Stereotypes of Cities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mothers who don't shave their pits, have many tattoos, too many coffee shops and microbreweries. Infrequent bathers

Boulder Colorado before the yuppy invasion.

[Anonymous]

This thread should be re-titled "Stereotypes of White, Straight People in Various American Cities"

I'd love to hear how Latinos, African-Americans, or LGBTQs stereotype their peers in different cities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC: Educated, advance degree is the norm.

New York: Few extremely wealthy, rest are poor. (agree about finance exec assholes).

San Fran: Advance degree not needed. Few lucky nerds, others are just wannabes.

LA: Uneducated, only few make it in Hollywood, fall back is porn industry.

This is so true. I have a few friends who are truly well off (family money + self-made success), but so many more friends well into their late 30s who are just scraping by in NYC. And this is after living there for nearly 20 years. They'd have a much better quality of life if they just lived somewhere else.

Glad I got out after 9 years.

[Anonymous]

Chicago, the City of Broad Shoulders. That's where the shoulder pad was invented, because in the 80s there was an influx of weak-chinned, slope-shouldered folk from other parts of the country who felt inferior. When they put in the shoulder pads, though, they felt "Second to None." Hence the nickname Second City.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC: Educated, advance degree is the norm.

New York: Few extremely wealthy, rest are poor. (agree about finance exec assholes).

San Fran: Advance degree not needed. Few lucky nerds, others are just wannabes.

LA: Uneducated, only few make it in Hollywood, fall back is porn industry.

This is so true. I have a few friends who are truly well off (family money + self-made success),but so many more friends well into their late 30s who are just scraping by in NYC. And this is after living there for nearly 20 years. They'd have a much better quality of life if they just lived somewhere else.

Glad I got out after 9 years.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. If you aren't on the path to riches in NY by ~30 years old you need to get the hell out of there. You can easily rent an apartment in your 20s and have a blast. But once you try and start a family you're either signing up for a lengthy soul sucking commute or continuing to rent for life. Renting is fine but not when it's such a large percentage of your income like it is in Manhattan. Our friends there are renting 5k plus tiny two bedroom apartments for kids and will be forking over serious cash for private schools and preschool. They spend every penny they have. You could live in another city and purchase a home and have it paid off before retirement. Not to mention save much more money. However, for some people it's worth it to live in NY I suppose. I think there are some great cities and towns in America and would rather live somewhere else (Denver, DC, Boston, Minneapolis, Chicago, Austin) and not spend most of a high salary on rent and a nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC: Educated, advance degree is the norm.

New York: Few extremely wealthy, rest are poor. (agree about finance exec assholes).

San Fran: Advance degree not needed. Few lucky nerds, others are just wannabes.

LA: Uneducated, only few make it in Hollywood, fall back is porn industry.

This is so true. I have a few friends who are truly well off (family money + self-made success),but so many more friends well into their late 30s who are just scraping by in NYC. And this is after living there for nearly 20 years. They'd have a much better quality of life if they just lived somewhere else.

Glad I got out after 9 years.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. If you aren't on the path to riches in NY by ~30 years old you need to get the hell out of there. You can easily rent an apartment in your 20s and have a blast. But once you try and start a family you're either signing up for a lengthy soul sucking commute or continuing to rent for life. Renting is fine but not when it's such a large percentage of your income like it is in Manhattan. Our friends there are renting 5k plus tiny two bedroom apartments for kids and will be forking over serious cash for private schools and preschool. They spend every penny they have. You could live in another city and purchase a home and have it paid off before retirement. Not to mention save much more money. However, for some people it's worth it to live in NY I suppose. I think there are some great cities and towns in America and would rather live somewhere else (Denver, DC, Boston, Minneapolis, Chicago, Austin) and not spend most of a high salary on rent and a nanny.

+2

I know a few really well-off people in Manhattan - that's the way to do it. The friends who've struggled smartly left. What's the point of living there if you're just going to be stressed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC: Educated, advance degree is the norm.

New York: Few extremely wealthy, rest are poor. (agree about finance exec assholes).

San Fran: Advance degree not needed. Few lucky nerds, others are just wannabes.

LA: Uneducated, only few make it in Hollywood, fall back is porn industry.

This is so true. I have a few friends who are truly well off (family money + self-made success),but so many more friends well into their late 30s who are just scraping by in NYC. And this is after living there for nearly 20 years. They'd have a much better quality of life if they just lived somewhere else.

Glad I got out after 9 years.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. If you aren't on the path to riches in NY by ~30 years old you need to get the hell out of there. You can easily rent an apartment in your 20s and have a blast. But once you try and start a family you're either signing up for a lengthy soul sucking commute or continuing to rent for life. Renting is fine but not when it's such a large percentage of your income like it is in Manhattan. Our friends there are renting 5k plus tiny two bedroom apartments for kids and will be forking over serious cash for private schools and preschool. They spend every penny they have. You could live in another city and purchase a home and have it paid off before retirement. Not to mention save much more money. However, for some people it's worth it to live in NY I suppose. I think there are some great cities and towns in America and would rather live somewhere else (Denver, DC, Boston, Minneapolis, Chicago, Austin) and not spend most of a high salary on rent and a nanny.

