Moving to New York can be a dream come true for many people. Often touted to be the city of dreams, New York is a city that’s endlessly alive, with a pulse that beats with excitement and gusto. There are endless advantages in moving to New York. However, you’ll also need to consider a few things before you make the big move. In this article, you’ll learn of the top five things to think about if you’re moving to New York City.
Where Is New York?
New York is the name of an American state as well as its capital city. Also often abbreviated as NYC, New York City is the largest city in the United States. A major part of the city is located on three islands near the Atlantic Ocean, and a small portion is situated on the mainland of North America. The city is comprised of Manhattan Island, Staten Island, and the western regions of Long Island. New York is essentially divided into five boroughs, which are also counties themselves.
These boroughs are listed below.
- Manhattan, situated in New York County on Manhattan Island
- Brooklyn, situated in Kings County on Long Island
- Queens, situated in Queens County on Long Island
- Staten Island, situated in Richmond County on Staten Island
- The Bronx, situated in Bronx County on the mainland
ARE THERE BENEFITS TO MOVING TO NEW YORK?
Before we get to the things you need to consider when moving to New York, let’s discuss the advantages of this wonderful city that never sleeps.
You Get to Walk a Lot
If you’ve watched movies or TV shows that are set in New York, you’re probably already aware that distance in this city is generally measured by blocks and not by miles. This is because New Yorkers walk a lot. It’s almost like second nature to the people of this city, and if you’re moving to New York, you’ll get used to all the walking pretty soon. Eventually, you’ll even start to love it. The upsides to walking a lot are that you get to stay healthy without the added expense of joining a gym, and you get to scarf down a burger or two without feeling guilty.
There’s a Lot to Do in the City
If you’re moving to New York for a new job, you’ll probably not have much time to look around and soak in the city. Nevertheless, when you do get a day or two off, you’ll never have to worry about not having anything to do. The city is brimming with endless possibilities, and you can always get a ticket to musical concerts or plays, even with short notice. That aside, there are also several museums like the MET, the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, and even The Museum of Sex. If none of this fascinates you, you can simply head to a park and people-watch all day. That’s one of the many wonderful things about this city.
You Can Get Everything Delivered
Another great thing about moving to New York is that you have the world at your fingertips. There are apps for everything, and you can get just about anything delivered to your home or your workplace. This is incredibly convenient, and it helps if you need something at short notice. You can have food delivered to your doorstep from the multitude of restaurants dotted across the city, and you can get odd things like warm cookies or wine brought to your home. Even the entertainment in this city is easily accessible, with plays being staged in parks and movies being screened on rooftops during the summer.
New York Is the Land of Opportunities
It’s no secret that there’s a lot of competition in this city. However, on the other side of the scale, you’ll also find that the opportunities are practically endless. This is the city that is often lauded as the place where your dreams come true, and you’ll discover how true this is on moving to New York. All the big businesses are here, and irrespective of what your job profile is, you can climb up the ladder to success if you work hard and stay focused. Even if you’re just starting out, New York is undoubtedly the place to be, because you can always find a window of opportunity opening up sooner than later.
The Food Choices Can Blow Your Mind
No talk of New York City is complete without mentioning the multitude of cuisines that the city offers. Moving to New York can be a gastronomical revelation for you, and you’ll see that there’s such a variety in the fare that if you decide to taste a different kind of food each day, it will take you years to try everything that the city offers. The best thing about this is that you can eat whatever you feel like, and whenever you want it. Apps like Seamless allow you to order food from just about every restaurant in the city, and if you’re a foodie, New York is sure to surprise you endlessly.
MOVING TO NEW YORK: IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
As much as you’d love to believe that moving to New York is entirely magical, you’ll also need to consider a few things before you make the big change and shift to this city. Here’s a list of the top five things to think of and make your peace with before moving to New York.
The Cost of Living Can Be Unexpectedly High
You’ll discover within days of moving to New York that the city can drain out your finances pretty quickly. Your grocery shopping bill can throw you off the very first time you get yourself some fresh produce, and your taxi rides can swiftly dig into your savings. Quite often, you’ll worry whether you’re going broke because everything in the city can seem to be too expensive. This can be particularly hard if you’re just starting out on your first job, or if you’ve always been a careful spender. Nevertheless, you’ll quickly learn to formulate a new budget that works specifically for New York.
There’s No Such Thing As Personal Space
One thing that’s evident when moving to New York is that it’s an extremely crowded city. Even if you’re doing something as simple as walking down the street, you can expect to be jostled around a lot and have your toes stepped on if you aren’t careful. The subway is another example of how crowded it can get in New York City, particularly during the weekends. Also, if you’re planning to eat out, you need to be prepared for a long wait at most places, especially if it’s during peak hours. A good way to work around this is to order in. Anyhow, it’s best to be aware that you’ll have little personal space in this city.
The City Can Drain You Out
Moving to New York can be hard on your nerves, at least during the first few months. You’ll feel like you’re always running to catch up everywhere—at work, on the road, and even in the subway. The city keeps you on your toes (both literally and figuratively), and after a while, this can be incredibly draining, especially if you’re an introvert and need some time to wind down after a long day. And even if you do manage to hit your bed early in the hope of recharging yourself, the sound of honking cars and the city’s incessant traffic can also be hard to shake off. The good news is that after a while, you’ll actually start to find the sound of traffic soothing.
You May Pack on a Few Extra Pounds
Sure, you’ll walk to almost everywhere in the city. But if you aren’t careful, you may find yourself growing out of your pants pretty soon. This is because the city has the most incredibly delicious pizzas and pretzels, and even people with a lot of control over their diet can sometimes give in to the temptation of sinking their teeth into these delicacies. And no matter how much you convince yourself that you’ll be different, you’ll find that on moving to New York, you may not be so different after all. So, indulge every once in a while, and just make sure you walk it off if you’re particular about not gaining weight.
Finding a Decent Place to Live Can Be a Challenge
Everyone who knows you’re moving to New York will tell you that it can be difficult to find a decent place to live in. In most neighborhoods in the city, a spacious room is considered to be a place where you cannot touch both the walls simultaneously. Advertisements that speak of a cozy apartment generally imply that the refrigerator is within walking distance from your bed. And these small spaces are generally twice as expensive as the price you’ll pay for the same space in another city. If you get fortunate and manage to find a rent-controlled apartment, that’s available; you couldn’t get luckier.
Conclusion
Even given all the upsides and downsides to moving to New York, there’s one thing you cannot deny. New York is a one-of-a-kind city, and if you have the right frame of mind to settle in, you’ll soon find that this city quickly starts to feel like home. And once you get to that point, no other place will compare to this brightly lit, fast-paced, ever-welcoming city.
Leave a Reply