Nahh I'm just kidding Port. I'm fucking envious and wished I lived in Manhattan. I can't afford it though.
I was at BLT steak last night and I had to wait for my 10pm table. As much as I hate to admit there is hidden strength though I don't understand why.
Lower East Side flat going for 2400, @ 1900 squar feet. Never in my life, growing up in NYC have I seen those flats that cheap. They are willing to lock that in for 3 plus years. My city is going through some serious changes. Wallstreet as we know is gone, so are the jobs and the Tax base. Friends of mine love Brooklyn. So far, things are doing ok there. Manhattan.....wake up call. Sorry folks. Sex in the City is over......time to regroup and re-invent the "Tax" base of NYC. It's not just NYC either, LA, CHICAGO, MIAMI.....those cities are falling apart all but slowly. I have faith that the cities above will bounce back some decade. It will be interesting to see how things go as unemployment inches up towards 10% or more....
I used to live in NYC in the 90's now in CA (I always thought CA is expensive but that is nothing like Manhattan) Anyway, I hated it. The humidity and the smell of piss on the street was just revolting. I lived in a rent controlled apt up by the cloisters but the "hood" was bad there......so I moved to Queens....was a big improvement....but not by far... I could get used to NYC if I had major money, but I am broke like the rest...
I lived in NYC in Battery Park City in the 80's and 90's and must say that one really had to put up with a lot of "crap" in order to enjoy a somewhat high quality of lifestyle. After adding up my rent, the parking garage, summer rental, food, health care, clerk, auto, and other major expenses, I think that I needed to make $85,000 just to break even - - - and that was back almost 20 years ago! Living only a block from the World Trade Center certainly eased my stress as I had no commute. That having been said, I did commute for awhile into Manhattan from Connecticut and it was a pain in the ass . . . especially that trip from Grand Central down to Wall Street on the subway . . . Especially in the summer with 90% humidity and 90 degree temperatures. Nothing quite like it. And I have ZERO desire to return.
When you said clerk it clicked - I too moved there to trade futures but the WTC was about to be blown up (the first time). I was shocked at the cost of doing business vis a vi Chicago. It must have been a brisk walk from the Battery Park to the WTC...
Yeah, once I get my masters and get an RV to live in, I am out of Manhattan. Headed to Jersey. Fuck this city.