+2

I know a few really well-off people in Manhattan - that's the way to do it. The friends who've struggled smartly left. What's the point of living there if you're just going to be stressed?

Another issue with NYC is the extended adolescence the city encourages. I have MANY single female friends in NYC in their late 30s, making $80-100K, with zero prospects for marriage and still living with roommates in a rental apartment. They'd love to settle down with the right guy, but guys in NYC still single in their 30s have no desire to get serious. They are on an endlessly spinning hamster wheel of 12 hour work days, grinding it out on the subway, dinner with friends, bad dates, partying, and lugging their laundry to the launder-mat. Miserable!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC: Educated, advance degree is the norm.

New York: Few extremely wealthy, rest are poor. (agree about finance exec assholes).

San Fran: Advance degree not needed. Few lucky nerds, others are just wannabes.

LA: Uneducated, only few make it in Hollywood, fall back is porn industry.

This is so true. I have a few friends who are truly well off (family money + self-made success),but so many more friends well into their late 30s who are just scraping by in NYC. And this is after living there for nearly 20 years. They'd have a much better quality of life if they just lived somewhere else.

Glad I got out after 9 years.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. If you aren't on the path to riches in NY by ~30 years old you need to get the hell out of there. You can easily rent an apartment in your 20s and have a blast. But once you try and start a family you're either signing up for a lengthy soul sucking commute or continuing to rent for life. Renting is fine but not when it's such a large percentage of your income like it is in Manhattan. Our friends there are renting 5k plus tiny two bedroom apartments for kids and will be forking over serious cash for private schools and preschool. They spend every penny they have. You could live in another city and purchase a home and have it paid off before retirement. Not to mention save much more money. However, for some people it's worth it to live in NY I suppose. I think there are some great cities and towns in America and would rather live somewhere else (Denver, DC, Boston, Minneapolis, Chicago, Austin) and not spend most of a high salary on rent and a nanny.

+2

I know a few really well-off people in Manhattan - that's the way to do it. The friends who've struggled smartly left. What's the point of living there if you're just going to be stressed?

Another issue with NYC is the extended adolescence the city encourages. I have MANY single female friends in NYC in their late 30s, making $80-100K, with zero prospects for marriage and still living with roommates in a rental apartment. They'd love to settle down with the right guy, but guys in NYC still single in their 30s have no desire to get serious. They are on an endlessly spinning hamster wheel of 12 hour work days, grinding it out on the subway, dinner with friends, bad dates, partying, and lugging their laundry to the launder-mat. Miserable!

This accurately describes my friends. I do have one friend who works in finance and owns a $2 mm apartment outright. She can afford Manhattan. My other friends cannot. Also many of them have unrealistic expectations for finding a mate and it's why they are single. I doubt any of them would have accepted my husband because he's under 5'11 or whatever their standard is. My friends also make fun of my lifestyle here a bit, including the lack of delivery options. We have a 15 year mortgage and I want to retire early. My focus is on saving money, vacations, spending time with friends and advancing at work. I can't revolve my life around delivery options.

[Anonymous]

Boulder, CO trustafarian who like to pretend to be hippies but are not. Granola wanna be and yoga and bicycling fitness nuts, not because they like it because they like the "image."

[Anonymous]

NYC -- life is a struggle for everyone except the top % making a half million plus. I'm not even talking about a regular guy who works at Duane Reade. I'm talking about someone who is in finance but back office and not an I-banker, or a lawyer who isn't biglaw but in a 150k in house job. Unless you're like PP's friends ok with spending every dime -- you are constantly thinking about money -- i.e. I'm exhausted and can't walk anymore, I could take a cab to dinner but if it hits traffic that'll be $20 right there. Saving in Manhattan takes a very conscious effort. Just moved from there to DC a yr ago and the difference in cost is HUGE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NYC -- life is a struggle for everyone except the top % making a half million plus. I'm not even talking about a regular guy who works at Duane Reade. I'm talking about someone who is in finance but back office and not an I-banker, or a lawyer who isn't biglaw but in a 150k in house job. Unless you're like PP's friends ok with spending every dime -- you are constantly thinking about money -- i.e. I'm exhausted and can't walk anymore, I could take a cab to dinner but if it hits traffic that'll be $20 right there. Saving in Manhattan takes a very conscious effort. Just moved from there to DC a yr ago and the difference in cost is HUGE.

Same here. Moving here will allow me to pay off our mortgage in less than 15 years, max out retirement, separate brokerage account, "free" prek and elementary school and hopefully retirement by 55.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC: Educated, advance degree is the norm.

New York: Few extremely wealthy, rest are poor. (agree about finance exec assholes).

San Fran: Advance degree not needed. Few lucky nerds, others are just wannabes.

LA: Uneducated, only few make it in Hollywood, fall back is porn industry.

