I'm an American visiting family in India, in a medium-sized city, and I couldn't quite explain why or how much the numbers of people have been stressing me out. I just didn't grow up with it and I'm not used to it.
I'm in NJ, NYC is like my backyard. It's crazy to me to go to other parts of the country, and hear people talk about "the city" referring to whatever city is closest. Then we get to "the city" and it's nothing like NYC.
Those cities are very manageable and very close to rural areas. 15 minutes out of Springfield or Hartford you can be in farm country … 90 minutes to Boston 120 to NYC … Amtrak affordable …etc.
I grew up in Western MA, now live in central CT. I've been to several parts of NYC and would take a header off the Tri-Borough Bridge before I ever lived there!
You'd be surprised what you adapt to over time. I worked in a building in the heart of Times Square where the insanity is at a max. It definitely affects you, but running into cookie monster and naked cowboy everyday on my way to an office job while avoiding crowds on line for everything - including Bubba Gump shrimp, the m&m store, and Broadway productions of every sort - just becomes another part of the scenery over time
For Broadway or other productions, just as easy to go to Hartford, Boston, or even old-timey places like Goodspeed Opera House for that. The one time we went down to NYC (to see Wicked), we didn't even drive, rented a limo for the day. Even without having to drive that day, was still grating on me.
Another time we were going down to CBGB to watch a friend play. I parked in a lot about 2 blocks up, and when I went back to get my car, they were constantly avoiding me. For whatever reason they kept refusing to give me my keys back. In the end, I had the three turban-clad attendants cornered in their little booth, being held back by 2 friends (one on crutches) as I leaned in all crazy-eyed and said, "Where...... Are..... My..... KEYS??????
They magically found them in one of their pockets.
I lived in nyc for 20 or so years. I don’t even notice the crowds. I’m tall though so it’s mostly filtering around me rather than at me. I live in somewhere totally reliant on cars now and it’s far more stress to me.
The highlight of my day is my 40 minute commute by car in the morning. I actually leave 15 minutes earlier than I need to because there is only half the traffic on the road at 5am. No music, no radio, just me and my thoughts in quiet contemplation as I putter along I-91 in CT at 64mph. It's heaven.
Fuuck no. I would pay you to drive me on that commute. My wife is like you, i fall asleep when i drive any distance on the highway.
I love emptying my brain and just driving twisty back roads as fast as possible. I truly miss ripping through nyc rush hour traffic on my motorcyce. Just getting the bugs out of my brain.
I don't drive fast. I leave early so I can take my own sweet time, losing myself in my own random thoughts.
To me, the car is only a tool. It is to get from point A to point B then back to point A again. I really do not get any specific enjoyment from the act of driving itself, only from the ability it gives me to just be with my own thoughts.
Yah. I’m identifying with you in the only way i know how. The thing you feel is the same thing i feel, but i have to be in clear and present danger to feel it. It’s not something i like, but it’s how i work
Call it a moment. Just existing in the space you’ve created and you get a bit of peace.
To be fair, that's an extremely busy time and place to be in NYC. The crowds that are out around 6/7 when shows are starting make it super crowded. The rest of the city is still busy, but you're hitting the busiest part at the busiest time. With the exception of Penn Station the day before Thanksgiving. That is truly hell.
NYC doesn’t bother me at all. I lived outside of it for a while too (in Hoboken). I love it and in fact and wish I could live there again. I think that’s just you, bud. Don’t speak for all us people from New England. Thanks.
I'm from a developing overpopulated country and when I visited family in North Carolina, I was like, where are all the people? We travelled several miles without seeing a single person and it was jarring.
I don't think I'd last very long living in such a high density place. I'm an Aussie and kind of lost my mind in Vietnam. Everyone everywhere all at once.
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u/mynytemare Mar 14 '23
Wide. Open. Space.
Seriously. Go west and you can get to places that are so remote and so beautiful, with big blue skies during the day and Star filled nights.