Positives and negatives of living in Manhattan (houses, taxes)

[texan2yankee]

Yep, Viral, I live UES in Manhattan. Thanks, Pitts, but it is hard to know unless you live here.

I am still waiting for my fellow Manhattan folks for pros and cons.

[Viralmd]

Honestly? I LIKE walking to work. I LIKE not having a car. I LIKE walking out my door and finding stores open at ANY time of the day or night.

Is it pricey? Yes...but look what you get! I was born in Manhattan and have lived here, except for college, just about my entire life. It's home.

[texan2yankee]

Me, too, Viral. Nothing new. That is the good stuff.

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by texan2yankee

Yep, Viral, I live UES. Thanks, Pitts, but it is hard to know unless you live here.

I am still waiting for my fellow Manhattan folks for pros and cons.

Who says I never lived in NYC? I've spent enough time in Mannhattan to know what the "cons" there are. I know I might be in a minority here, but Mannhattan honestly doesn't impress that much anymore. I'm not taking anything away from it, but the mystic I once felt about it, is gone.

Not saying someone can't have a blast there, or that it ain't cool to live there, it definitely is. And some people live very comfortable lives there, but alot more struggle to exist there, than don't.

And by the way, somebody could spent a month in Mannhattan on business, and "know" the "cons" of the place. I never lived in Phoenix before, but I've been there during the summer. I KNOW one "con" about Phoenix, the summers there SUCK! Never lived there, but I know this for a fact. See my point ?........

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by Viralmd

Honestly? I LIKE walking to work. I LIKE not having a car. I LIKE walking out my door and finding stores open at ANY time of the day or night.

Is it pricey? Yes...but look what you get! I was born in Manhattan and have lived here, except for college, just about my entire life. It's home.

So in theory, it's possible that you could love another city as well. You can say no, but until you've actually done it, it's all just "theory". Visiting a place is almost always different than living there anyways.

Alot of people who move to places like Miami of Vegas, end up finding out the hard way. But others, who think they're going to hate a place, are often surprised when they fall in love with the city they were transfered to.

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by texan2yankee

We have lived here off and on for 20 years.

Positives:

Can find almost anything you want from foot prosthetics to gourmet cheese within walking distance.
Always something to do and lots of free/low cost entertainment.
Most talented artists in the world from Opera to street performers.
People watching.
Central Park and river walks. I love the east river path.
Beautiful architecture.
Libraries!
Free haircuts and color services from top salons just for being a "model".
Craigslist: get free stuff, give away things, cheap tickets, etc.

Cons:

Expensive. Your fixed cost budget will be at least 35% more than you think it will!
No privacy.
Noise.
Hard to meet new people.
Taxes
Midtown homeless souls

Just a few of my observations after moving back to the city again three years ago from the burbs. I do love living here. We always seem to come back.

What are your pros and cons?

The "cons" you just listed, with the EXCEPTION of the "hard to meet new people", which one of those "cons" couldn't be observerd by someone who was just visiting Mannhattan for say only 1 week?

And maybe the taxes, if you're talking about income, but someone coming from Pittsburgh or Philly, knows all too well about what city wage taxes are.

I could be wrong, but some of your posts almost sounds a little elitist. That ONLY someone who's ACTUALLY lived in Mannhattan could EVER know the hardships of that borough. Alot of the same "cons" about Mannhattan (NYC in general), could be said about other expensive cities as well, like San Fransico.

[john_starks]

Originally Posted by texan2yankee

Yep, Viral, I live UES in Manhattan. Don't be a snob. Thanks, Pitts, but it is hard to know unless you live here.

I am still waiting for my fellow Manhattan folks for pros and cons.

yo - i gave some cons i used to live in manhattan

[gichicago]

Pros: not having to rely on a car, variety of restaurants, i can walk to run errands, go shopping, etc

Cons: Housing costs are too high, too damn crowded in some areas, mexican food is sub-par

[mjohnson4381]

Originally Posted by texan2yankee

We have lived here off and on for 20 years.

Positives:

Can find almost anything you want from foot prosthetics to gourmet cheese within walking distance.
Always something to do and lots of free/low cost entertainment.
Most talented artists in the world from Opera to street performers.
People watching.
Central Park and river walks. I love the east river path.
Beautiful architecture.
Libraries!
Free haircuts and color services from top salons just for being a "model".
Craigslist: get free stuff, give away things, cheap tickets, etc.

Cons:

Expensive. Your fixed cost budget will be at least 35% more than you think it will!
No privacy.
Noise.
Hard to meet new people.
Taxes
Midtown homeless souls

Just a few of my observations after moving back to the city again three years ago from the burbs. I do love living here. We always seem to come back.

What are your pros and cons?

How is it hard to meet people? There's 8 million people in NYC. It seems like you wouldn't be able to go outside without meeting somebody new.

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by mjohnson4381

How is it hard to meet people? There's 8 million people in NYC. It seems like you wouldn't be able to go outside without meeting somebody new.

Actually closer to 8.3 million. I don't get that one either. NY'ers I think are some of the most outgoing people I've ever come across. They can be nosy as hell at times, but in a good way. I spent years in other cities and couldn't tell you not one of my neighbors names. The bars, neighbors, where ever, it's simple meeting people in NYC.