meeting people in manhattan who are here to stay? (apartment, mortgage)

[welcome2nyc]

After about 2 years in manhattan, I get the sense that everyone in manhattan is very temporary....students/professionals/expats, everyone seems to have an "expiration" date. Will this be the nature of everyone you meet?...or after a while living in manhattan, do people find/befriend permanent residents, and after a while you begin to develop a solid structure of friends who you know are going to be living in manhattan long-term?

I would appreciate comments/perspective from those people who moved to manhattan (thus didn't grow up here), and decided to "stick it out" long term in manhattan, people who have stayed in this city, after their friends settled down in the suburbs, or moved back home to where-ever they were originally from. I get the sense that when people decide to have children, their income will likely decide whether or not they can stay in the city, which is understandable. Others I have met, seem to have gotten their "nyc experience" and moved closer to family, wherever they grew up.
But for those who can afford it, and want to stay...how did you social circles change, where did you meet these "true" manhattan residents?
....or is the nature of living in manhattan, a constant cycle of temporary friendships? or perhaps do you just spend more time visiting friends in the suburbs?

[john_starks]

move to queens or brooklyn - i think they plan to stay

[UpsonDowns]

People get jobs, fall in love, have kids, or just decide they want something different in life. None of my friends who have moved away planned on leaving.

[kelsie]

A quote from Billy Ray Cyrus which I love, Some people come into your life for a reason, others for a Season. Enjoy your life wherever you may be.

[FOReverxpeace]

Most people are only moved here for job-related purposes or studies. A lot of people pretty much come here to experience NYC..just a little longer than usual and when they have fulfilled their dreams, they settle back home. in your case, most people who are in Manhattan come and go.. but people in the other boroughs have either been there for a long time, been born & raised. I find that a lot of the people I meet in Queens, Brooklyn many years ago are still there..of course, some move to other states.

[nobody69]

People are constantly migrating and moving around, it doesn't particularly apply to NYC. Although I will have to comment on what you said about students etc. I have noticed and met a large number of people in the city who are college students/grad/phd students (aside from your typical tourist). I guess they don't call it the center of the universe for nuthin!

Even so, the high cost of living and decreased quality of life compared to the suburbs (or outer boroughs) is enough to drive anyone away if you ask me.

[skinnayyy]

also, due to the cost of buying an apartment in NYC most people rent. You're only in your contract for 1 or 2 years. If you move to another state or something chances are you'll buy a house and then you have a 30 year mortgage which kind of holds people in place i think too. NYC provides the ability to leave when you want to with no ties.

[Kefir King]

I think people in my building have been here since the ELIZABETHAN AGE.