This is so true. I have a few friends who are truly well off (family money + self-made success),but so many more friends well into their late 30s who are just scraping by in NYC. And this is after living there for nearly 20 years. They'd have a much better quality of life if they just lived somewhere else.

Glad I got out after 9 years.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. If you aren't on the path to riches in NY by ~30 years old you need to get the hell out of there. You can easily rent an apartment in your 20s and have a blast. But once you try and start a family you're either signing up for a lengthy soul sucking commute or continuing to rent for life. Renting is fine but not when it's such a large percentage of your income like it is in Manhattan. Our friends there are renting 5k plus tiny two bedroom apartments for kids and will be forking over serious cash for private schools and preschool. They spend every penny they have. You could live in another city and purchase a home and have it paid off before retirement. Not to mention save much more money. However, for some people it's worth it to live in NY I suppose. I think there are some great cities and towns in America and would rather live somewhere else (Denver, DC, Boston, Minneapolis, Chicago, Austin) and not spend most of a high salary on rent and a nanny.

+2

I know a few really well-off people in Manhattan - that's the way to do it. The friends who've struggled smartly left. What's the point of living there if you're just going to be stressed?

Another issue with NYC is the extended adolescence the city encourages. I have MANY single female friends in NYC in their late 30s, making $80-100K, with zero prospects for marriage and still living with roommates in a rental apartment. They'd love to settle down with the right guy, but guys in NYC still single in their 30s have no desire to get serious. They are on an endlessly spinning hamster wheel of 12 hour work days, grinding it out on the subway, dinner with friends, bad dates, partying, and lugging their laundry to the launder-mat. Miserable!

This describes one of my best friends to a T. Granted she earns slightly higher than you indicate, and doesn't have roommates, but is 37, works constantly, and feels left out because the rest of her friends have gotten married and had kids. She's gorgeous and has a fun life, but would readily admit to being miserable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC: Educated, advance degree is the norm.

New York: Few extremely wealthy, rest are poor. (agree about finance exec assholes).

San Fran: Advance degree not needed. Few lucky nerds, others are just wannabes.

LA: Uneducated, only few make it in Hollywood, fall back is porn industry.

This is so true. I have a few friends who are truly well off (family money + self-made success),but so many more friends well into their late 30s who are just scraping by in NYC. And this is after living there for nearly 20 years. They'd have a much better quality of life if they just lived somewhere else.

Glad I got out after 9 years.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. If you aren't on the path to riches in NY by ~30 years old you need to get the hell out of there. You can easily rent an apartment in your 20s and have a blast. But once you try and start a family you're either signing up for a lengthy soul sucking commute or continuing to rent for life. Renting is fine but not when it's such a large percentage of your income like it is in Manhattan. Our friends there are renting 5k plus tiny two bedroom apartments for kids and will be forking over serious cash for private schools and preschool. They spend every penny they have. You could live in another city and purchase a home and have it paid off before retirement. Not to mention save much more money. However, for some people it's worth it to live in NY I suppose. I think there are some great cities and towns in America and would rather live somewhere else (Denver, DC, Boston, Minneapolis, Chicago, Austin) and not spend most of a high salary on rent and a nanny.

+2

I know a few really well-off people in Manhattan - that's the way to do it. The friends who've struggled smartly left. What's the point of living there if you're just going to be stressed?

Another issue with NYC is the extended adolescence the city encourages. I have MANY single female friends in NYC in their late 30s, making $80-100K, with zero prospects for marriage and still living with roommates in a rental apartment. They'd love to settle down with the right guy, but guys in NYC still single in their 30s have no desire to get serious. They are on an endlessly spinning hamster wheel of 12 hour work days, grinding it out on the subway, dinner with friends, bad dates, partying, and lugging their laundry to the launder-mat. Miserable!

This describes one of my best friends to a T. Granted she earns slightly higher than you indicate, and doesn't have roommates, but is 37, works constantly, and feels left out because the rest of her friends have gotten married and had kids. She's gorgeous and has a fun life, but would readily admit to being miserable.

I wouldnt judge these women too harshly - I'm one of them. Often it's self fulfilling, you're working all the time or going out and don't meet the right guy. Then you keep working all the time and going out bc your friends have a family to go home to so if you didn't you'd be bored. I'm the PP who moved from NYC a yr ago and the sole reason for that move was bc I started hating my job and early retirement thoughts set in and that's harder to save for in Manhattan. But I'm definitely way more left out here as everyone has a family and am vaguely considering bulking up my savings for 2-3 yrs and going back.

[Anonymous]

^pp. save enough for a downpayment on a one bedroom coop. Then you'll at least have your apartment paid off for retirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^pp. save enough for a downpayment on a one bedroom coop. Then you'll at least have your apartment paid off for retirement.

Absent a potential marriage bringing you back to NYC, I doubt you'll leave DC once you see how much further your downpayment will go here. I left NYC after 9 years for grad school in DC, thinking I'd return after two.
My life in DC was just so. much. easier. in every imaginable way. I couldn't give up the higher quality of life to go back to crappy NYC apartments and smell of stale urine and hot garbage in the summer. DC made me soft