NYC: Month 1 reflections

Written earlier on UA 19 from JFK to SFO


Three distracting thoughts:
1) I've been in NYC for a month!?
2) I only have time to write inflight. And it's always flight 19. Sad.
3) At least my footrest isn't broken this time.

It's amazing how fast time flies. George is now five months old (!), and I've officially been a New York City resident for a month (well, plus or minus two days, but who's counting, right). I can wax poetic about how the season is changing and summer is upon us, and blah blah blah, but that would just be more words to hide the fact that, well, I don't have a lot to update.

The fact that I'm on flight 19 means that I'm headed to San Francisco again. Yep, I was just there less than two weeks ago. And I'll be back again in less than two weeks. I assure you that the irony of the situation is not lost on me. Of course I happen to be driving a project at work that's based in SF right after I move. And of course, I have to fly back and forth even before the last boxes are unpacked at my new apartment. (For those keeping track, there are still 6 boxes. No progress in nearly 2 weeks. Yikes!)

And with what little actual time I have left in NYC, I'm trying to adapt to my new city. For example, like every proper New Yorker, I left the city for Memorial Day long weekend to officially kick off summer. I didn't go to the Hamptons, but the Hudson River Valley comes a close second in terms of nearby escapes. And it has better food. And like every New Yorker, I felt that being in the suburbs for 48 hours somehow "rejuvenated" me but was then inexplicably relieved to return to a place where you willingly trade tranquility for 24-hour Duane Reade's and free delivery from any restaurant.

Speaking of delivery, I've now officially ordered more takeout in the last month than I have the entire previous year combined. Some have been stellar (Blossom vegetarian) and others less than stellar (Grand Sichuan Chinese). I also happily fork over three dollars for a smallish red velvet cupcake from Billy's almost every other day. (Damn them for being on my way home from work.)

A few updates from my last reflections post:
-I have monitor risers at work now. But I've also already moved offices. No joke.

-Still no doctor yet. Nor PT for that matter. American healthcare sucks.

-My shoes have been resoled, though by my peeps in SF when I was last in town. At least I can walk again, right? :)

-George hasn't learned any new behaviours, but he's getting better about not picking up random pieces of paper on the street. He really really really likes paper. Perhaps I should write to Cesar Millan. I hear he's one of my followers on Twitter.

-I haven't crossed town (except to get to the airport) since my last post. And have no plans to anytime soon.

This is the part of the flight when I should be getting those chocolate chip cookies, and also when my laptop battery is about to die (left my power adapter in my suitcase, of course). Words cannot express how glad I am that #2 on the upgrade list didn't show so I got his/her spot. Flying across the country every other week is a bit less rough if you don't have to sit in the back. :)

NYC: Week 1 reflections

Written earlier on UA 19 from JFK to SFO

My feet are swollen, and my footrest is broken. Pardon me for being distracted, but that's the first and primary preoccupation right now.

A little over a week after I moved to New York, I'm on a plane to San Francisco. Notice the lack of the use of the word "back" in the previous sentence. I'm making a conscious effort to not call SF "home" or that I'm going "back" because it's simply not true. I live in New York now. My home is there. It still feels weird saying that, but after a week of filling out forms and repeating my address to salespeople and takeout people, it's hard to not think that way.

I've done a lot this past week. I've unpacked 50 out of 56 boxes, bought and assembled a bed, ordered a sofa and accessories, and had not one or two, but three radiator repair sessions. I guess better to fix it now than when I really need it this winter, right?

Right, that's all good and well, but how do I *feel*? Honestly, I don't feel anything yet. It's not like I went in awaiting this huge epiphany, but I think that's what everyone else expects to happen, given the allure and mystique that surrounds arguably the most exciting city in the world. This first week has just been focused on getting settled: finding new nooks and crannies for the copious amounts of stuff I have gathered over 6 years of post-college living, establishing a routine for me and George, and securing basic services so we can live life more like urbanites and less like homeless nomads. Oh, and then there's that whole work thing, too. Despite how "seamless" they want to make you feel about transfers at work, they didn't have anything set up for me when I arrived, and I ended up having to request everything from a chair to monitor risers (the latter of which I still don't have).

I've also spent a lot of time exploring my neighbourhood, mostly during very long walks with George. I've basically reallocated the 2.5 hours I used to have each day for my commute to taking walks and hanging out with George -- which as far as I can tell, has done a lot for both of us in terms of lowering stress levels and increasing bonding. He's already learned "down" and "stay", two behaviours he was unable to do when we were in SF. Of course, there's also that blog. ;) I've found that George has made it much easier to settle into the city -- people are simply friendlier and more welcoming when they see him, so I may or may not have milked that a bit this past week. I do feel bad that I've brought him to a place where even the highest rated dog run doesn't have grass, but I think the sheer number of dogs in our neighbourhood makes up for this.

Chelsea is an interesting place -- sort of reminds me of a mini SF, filled with lots of yuppie, dog-loving people, lots of gay people, and lots of good food. (Case in my point, 4 of out the 4 neighbours that I've met on my floor are gay men who own dogs.) In my short time in NYC, I've definitely developed a heightened sense of neighbourhood bias, though. There's this strong desire to shop in, and be uber-local -- basically, you stick to your own 'hood. I've only gone uptown twice, and both were terrible furniture shopping experiences. I also dread crossing town, and both times were for equally alluring activities that I couldn't do in my chunk of Manhattan (the greenmarket at Union Square, and eating in the East Village).

So what am I missing?

My friends from SF -- I miss you dearly. Thanks to technology, I feel like I've kept in touch with most of your during my transition this past week, so I'm grateful for that.

My doctors and PTs -- this sounds weird, but you have no idea how hard it is to find good yet available medical services in NYC, especially if you have the aforementioned neighbourhood bias. I've heard that Dr. Lee and his crew at Metropolitan Medical Group are expanding to NYC in September, and let's just say I can't wait!

Yoga -- I've walked so much in this past week (maybe more than in 6 months in SF combined), but I need to get back into my yoga routine, especially to get back on track with my shoulder rehab.

My "people" -- don't laugh. Everyone has their "people", even if you don't want to admit it. They're the go-to shoe guy/manicurist/deli guy/esthetician/masseur/takeout joint/salespeople, etc. that make your life easier. My flats need to be re-soled, my back is sore, and my nails look destroyed. I miss you all. I need to get on top of finding new "people". I've got a promising manicurist, but she's more than one subway stop away. LOL.

All righty, they made me feel better about my broken footrest by giving me a mileage coupon and warm chocolate cookies, but I think that's my cue to pack up and get ready to land. In my old home. It's good to see you, San Francisco.