88 more reasons never to go into NYC.

[Death Metal Moe]

Story (http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/12/16/2008-12-16_gov_david_paterson_unveils_dire_new_york.html)


Now right off the bat, let me just say that I'm not a person who really ever had that feeling that New York City was "The Greatest City in the World." When I was in it I didn't feel energized. It's loud, it's fucking filthy, it's scary in some parts, it's overflowing with people. It's just not that great. Millions live and die by it and love it, but I don't so that's where I'm at as you read this post.

The fucking place costs a fortune to where no one making an average salary can afford to live there anymore. Parking is a nightmare. If you dare to drive in you either have to park in a garage for a fee or risk parking 2 inches too close or far to something and getting a tow and ticket that runs in the hundreds of dollars.

On top of all that horseshit, the fucking cocksuckers say people aren't paying enough and now they are instituting this long list of new taxes, raising existing taxes or repealing tax breaks and cuts on certian programs.

Is there a breaking point coming? Because all I ever hear is prices going up in NYC, business not being able to afford the rent, costs of transit going up.

When will it end? Because it has to hit a wall eventually. I steer away from the fucking place like the plague now, have for years. Only time I've gone it really is for Ron and Fez events and one free recording session a guy gave us at his studio in the Bronx.

[DiabloSammich]

And yet, when I run into people who live there they act like they live in the center of the universe, and nobody else could possibly comprehend what it is like to live in such a cosmopolitan metropolis.



Ugh.

[Gvac]

I love the city and feel so alive when I'm there. I don't find it filthy or scary.

Yeah, I could never afford to live there. I couldn't afford to party there every weekend, either, but I love being there.

I also love being in the woods too.

I never understood people who loved one and hated the other. They each have a place.

[Snoogans]

Yea a ton of worrying you have to do about those NY tax changes living in Butler NJ. Stop it with your phony outrage. its been the same for your entire life and you never said shit about it, and you dont even live there

[Puggle_kicker]

I moved out of NY state because of that sesspool of a city that cripples beautiful upstate NY.

[Death Metal Moe]

I love the city and feel so alive when I'm there. I don't find it filthy or scary.

Yeah, I could never afford to live there. I couldn't afford to party there every weekend, either, but I love being there.

I also love being in the woods too.

I never understood people who loved one and hated the other. They each have a place.

I might think that way if it didn't cost me 100 dollars to get in and out when I went to the Museum of Natural History. What the fuck is that? Tolls, parking, tickets, food. Place is a fucking nightmare.

It has a place, a place for the well off. I guess Manhattan is pricing out the low lives.

[Death Metal Moe]

Yea a ton of worrying you have to do about those NY tax changes living in Butler NJ. Stop it with your phony outrage. its been the same for your entire life and you never said shit about it, and you dont even live there

It effects everyone going in and out.

You haven't said boo to me in like a year and you're still trying to qualify my posts? I'll post whatever I want, ignore me.

[Snoogans]

I might think that way if it didn't cost me 100 dollars to get in and out when I went to the Museum of Natural History. What the fuck is that? Tolls, parking, tickets, food. Place is a fucking nightmare.

It has a place, a place for the well off. I guess Manhattan is pricing out the low lives.

I just went to the city. it cost 8 bucks for the toll, it cost 20 bucks to park for like up to 14 hours, and last time i went to the museum last year, it was 14 bucks to get in. you wanna eat cheap, you can find plently of places to fill yourself up for 10 bucks.

Thats 46 bucks. Where did you get robbed of the other 54?

[Judge Smails]

You live in NJ. There's people in the Midwest saying the same exact thing about you (and me) right now.

[Snoogans]

It effects everyone going in and out.

You haven't said boo to me in like a year and you're still trying to qualify my posts? I'll post whatever I want, ignore me.

im responding to the post you made. you posted a thread, im allowed to respond on topic. If you cant handle someone disagreeing with you, kill yourself. Cause as long as you live its gonna happen

[Don Stugots]

i love NYC. why would i love anywhere else? is it for everyone? nope but the same could said for living in the burbs or in the mountains.

