My 26 days in Los Angeles (sans 5 days spent in Cabo) went by pretty quickly. This past Thursday was my one-year anniversary of moving to NYC. While I can't yet say anything definitive, some casual observations about which is better, L.A. or NYC, can still be made... (drumroll):
Transportation costs: In the past 26 days I put 900 miles on my car, spent nearly $100 on gasoline, another $21 on an oil change, and roughly $20 on parking. Not to mention wear and tear on my car. I even skimped on going through a car wash to save $15. In comparison? A one-month unlimited Metro card costs $104. NYC FTW. Now I'm thinking the cost of that Metro card isn't that bad after all.
Food: People rave about food in NYC but I have yet to discover any place that has truly amazed me. Sure, I have a couple of favorites already, but I am still struggling to find good Asian foods. Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean foods win in L.A. Other cuisines also win simply for the price. Not only is food in L.A. less expensive, it's also fresher and tastes better year round.
Weather: I think most people would say L.A. wins overall. But I actually found myself, several times, preferring the summer weather in NYC. Except for days of unbearable heat and humidity, I enjoy a pleasant 80 during the day and a pleasant 70 at night. It means I can wear tank tops and shorts all day without having to bring a sweater. Summer nights in L.A. are a bit too chilly for my tastes. However, 26 days and sunny every single day (nary a hurricane in sight)...I think it's a toss up.
Neither wins. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to heading back to NYC. Hopefully the recent hurricane hasn't been too disastrous. Was worried about my little 15th floor room. Am looking forward to lounging on my couch and watching TV (yes, I realize I can do that anywhere in the world, but, this one's my own personal space, for now).
Unlike one year ago, I'm not anxious or apprehensive. I won't feel all out of sorts. However I think I do still feel somewhat disjointed, disconnected. As if I'm split between two coasts. I want to be in both places at the same time. Or at least traverse between the two more frequently. Yet somehow the journey is incredibly long.
ONT to LGA tomorrow!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
"I miss you. I'm going back home to the West Coast."
So sings Jason Schwartzman on "West Coast."
Tomorrow I head back to L.A., so only natural that I take a moment to reflect. Three weeks shy of my one-year anniversary of moving to NYC. And haven't been back to the West coast since early January.
Unbelievable! I can't believe it's been one year. It's true when they say time seems to move faster when you get older, because yes, I find myself grappling over where my time went. Summer technically started on May 10th for me, and the weeks and months have since flown by. I definitely tried to make the most out my time, seeing and doing new things as much as possible.
Yesterday I took a nice long walk down "Cherry Walk" along the Hudson at sunset. It was only my second time there (the first was way back in the fall when the leaves had first started to change). Fitting, as I mark that moment as my first true NYC moment - that is, a moment when I felt really glad I moved, because I wouldn't have experienced it if I hadn't. With that said, moments:
I definitely still miss L.A. and long for weather that is neither too hot nor too cold. I'm also looking forward to not having to look where I step while walking, not smelling garbage, and not having to touch strangers (accidentally, of course).
Roughly two years ago around this time I looked up at the U.S. map I had tacked up on the cork board above my desk and I looked at Los Angeles and I gazed across the map to New York and thought, "How do I get from there, to there?" And you know what? I did it. And I'm glad I did.
Tomorrow I head back to L.A., so only natural that I take a moment to reflect. Three weeks shy of my one-year anniversary of moving to NYC. And haven't been back to the West coast since early January.
Unbelievable! I can't believe it's been one year. It's true when they say time seems to move faster when you get older, because yes, I find myself grappling over where my time went. Summer technically started on May 10th for me, and the weeks and months have since flown by. I definitely tried to make the most out my time, seeing and doing new things as much as possible.
Yesterday I took a nice long walk down "Cherry Walk" along the Hudson at sunset. It was only my second time there (the first was way back in the fall when the leaves had first started to change). Fitting, as I mark that moment as my first true NYC moment - that is, a moment when I felt really glad I moved, because I wouldn't have experienced it if I hadn't. With that said, moments:
- Cherry Walk along the Hudson River (October)
- Jeff Tweedy's solo show at the Bowery Ballroom (December)
- starting a dance party in the Amsterdam Restaurant lounge on the Friday before finals (May)
- biking around Governors Island (June)
- watching the setting sun cast an orange glow on Upper East Side buildings across the reservoir in Central Park (two days ago)
- Cherry Walk along the Hudson River (yesterday)
I definitely still miss L.A. and long for weather that is neither too hot nor too cold. I'm also looking forward to not having to look where I step while walking, not smelling garbage, and not having to touch strangers (accidentally, of course).
Roughly two years ago around this time I looked up at the U.S. map I had tacked up on the cork board above my desk and I looked at Los Angeles and I gazed across the map to New York and thought, "How do I get from there, to there?" And you know what? I did it. And I'm glad I did.
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