“I could never live there!”

Or..what I hear a lot when I’m out of town.

I had to take the LIRR at Penn Station a few weeks ago and forgot how crowded, noisy, messy with  people, vendors, cars,taxis, buses all trying to get somewhere.     If that was  the first impression that I had as a tourist arriving in NYC and coming  out of Penn Station, I too would question the sanity of anyone choosing to live here.  Of course, once away from  that chaos, the excitement of this City starts to hit and that first impression begins to dissipate at least for a while.

I think that all tourists should be required (rather strong word) or encouraged (better word)  to visit a neighborhood where people actually live.  You know, where they  work, go to school, buy groceries,  go to kids’ sports games like families do.  Visitors  might then have a better idea of why living in the City in a tiny expensive  apartment might have some pluses.  Now the really young – teenagers, kids with dreams-this is where they want to be.  They get it.

I’ve written about our neighborhoods before, but I’m making this suggestion. If  you  are coming in to see the sights,  a show, eat at a great restaurant, visit a museum how about making another plan to venture out of those popular  and interesting places and find  a neighborhood to walk around.  A great one is a few blocks from the important and heavily tourist area of the  World Trade Center. Cross over West Side Highway to  Murray Street which is very easy to find.   If it’s a weekend or in the evening watch the kids play soccer or baseball on the large sports field.  The neighborhood has a library  up the street – a school nearby –grocery stores and restaurants.  Walk to the river – and then walk along the river – see families having picnics on the grass – napping and reading, playing ball, climbing and swinging in the playgrounds.

These neighborhoods are  all over the City. Granted some more dense than others, but it gives a glimpse into the lives of New Yorkers who live, retire and work here  and enjoy most everything that visitors do with a great perk…home is just around the corner.  Maybe you still won’t want that small apartment without a yard,  but maybe you’ll understand why some of us do.

Happy Labor Day! Love this City!

KAY’S NOTES: 

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:  Just have fun here – and maybe I’ll see you in my ‘hood!

Photos by me!

:Disclaimer: I try for correct info  on my posts, but no guarantees people.