Gvac, i hate the woods.

[Snoogans]

i love NYC. why would i love anywhere else? is it for everyone? nope but the same could said for living in the burbs or in the mountains.

Gvac, i hate the woods.

The city is expensive. And some of these taxes are insane. But living in Jersey, I can't get mad about it. its not my state. And I live closer to NY then moe, and end up there buying shit on almost a daily basis. So this would effect me more then him, and still, its not our problem. you dont wanna pay, then dont go. Same with how you wouldnt wanna pay to go to a ballet. But to all of a sudden be angry at whats been the case for our entire lives is kinda stupid

[Sinestro]

The price of gas on the West Coast is higher than the East............and they don't have White Castles.

I think living in any Big City is going to cost more than the outer areas.

[cougarjake13]

is this like martin luthers 95 theses ??



















seriously though i miss some aspects of what i could do there on a reg basis that i cant do where im living now

but i dont miss the low pay, more taxes, higher cost of living, etc.

[Don Stugots]

The city is expensive. And some of these taxes are insane. But living in Jersey, I can't get mad about it. its not my state. And I live closer to NY then moe, and end up there buying shit on almost a daily basis. So this would effect me more then him, and still, its not our problem. you dont wanna pay, then dont go. Same with how you wouldnt wanna pay to go to a ballet. But to all of a sudden be angry at whats been the case for our entire lives is kinda stupid

there is no doubt that it is expensive. arent NJ property taxes pretty high? i think that is crazy but, like you said, i dont live there so it doesnt effect me. to each their own.

[Snoogans]

there is no doubt that it is expensive. arent NJ property taxes pretty high? i think that is crazy but, like you said, i dont live there so it doesnt effect me. to each their own.

actually it really depends. In the town im in and around me for the most part, taxes are VERY low by %. its just properties are usually bigger too. But in like mahwah, franklin lakes, and those areas the taxes are actually pretty low. The values are whats high

[Marc with a c]

everything you guys have mentioned already make me miss that place so much. i'll be back.

[Don Stugots]

actually it really depends. In the town im in and around me for the most part, taxes are VERY low by %. its just properties are usually bigger too. But in like mahwah, franklin lakes, and those areas the taxes are actually pretty low. The values are whats high

really? i had no idea. you are the first person to ever put it that way. most people just complain about how high their taxes are.

[Sinestro]

I just went to the city. it cost 8 bucks for the toll, it cost 20 bucks to park for like up to 14 hours, and last time i went to the museum last year, it was 14 bucks to get in. you wanna eat cheap, you can find plently of places to fill yourself up for 10 bucks.

Thats 46 bucks. Where did you get robbed of the other 54?


He probably went with a chick. And chicks ain't cheap.

[Snoogans]

really? i had no idea. you are the first person to ever put it that way. most people just complain about how high their taxes are.

the effective tax rate in my town is like 2%. Ramsey, a town over, is like almost 5%. it has alot to do with corps and other tax generating things in town. FL and Mahwah have alot of that, so the taxes are low. Taxes in Paramus are virtually non existent because of this

[JerseyRich]

http://generallyawesome.com/store/i_luv_nyW.jpg

[Snoogans]

He probably went with a chick. And chicks ain't cheap.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA



AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

[Don Stugots]

He probably went with a chick. And chicks ain't cheap.

i took my chick and my nephew to the museum last month. i spent 100 bucks for the day. it was a great time and i didnt think anything of the money. it was the amount i thought we would spend and it we had fun so it was worth it.

[jonyrotn]

I wouldn't live ANYWHERE else on the planet..

For every con you can list I can list a thousand pros..
But to each his own..I could never live in a place that collects the garbage once a week and charges you for it..

[paracetamol flanders]

88 reasons to hate NYC and (ironically) Pianos ain't one.

