I'm Moving to NYC!

[erobert]

Finally! It's really happening after all these years and multiple visits.

I got a job offer in New York during my visit there last month and I'm moving in two weeks. I'm initially staying with family in Westchester until I find someone seeking a roommate (staying with family and living out of a suitcase is not the ideal situation but I'm just glad I have a job)

The only downside about this position is it pays in the lower twenties, which is not a lot for New York. Seems I'll have to search around for a part time job.

But I want to say something about the guys in New York- the city has the highest concentration of great looking guys out of any place in this nation I've been to. I know it's subjective but in every borough there's every type of guy and every type of "scene," club and organization you can imagine. There were a lot of guys in the Bronx who look like they came out of the Cazwell Ice Cream video. Aye Papi! An unimaginably diverse GB community exists in New York that I feel like I've been missing out on all these years. I'm going to need to pace myself when I get back there.

Though, right now I'm focused on building up contacts making friends in the city as I don't know anyone except the other half of the family that lives there. That's why I'm telling everyone online and off that I'm moving. ironically it can be easy to fall into loneliness in a city the size of New York when you don't know anyone around your age.

Hopefully that won't be a problem because the city is full of single young twenty something new arrivals.

Can you tell I'm excited (and slightly anxious) BTW?

 

[Knucklehead]

Good luck..It's a great place..

 

[OnlyTopsNeedApply]

U'r right, lots of guys here. Some estimate 30 percent of the City is gay. BUT...NYC still has the fastest growing population of AIDS. Just be discriminating, you have a long and fun life ahead of you.

 

[DJ1990]

LOL I agree about the good looking guys part. I saw so many sexy guys in New York I couldn't believe my eyes. Btw what kind of job do you do? If I was you I wouldn't look for a part time job but go to college part time and then eventuallly get a better paying job.

 

[erobert]

huntneo, I'm looking around Jersey City, Hoboken, Brooklyn and Queens as those areas have cheaper rent. The "desirable" neighborhoods of Manhattan are waaay out of my price range right now. Know of anyone who needs a roomate? Ideally, I would like to move somewhere around Park Slope or Carroll Gardens. I hear Astoria is drawing it's fair share of recent arrivals.

While I'm grateful to have relatives that live close to the city and they're willing to let me stay with them until I get settled I'm kind of removed from everything in Manhattan being up in Westchester (plus the whole privacy thing, I guess no dating until I get my own place). I'm applying to seconds jobs and looking for sublets like mad right now. Thank god for the internet.

DJ, I'm going to be an administrative assistant for a non profit organization. I'm lucky because it's in my field. You mean going on to grad school? That's in the cards for the near future but something I need to save up. Plus, I just graduated from undergrad in May. I'm just looking for another job I can do during the weekends and I have my freelance web design gigs also. You can never have too much money in NYC.

 

[soulseeker]

Cool!!!!!!!!!!! Congrat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You should write a blog about your transition from Chicago to NYC. That would help to advertise your work also. I am hoping to move to NYC after I am done here. lol. The greatest city on Earth. I think the major concern with NYC is terrorists. Last month, the NYPD succeeded in preventing a major bombing, I think.

 

[adawgnyc]

Welcome (in the future) to New York. I've lived in Manhattan since '01 although I spend most of my time on the road for work. There's no place in the world like it.

The good -- no matter what you're looking for it, you probably will be able to find it, provided you're willing to invest time and energy looking for it.

The bad -- NYC destroys more 18-25 year old people than the rest of the East coast combined. (Especially cute gay guys.)

The Advice:
1. DO NOT try to keep up with people you meet. I can't tell you how many 20-somethings come to NYC and rack up $20k credit card debt from "stupid stuff" in less than a year.
2. DO NOT try to take advantage of everything. There's nothing wrong with a quiet night at home reading a book or watching TV.
3. DO approach the cute guy and say "hi" even if he's wearing $1,500 shoes and the best date you can offer is microwave ramen noodles. Odds are he's a pretentious prick, but saying hi doesn't cost anything and he may be a total sweetie.
4. When someone says "hi" to you, be nice, even if they're not your type. They may have cute friends, or still be an awesome person to hang out with.
5. Stop to smell the flowers.

Hit me up if you have any questions about the city! Despite what you may have heard, New Yorkers are some of the most friendly people in the world.

 

[soulseeker]

What is THE BEST neighborhood in Manhattan for 20-something gay guy? ^^

 

[erobert]

Thanks. Excellent advice, I was waiting for a list like that. I have a couple of questions so I'll be sending you message soon.

The bad -- NYC destroys more 18-25 year old people than the rest of the East coast combined. (Especially cute gay guys.)

Sad but true, even the straight ones too. Practically any person who's under prepared for living in a major city.

A lot of young people move to NY with unrealistic expectations/ thinking it will be like what they see on TV and become bitter and in debt when they can live up to the Sex and the City lifestyle (how many people have that type of income anyway). I've done a couple of test runs of a typical week for myself so at least I know what to expect. I even found great places to eat lunch for $5 dollars without resorting to fast food chains. Again thank god for the internet.

soulseeker, there are gay guys in all five boroughs. It's not just one neighborhood but many. Depends on what you're seeking in a neighborhood. Personally, I don't pick neighborhoods by how gay they are, I picked them based off how affordable they are and if there are other people my age living there.

The gay neighborhood is Chelsea in Manhattan. Expensive rents for what you get IMO. Manhattan south of 125th St is out of a college students budget unless they live in a dorm or have a trust fund. Many young people live in Brooklyn (Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Clinton Hill), Astoria Queens and now they're moving to Jersey too.

 

[adawgnyc]

So, there's a history of "gay neighborhoods". The first was the village. Then that got too expensive, so we moved north into Chelsea. That got gentrified and too expensive, so about 10-12 years ago the next generation of gay guys started moving into Hell's Kitchen where things were cheaper.

So now, the village is mostly guys in their 40's, Chelsea is mostly in their 30's, and Hell's Kitchen is mostly guys in their 20's. But that's a VAST simplification.

Sadly, the trend of moving north can't continue because the next-neighborhood north would end up being the Upper West Side (where I live), and that's already way too expensive, so the next generation to move in doesn't have anywhere cheap available. There won't be a "next area" the way Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen developed after the village.

But there are a HUGE number of great neighborhoods. For an active 20-something, Hell's kitchen or the lower East side could both be great choices. Chelsea might also be a good choice. But you could do well (almost) anywhere. In general, expect to pay $1,000+/month for a small bedroom in a shared apartment anywhere.

If you want more specific suggestions, feel free to hit me up.

 

[soulseeker]

That's my dream, too

 

[QuinnRider]

My bf moved to Brooklyn a year ago. He is 22, almost 23. I would LOVE to move to NY but I am actually moving to San Francisco in a couple years for school, then the plan is to move to Brooklyn after that, if things are still going good. Anyway, he has some big balls, just like you! I have always wanted to go to live in NY! I could never just go like he did. I am in Awe of him.
He lives in Brooklyn, as I said, he rents a [retty small room for 400/month, has many roommates who are friends he knew before he moved, and it's the ghetto. He's wittnessed some scary things there but it's worth it to him.
Word of advice, CRAIGSLIST! Craigslist for apartment/room, furnishings, job, everything!

 

[USEDCAR]

Goodluck sir! i am jealous let us know how the move is i can't wait to move to a big city one day

 

[chillyboi]

Ditto with what Huntneo says, id kill to live in NYC, ill be there Christmas morning