. Transportation gets pricey. But leaving my car behind will take a big expense out of my monthly budget. I will not have to worry about gas, maintenance or insurance—all of which I think are a headache, anyway.

ENVIRONMENT

Anyone that ever said New Yorkers are rude was standing in someone’s way. New Yorkers are not rude; they’re just in a hurry. Think of all the things that you and your friends say in the car if you think someone is driving poorly, no one likes being held-up. Since 2005 New York has had the lowest crime rate out of the top 25 largest U.S. cities. The New York police department is nothing to turn your nose up at.

The cost of living in New York City is higher than in most cities, but so is the pay. Most people moving to New York City will notice a rise in their salary. The key is to figure out if the difference is enough to sustain your current lifestyle.

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Tags: nyc, opinion
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