Living in California my whole life, I’ve always been curious – wondering how it felt to live in another state. I’ve always had an admiration for friends and colleagues who moved outside of their home state for a new job, a new chapter – away from the familiarity and the sense of comfort and starting anew.
We’re doin’ it!
So when work presented the flexibility to work from anywhere for a month, I really thought about it. When I first visited NYC in 2017, I fell in love — just like many people do — with the energy of the city. So we made it happen.
It didn’t happen immediately, though. The thought marinated in my mind for a few months because there was a lot of uncertainty … given that this was the end of 2022 when hiring freezes were happening and layoffs were going on (as there still is). It just didn’t feel responsible. What really pushed me was knowing that this was an experience I was always going to wonder, what if. The timing wasn’t ever going to be right, and this timing made the most sense.
We welcomed 2023, it was the new year – and we made the decision. We booked our stay, we booked our flights, and NYC was just a few months away. It was going to be one of the best decisions we made this year.
New York City
There’s a reason why everyone you meet loves New York City, there’s a reason why there are so many songs inspired by New York City, and there’s a reason why many things begin in New York City. There is something for everyone.
I thought the Bay Area was diverse but New York City takes it to a different level. Everywhere around me, my ears picked up different languages, different dialects from across different countries. Different boroughs with vast cuisines from the around the world. A beautiful mix of people from different cultures, fashion styles, different ages, all riding the same subway train together.
My friends asked me what were my favorite things about New York. I couldn’t come up with an answer immediately — if I answered with a favorite restaurant I dined at, or a favorite location I visited, it still wouldn’t fully capture my favorite thing.
It was the lifestyle of New York City that was my favorite. The accessibility to grocery stores, cafes, to my workout class, to the nail salon, to meet up with friends — it was the ease of hopping into the subway and hopping off at a different side of town. The city doesn’t sleep and no matter which day of the week, the local neighborhood bar would be full of people — corporate happy hours, first dates, friends catching up. Everyone is hustling from the food delivery bikers, the vendor at the corner fruit stands, the commuters, the dog walkers. Our work day would end, for the next part of our evening to begin.
We visited all the popular location sites that often show up in Hollywood and TV Shows — from the Empire State Building, Times Square, Wall Street, Brooklyn, and more. We ate at probably almost every restaurant that was recommended to us (barely scratching the surface of what NYC has to offer). We took it slow on some days and ate 5 meals on other days. The culture is rich, the history is present, and differences are welcomed. We attended a Broadway Show, took a nap at Central Park, saw the sunset on the Hudson River. We also experienced what it was like paying premium money to live in a tiny apartment with miniature sized appliances. NYC is not cheap.
I recognize the privilege of being able to afford the time to live in a different city for a month, and the privilege of being able to have the experience we did. And I’m very grateful for the experience.
“Would you move to New York?” I think in different circumstances — like in my early twenties, yes. Although I wouldn’t have as much dispensable income, I think living in NYC would expose me to more beyond my Bay Area bubble. However, I’m now at a point in my life where I value the size of my living space, where I can the sky without it being obstructed by skyscrapers, and where I can be within reasonable distance to my family.
But I cannot wait to visit again 🚕
