A Friend Moves to Washington

I have relatives around the U.S. but would live only in NYC. NYC is diverse, sophisticated, civilized. There are some pockets of intolerance in the outer boroughs, but the fact that Trump lost (and Kasich won) among Manhattan Republicans demonstrates that, in NYC, even conservatives aren't extremists.

I now live in a (Democratic) NYC suburb, but commute to the City several days a week and still regard myself as a New York City resident. I sometimes forget that I can't vote for the NYC mayor. My students are from many, many national, religious and ethnic backgrounds. The subway looks like a global convocation. The arts reflect every genre, school, skill level and point-of-view in the world. "Hamilton" is here. Hamilton is even buried here, in the Trinity Church graveyard.

The only city I've visited that could hold a candle to NYC is Paris -- and I still prefer NYC.

“D.C. is too homogeneous,” said one girl. “Everyone is either a lawyer or wants to be a lawyer or they’re in politics or want to be in politics."

????

She needs to expand her circle.

The vast majority of DC's 670,000 residents are not lawyers and do not work in politics. Among my group of friends, all DC residents: teacher, psychologist, real estate agent, librarian, real estate agent, teacher, HR manager for a moving company, owner of a moving company, school chaplain, real estate agent, graduate student, bartender, artist...you get the idea.

Even most people who work for the federal government do not really work in "politics" per se. For example: friends who are DC residents and work for the federal government include a transportation planner, librarian and a physicist.

The political class in DC is a small part of the actual resident population.

Well, at least no one called New York a "moveable feast" although the first comment came pretty close. But seriously, this is part of the mindset which caused a recent presidential candidate to refer to "New York values."

I am a native New Yorker (born at Flower Fifth Avenue) who has resided in Atlanta for 33 years. I love them both, but I'm glad I live in Atlanta now. It's a destination city for so much young energy, and I've been amazed how much Atlanta has changed for the better since we were awarded the 1996 summer Olympics. Yes, we're surrounded on all sides by the State of Georgia, but we don't actually have to live there. Instead, we've got a thriving LGBTQ community, the fourth largest Jewish community in the country, terrific dining and theater and music, and National League baseball (at least until the end of 2016).

Fourth generation New Yorker...but NYC is far from what it was even 10 years ago.
Jeremiah's Vanishing ny chronicles the NYC, the neighborhoods etc, that Mayor Bloomberg destroyed.
now NYC feels like a mall for the wealthy of all ages and for tourists.
At this point Washington DC seems more authentic and diverse than NYC

"We moved on to other conversations, wished our friend well, and left, feeling satisfied with where we were." Great ending. Sending someone off with love as they leave, yet still being satisfied where you are.

As a baby boomer, growing up in New York when I did was perhaps a charmed time in the late 50's the early 70's. We were kids of immigrants and it was affordable. and the city's offerings were expansive. Even living there in my twenties when the city was gritty '77-84-it was affordable, exciting and edgy. I moved to Cambridge, MA 1984 and have been living in Albuquerque since 1997. I get my NYC fix once maybe twice a year but that it is has become a city or the uber haves has changed the city and not for the better. Sadly, the ends of bell curve have grown exponentially-- and the middle has been starved out. Do I miss New York banter, pace and the city that formed me OF COURSE! but not at the cost and the expense that has changed the character of the Big Apple forever.

This article is clearly fiction. Most young lawyers are tied to their terminals doing paperwork, and usually have no idea what city they are in.

I believe that NYC's secret is that it is a girl's town, not a guy's town. Don't move to NYC if you need the back 40, the performance vehicle, the golf course, the barbecue, or the wet bar. Do move to NYC if you are interested in different communities, shopping, talking, walking little dogs, talking, theatre, talking, music, talking, meeting new people, talking, etc.
I was born and raised in Washington DC -- a wonderful place for childhood and teenagerhood! I have retired to New York City -- the best little old lady's city outside of Paris.

Absolutely best spot for all US lawyers. Reykjavik.

I once read about the different "currencies" in large American cities. The currency in Boston is education. In DC it's power. In L.A. it's fame. In NY.... our currency is money...

And don't they call one lawyer leaving NYC a terrible start?

It's the only half-way civilized city in the United States.

Austin? Spent some time there last spring and lived there long ago when it was a much smaller place. It has many positives but the negatives are piling up, too, like trying to park anywhere downtown. It is growing fast and the growing pains, to my eyes, were showing up everywhere, including too much traffic and cars that come off the Interstate right by downtown doing 60 MPH and over. Smaller cities have a harder time managing traffic because they can't get ahead of the problems. Instead, in Texas the answer is always more freeways and more freeways that fly over neighborhoods raised 50 or 60 ft. in they air up on concrete supports.

Austin is still very much a fun, young place, but my guess is that ten or slightly more years from now it is going to be a mess. Houston, never my town, actually has a younger average age than Austin and it has been messed up with crowding and traffic for a long time. It must be there are more jobs in Houston. It is also kinda hot (oppressive) in the summer, which runs from about April 1st through mid-October or so.

I always say it depends on what you are looking for and what you want a city to mean, or do, for you. Under the right circumstances, Austin is a good place to be, but watch out for people carrying guns everywhere thanks to the governor and the rurally dominated state legislature.

Doug Terry

New Yorkers have just the slightest bit of envy about DC, which is one reason they put it down, hard. New York is the true capital of America? To many foreign eyes, yes. Growing up, tons of movies were set in New York and they still are, even if they try to cheat and use some Canadian city to fake it (doesn't work because only New York has those obnoxious signs over every little store and delli and only New York is dirty enough, aged enough, to play News York).

When I was 24, I picked Paris. Paris worked for me, but I never really considered the potential much of actually finding a paying job there. You want to feel you are at the center of something and that, maybe, you can have a role there and some impact. Right? Then I came to DC, where I stayed for 17 yrs. until I grew tired of it.

Every place is really different once you work, or worm, your way in. Knowing that many public officials were drunk most afternoons, hearing about affairs and senators grabbing at women reporters puts a different spin on things, fast. But then you hang on to the idea, and the fact, of people who are doing important things for others that really matter. That's what is missing in other places around the country. Are you just living your life solely for yourself? In DC, most in the game are trying to have a positive impact.

Paris is still a city where an artist can live and not feel like an outsider. I don't know about New York since it has been taken over by billionaires.

Doug Terry

Hilarious!

Love NYC! The subway, crowded streets, the parks, the arts, diverse culture, etc. A great city. Will definitely miss it when I return to my southern roots. But I will have many fond memories to take with me.

Do not look forward to having to drive everywhere when I get back; and I see more people in a day here than I will see in a lifetime back home.

I speak from experience when I say that no matter where circumstance may take you, our City will always be a part of you and you will be wiser in knowing that you were a part of simply the best there is. Having said that, life does go on beyond the Hudson and you will have a new motivation to rack up air mileage for your occasional pilgrimage back home. Thanks for your submission.

In Atlanta if all you see are Trump stickers on F-150's you are living in the wrong section of town. Atlanta is a very cosmopolitan city, with an affordable pro- business environment and great lifestyle. I love to visit DC, NYC, Chicago, LA but love to living in Atlanta.

NYC is the best place until you cross the Hudson or the Atlantic.

Many wonderful places to live in the USA, and the world, besides NYC.

I grew up in Queens (born 1947). Went away to college and med school. Lived at 68th and York Ave. for one year. Loved growing up in NYC but it was time to go.

I left 44 years ago. I miss the Rangers but I can watch them on TV.

Don't miss the hassles, do miss the theater.

Would like to spend September-October in NYC

So provincial. Classic NY. There's a better world out there if you open your minds.