I have a dog. A big, sloppy, frisbee-playing, swimming, muddy, bounding, wonderful mutt who scoffs at dog runs. Central Park is the ideal venue for her …self expression. Before 9am and after 9pm, (off-leash hours) we get to pretend that we live a life that makes a little more sense. A life with more green and less brick and mortar in which dogs and people run free. Or at least where a puppy doesn’t cost as much as an SUV.
I also have a dishwasher and ceiling fans in the second floor junior one bedroom that houses my little family. It’s tucked in a safe neighborhood and is under 17 minutes (unless it’s raining or I’m on the phone with my mother) from the subway. A nice little heart rate spike in the morning. There are conveniences on every corner, good restaurants, and plenty of uninspired bars from which to choose.
Noooo, its not the notorious Village or acceptable Union Square (acceptable, that is, for those who refuse to travel above 14th St). It’s not the poshy Upper West or deliciously irreverent Brooklyn. It’s not even hip-to-be-square Chinatown.
It’s the city equivalent to frat row, filled with post-collegiate white-hats and stroller gridlock.
I've called this 'hood home for 2 years, and I live here for logistic and personal reasons. But really, that’s beside the point. Why anyone chooses or settles for a particular neighborhood (or Jersey) is exactly proportional to why the rest of the country sow and reap in their respective cities and towns. If a good friend of mine landed a job in Cincinnati, Miami, or Missoula, I would congratulate them on their independence and wish them luck. If I had something nice to say about the area, I would. Even if I didn’t, I’d reach for something—“Gotta love the peace and quiet of those desolate open spaces!” So why does this common courtesy drown in the East and Hudson Rivers, never to reach the shores of Manhattan?
Why do people think it’s okay to voice negative opinions about neighborhoods in the company of those who reside there? As if it isn’t enough to live in Manhattan, we have to dine, play, work, and shop in the right places. Why do we turn on our own? We islanders are bound by a common goal to remain. But somehow, amidst our scratching and clawing our way above the red, we forgot to enjoy the skyline and focus instead on small blocks of pavement. Silly.
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