New York is an ugly, dirty city. Its climate is a scandal, its politics are used to frighten children, its traffic is madness, its competition is murderous.
But there is one thing about it – once you have lived in New York and it has become your home, no place else is good enough.
I found this quote in the very charming Wildsam Field Guide for Brooklyn that I procured from the window display at my local liquor store (special thanks goes out to the teenage cashier who snagged it for me). This quote, by John Steinbeck, highlights the relatively unpleasant nuances of living in this city that we are constantly influenced by. But living under this influence is what arguably separates “New Yorkers” from the rest of the country.
The dirt and grime make us realize that we don’t need the pristine sterility modern living may provide. Our small living spaces force us to be considerate minimalists, constantly shedding things that feel unnecessary but leaving them in a “Free!” box outside our apartments. The aggressive weather, from blinding snow to relentless humidity, forces us to push forward instead of hiding in the comfort of our cars, driving around searching for a close enough parking space to not be affected by the elements before running into our big-box destination. The politics that affect the entire country we see and feel playing out right before our eyes, on the street- there can be no closing the curtains to the realities that our government directly affects. The traffic makes us all experts at logistical strategy- choosing the right train car to place us exactly at the staircase at Union Square, or navigating that corridor at Court Square like a goddamn Nascar driver. And the competition… I think New Yorkers coined the phrase, “Sink or swim”.
We are all under the influence of life in this city. We all accept the everyday challenges that come with “New York City Experience”. And the daily victories don’t leave us satisfied and resting on our laurels- it leaves us insatiably wanting more.
New York. My home sweet* home.
*dirty, shameless, aggressive, insufferable, addictive Home
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