New York City – Image Credit: yourdon (Flickr)
In many ways, New York City is unlike any other place in the world. The pace of the city (relentless at virtually all times of day and night) and other aspects of its old world charm make it one of the most desirable places to live. Therefore, it’s a good idea to keep these tips in mind when moving to New York, to allow for as little grief and as much satisfaction with your experience there as possible.
Cars Are Unnecessary
New York City is home to one of the cheapest, most expansive public transportation systems in the world—the subway. A couple of bucks can take you practically anywhere you want to be in the city regardless of the time of day. Plus, the subway system is augmented by a reliable bus system as well as a number of taxi cabs that make travelling within the confines of the city without a car extremely convenient—and certainly a better alternative to looking for parking, spending loads of money on a garage each month, and all the other hassles of having a car within this metropolis. The great public transportation makes New York one of the most intriguing places to attend college. There are many universities to recieve your undergrad degree or MBA in New York.
Get Good Walking Shoes
Along with its advantageous system of public transportation comes walking—as in lots of it. New Yorkers spend a good deal of time walking to and from trains, buses, home, and places of employment. Such walking may become easier with a couple of key essentials such as good, comfortable shoes, some sort of knapsack, as well as a water bottle or two. Incidentally, New Yorkers also tend to spend a fair amount of time in elevators—probably more so than people in other parts of the country.
Apartment Hunting
Apartment hunting in New York is pretty serious business, and requires an aggressive attitude and self-serving ambition. A checklist of items to bring on each and every apartment visit includes written recommendations from previous landlords, most recent pay stubs, most recent tax returns, money orders or checkbooks, as well as bank statements. Hunters should be prepared to sign leases as soon as possible, and on the first visit, when possible. Most apartments within the city require first month’s rent as well as a security deposit; not uncommonly, landlords will seek first and last month’s rent.
Expenses
New York City is one of the most expensive places to live in the world. Rent in Manhattan (and even within some of the outer boroughs, can be considerably more expensive than in surrounding states or cities. Consumers find little relief in terms of food or clothing as well. Therefore, those looking to move to New York should be prepared to spend what they have—and be on the lookout for their next buck, as well.
The Moving Process
There are several facets about New York that make moving a challenge. One is the fact that there are a number of multiple story buildings that do not have elevators. Moving companies typically charge extra to go up flights of stairs; it’s a good idea to ascertain how much and what other potential challenges your movers may face. Some of the most common challenges have to do with the size of the streets and the size of the moving trucks. Trucks beyond a certain height are not allowed to drive within the city (after 9/11), while some particularly narrow streets can’t be navigated by larger trucks. Also, there may be restrictions involving moving times as well as access to service elevators.
Manhattan Alternatives
Since space is at a premium everywhere within New York, particularly in Manhattan, it wouldn’t hurt for those looking to move to the city to consider other boroughs. Several sections in Brooklyn are more affordable than Manhattan and are fairly nice, such as Fort Greene and Carrol Gardens. Plus, Brooklyn (and even certain sections of Queens) are just a short train ride away from the action in Manhattan.
Less Is More
Due to the crowded nature of the city, those looking to move to New York should attempt to bring as little “stuff” as possible. Movies, music, and even pictures can be digitally replicated, while only the most essential clothes and pieces of furniture are truly necessary and should be moved. A trimmed-down wardrobe and essential tools such as computers and other integral facets of living/working will be more than enough to get you started.
Job Hunting
It’s never too early to begin seeking employment within New York for those looking to transition to within its boundaries. To that end, it behooves people to utilize any personal connections they might have and to get their resumes out and about early on. Finding employment in New York City is far from easy; finding desirable employment takes a considerable amount of effort. Job seekers should grant themselves as much time as possible to prepare for the current recession, which can be particularly brutal in New York.
New Yorker’s Attitudes
Perhaps one of the most drastic changes that greet people who move to New York is the distant, removed attitude of New Yorkers who have, for the most part, seen it all and done it all, and don’t care too much about you or anything else outside their immediate focus. You’ll hardly ever be greeted on the streets of New York; most people even avert their eyes. It’s an entirely different situation when you’re spending money, of course. But for the most part, be prepared to spend a lot of time alone and by yourself when you first move, until you gather up your circle of friends.
Keep Your Head Up
With all of the monetary obstacles, the tribulations involved with finding decent housing, and the extreme weather conditions that affect this region of the country, many people give up on the city and their presence in it and move away after a year of trying it out. Some do so for the sake of travel; those interested in travelling can find a number of interesting observations at Best Travel Blogs. To that end, newcomers should be prepared for setbacks. They should be prepared for loneliness, for expensive prices, and for tough economic times. Before leaving the city, however, they should also consider that there’s no place like it, and that for all of the lows experienced there, there also can be unimaginable highs to be found—with perseverance.
Jake Malone is a freelance writer living in New York who has partnered with Article Writing Services to create quality content for websites and blogs.
