Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore: lawless dump with a few good restaurants and an aquarium.

...and a great baseball team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do hunters drive subies???

I know a lot of people who refer to them as "lez-barus."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore: lawless dump with a few good restaurants and an aquarium.

...and a great baseball team.

Anonymous wrote:Baltimore: lawless dump with a few good restaurants and an aquarium.

Anonymous wrote:Austin - hipsters

Dc - uncreative, rule followers

Nyc- rich finance bros, girls/satc wannabe girls. People who think they are making it since they live in nyc despite having no real assets and bleeding money on rent and col. Also recent immigrants

San Francisco - liberal

Houston - people seeking cheap McMansions

Miami - Cuban exiles, Jewish retirees, pretty Latinas trying to make it

Portland Maine - hardworking liberatarians who have lived in Maine for generations; recent liberal hipster newcomers

Asheville - retired artists and young dirty hippies

San Diego - military types; expensive and crowded

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

How does working 12 hour days = "extended adolescence"?

Working 12 hrs day IMO is not extended adolescence but it is an extension of the work hard play hard lifestyle of a 25 yr old. Certain industries in NYC - like finance and law - just require 12+ hrs/day for crazy compensation. But the reality is if your life becomes working from 9 am-midnight and you embrace being a workaholic or if it's 9 am to 9 pm and you're out to drinks nightly after that, it becomes impossible to have or maintain any kind of family life. Back in my NYC days, if you finished off work around 9-10 pm and weren't going out with the crew - whether work friends or friends - bc you hadn't seen your spouse and kid all week, that was viewed as "lame" - and not by the 25 yr olds but rather by the 35+ crowd.

This is what I miss about NYC, actually. That and the spontaneity. It took me a very long time to adapt to the DC plan ahead mentality.

I hate to pick on DC because I love it, but this reminds of one of my qualms (as a former New Yorker). If people don't want to do an activity after work, the excuse is always "I'm too busy with work." But that is patently false, because in NYC people are just as busy with work. Be honest DC people, you don't want to hang out because you want to see your family! Totally fine. I think the "I'm too busy with work/overworked" shtick is played out.

Even in finance the vast majority of people are commuting in and out of the city. Going out with work colleagues is limited by this fact. Honestly I think that people in DC are just more normal. After the age of 35, most people are interested in bar hopping on a daily basis. I enjoy going out but have no interest in living the lifestyle I lived in my early 20s in NY.

The vast majority of ridiculously successful finance types in NYC are certainly not commuting in and out of the city. And even those of moderate success -- i.e. banking associates; law firm associates -- who are trying to make it to the next level tend to stay in the city as well, simply bc they are expected to work A LOT if they expect to get promoted and an extra hr or more of commuting per day + being less available on the weekends will NOT help them move up.

DC has more of a commuter -- OMG it's 7:01 pm I must leave this happy hr right this instant, lest I miss my train -- mentality. I agree with the PP -- I miss that about NYC, that you could finish up work and grab a bite to eat without anyone acting soooo put off that they need to be away from their 2 yr old for another 90 min.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

How does working 12 hour days = "extended adolescence"?

Working 12 hrs day IMO is not extended adolescence but it is an extension of the work hard play hard lifestyle of a 25 yr old. Certain industries in NYC - like finance and law - just require 12+ hrs/day for crazy compensation. But the reality is if your life becomes working from 9 am-midnight and you embrace being a workaholic or if it's 9 am to 9 pm and you're out to drinks nightly after that, it becomes impossible to have or maintain any kind of family life. Back in my NYC days, if you finished off work around 9-10 pm and weren't going out with the crew - whether work friends or friends - bc you hadn't seen your spouse and kid all week, that was viewed as "lame" - and not by the 25 yr olds but rather by the 35+ crowd.

This is what I miss about NYC, actually. That and the spontaneity. It took me a very long time to adapt to the DC plan ahead mentality.

I hate to pick on DC because I love it, but this reminds of one of my qualms (as a former New Yorker). If people don't want to do an activity after work, the excuse is always "I'm too busy with work." But that is patently false, because in NYC people are just as busy with work. Be honest DC people, you don't want to hang out because you want to see your family! Totally fine. I think the "I'm too busy with work/overworked" shtick is played out.

Even in finance the vast majority of people are commuting in and out of the city. Going out with work colleagues is limited by this fact. Honestly I think that people in DC are just more normal. After the age of 35, most people are interested in bar hopping on a daily basis. I enjoy going out but have no interest in living the lifestyle I lived in my early 20s in NY.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

How does working 12 hour days = "extended adolescence"?

Working 12 hrs day IMO is not extended adolescence but it is an extension of the work hard play hard lifestyle of a 25 yr old. Certain industries in NYC - like finance and law - just require 12+ hrs/day for crazy compensation. But the reality is if your life becomes working from 9 am-midnight and you embrace being a workaholic or if it's 9 am to 9 pm and you're out to drinks nightly after that, it becomes impossible to have or maintain any kind of family life. Back in my NYC days, if you finished off work around 9-10 pm and weren't going out with the crew - whether work friends or friends - bc you hadn't seen your spouse and kid all week, that was viewed as "lame" - and not by the 25 yr olds but rather by the 35+ crowd.

This is what I miss about NYC, actually. That and the spontaneity. It took me a very long time to adapt to the DC plan ahead mentality.

I hate to pick on DC because I love it, but this reminds of one of my qualms (as a former New Yorker). If people don't want to do an activity after work, the excuse is always "I'm too busy with work." But that is patently false, because in NYC people are just as busy with work. Be honest DC people, you don't want to hang out because you want to see your family! Totally fine. I think the "I'm too busy with work/overworked" shtick is played out.

Anonymous wrote:

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!

How does working 12 hour days = "extended adolescence"?

Working 12 hrs day IMO is not extended adolescence but it is an extension of the work hard play hard lifestyle of a 25 yr old. Certain industries in NYC - like finance and law - just require 12+ hrs/day for crazy compensation. But the reality is if your life becomes working from 9 am-midnight and you embrace being a workaholic or if it's 9 am to 9 pm and you're out to drinks nightly after that, it becomes impossible to have or maintain any kind of family life. Back in my NYC days, if you finished off work around 9-10 pm and weren't going out with the crew - whether work friends or friends - bc you hadn't seen your spouse and kid all week, that was viewed as "lame" - and not by the 25 yr olds but rather by the 35+ crowd.

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!

How does working 12 hour days = "extended adolescence"?

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!

Anonymous wrote:Berkeley CA-
Very liberal minded grassroots type of people.
Tree jugglers who believe in recycling.