So… we’re back in New York. Again. Lisbon, you beautiful pastel dream, we loved you. We really did. But life threw us one of those unexpected plot twists (family illness), and we needed to be close to my parents. And by “close,” I mean within a 3 hour flight away.
Some would say we’ve bounced around quite a bit (hello, adventure!)- Santa Monica, Seattle, Funchal (hi, Madeira!), Deerfield Beach, Florida-each place offering its own brand of charm and overpriced coffee. But there’s only one city that feels like it’s wired into our nervous systems: New York.
We left NYC in 2011 to “explore” and “try new things” (read: chase sunshine and cheap rent), but let’s be real, no other place quite does it like this one. Click your ruby red heels, Dorothy, there’s no place like home.
This city breathes. It pulses. It yells at you sometimes- lovingly. The lights crank up my serotonin, the energy keeps my soul caffeinated, the art and architecture breathe new life into my soul and there’s always a pigeon with a side hustle to remind you that ambition is alive and well … and so are you.
And yes, we’re middle-aged and living on the Upper East Side, where bagels are born perfect and the squirrels are unnervingly bold. No cool “below 14th street” mandates for us, baby! We’re free to not be cool anymore….and we’re completely good with that!
Why would we plant roots here (again)? Let me give you five solid, grown-up reasons:
1. Convenience, Darling.
Everything I need is within a five-block radius: my dry cleaner, the post office, my beloved library, the hair salon that understands my multicolored root situation, and yes, dahling… Agata & Valentina, my personal temple of gourmet groceries. Oh, and Central Park is basically my backyard. Take that, suburban hell.
2. I Don’t Drive. I Teleport (via MTA).
Driving gives me hives. Insurance? Gas prices? Parallel parking?! Nope. In NYC, I can hop on a train, bus, or ferry and get just about anywhere without breaking into a rage-sweat (hello, menopause). I get to read, eavesdrop, or contemplate my life choices between stops. A luxury, really.
3. The Food Scene is Deliciously Straight-Up Spiritual.
Yes, we’ve eaten tacos in L.A., fresh seafood in Lisbon, and once had an unforgettable beet salad in Santa Monica (long story). But New York? This city invented culinary variety. Whether it’s Michelin-star magic or $1 dumplings at 2AM, every craving gets answered here. Bad food? I’ve forgotten what that even tastes like.
4. Endless Fun That Doesn’t Drain Your Wallet.
Sure, you can drop $400 on a Broadway ticket… but you can also see Shakespeare in the Park for free, dance to live jazz in Prospect Park, or hit up a museum on a pay-what-you-wish day. NYC is the only place where you can feel fancy on a budget. (NY blog post about free fun in NYC “coming soon”)
5. Creative Hustle Central.
As someone in the creative industries (hello, media/arts/production land), this city is a living, breathing portfolio. There’s work. There’s networking. There’s inspiration in the form of angry taxi drivers and rogue subway performers. If creativity were oxygen, NYC would be 100% pure.
So yes, we’re back. The sirens are singing. The bagels are hot. And despite the noise, the rent, and the occasional whiff of hot garbage, it feels damn good to be home. Reunited and it feels so good, baby!
If you’d like more of our adventures, follow us on instagram:
triciatravelgold
Tricia Chatter 
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