Yes guys, that's right. I am officially a resident of downtown! With the love and support and muscles of my parents and boyfriend, the financial district became my new home Saturday, and I am obsessed. Out of my seven moves within the city, I have never lived south of 55th street or west of Park Avenue. My experience living the city has more or less unfolded on the Upper East Side, and for more or less, I've truly loved it up there. Not because of the never-gonna-happen brownstones on Madison Avenue or because of the neighborhood's innate affluence — rather because there is something so warm about that distinct neighborhood vibe, and something so magical about the shimmering sidewalk on 69th street between 3rd Avenue and Lex. (it actually glitters!). Very old school New York if you ask me. But along with a host of other reasons (adios 4th floor walkup, bugs, $$$ rent….and bugs) I'm ready to embrace the change that's brought me downtown. There's this life down here by the river (the unobstructed view from my bedroom is of the water!) that glows and sparkles and calls my name. Beside the fact 1.5+ million of us live on this island surrounded by water, actually seeing the open water every morning was kind of my biggest draw. It feels fresh and new and wonderful, and what I need for now. And I kick myself every time I look up from my roof deck and see the Freedom Tower. Sure, I'm already a little nostalgic about leaving the area I've called home on and off for 5 years, but I feel good knowing that this creature of habit can also be adaptable and open to the world outside of my comfort zone.
I mean I really can't complain — the view from down here is fabulous.