[Sinestro]

I wouldn't live ANYWHERE else on the planet..

For every con you can list I can list a thousand pros..
But to each his own..I could never live in a place that collects the garbage once a week and charges you for it..

So of the bigger cities collect once a week and allow you only one trash can for pick up. That's hella crazy.

[jennysmurf]

I miss New York City so much, my heart aches. No joke. It's expensive, smelly, and crowded, but I loved it the minute I laid eyes on it. Can't explain something like that.

[~Katja~]

I might think that way if it didn't cost me 100 dollars to get in and out when I went to the Museum of Natural History. What the fuck is that? Tolls, parking, tickets, food. Place is a fucking nightmare.

It has a place, a place for the well off. I guess Manhattan is pricing out the low lives.

go to the kids museum in Philly or even the suburbs... you pay the same, most places are 15+ a head. a family of 4 on a day out these days always costs about 100 bucks, NYC or not.

[Don Stugots]

I miss New York City so much, my heart aches. No joke. It's expensive, smelly, and crowded, but I loved it the minute I laid eyes on it. Can't explain something like that.

you are always welcome to stay at out place for a weekend.

[skyscraper]

I used to love visiting nyc. I knew a lot of people who couldn't stand even going there for the day, but I liked it. then I moved there and stayed for 3 years, and that was enough.
The feeling after living there was not so much that it was as great or as bad as people make it out to be. it is big, there is no denying that. per capita, there's probably not more culture than in almost any other big city. the indigenous population generally get a reputation for having a sense of entitlement, which comes from being pandered to en masse by advertisers looking to advertise in the largest media market.
to paraphrase Woody Allen from the movie Manhattan, it gets romanticized all out of proportion, on both sides.

[Snoogans]

I used to love visiting nyc. I knew a lot of people who couldn't stand even going there for the day, but I liked it. then I moved there and stayed for 3 years, and that was enough.
The feeling after living there was not so much that it was as great or as bad as people make it out to be. it is big, there is no denying that. per capita, there's probably not more culture than in almost any other big city. the indigenous population generally get a reputation for having a sense of entitlement, which comes from being pandered to en masse by advertisers looking to advertise in the largest media market.
to paraphrase Woody Allen from the movie Manhattan, it gets romanticized all out of proportion, on both sides.

except the guy who posted this doesnt live there, and wont be effected by any of this messing with his quality of life. Thats why this is stupid

[Big_Joe]

I love the city and feel so alive when I'm there. I don't find it filthy or scary.

Yeah, I could never afford to live there. I couldn't afford to party there every weekend, either, but I love being there.

I also love being in the woods too.

I never understood people who loved one and hated the other. They each have a place.

well said. But this will be the last post I agree with you on tonight before people think I have a thing for you.

[Snoogans]

I wouldn't live ANYWHERE else on the planet..

For every con you can list I can list a thousand pros..
But to each his own..I could never live in a place that collects the garbage once a week and charges you for it..

ummm, im pretty sure those taxes you pay to the city pay for garbage pick up and all that. or at least, building maintenance does, which residents would also pay. Everyone everywhere pays for everything they get, and some shit they dont ever see

[Snoogans]

I actually have a very serious question for you Moe. you live in New jersey, and here you are flipping out about the taxes and cost of living in NY. Now I could be wrong, since I can't possibly catch every thread but:

Were you this pissed when NJ did almost the same thing last year? I dont remember reading about you being furious that sales tax went up roughly 18% in one shot just because the state continually failed to balance the budget. Or how they decided they didnt have enough money so they CLOSED THE CASINOS THAT GENERATE TONS OF THEIR MONEY. Again, if you did, then fine, but seriously, shouldn't you worry more about where you actually live if you didnt?

Or my favorite part, about how they were so short on money they moved the age limit for cigarette purchase from 18 to 19 to "save on healthcare costs" depsite that costing them however much millions in taxes that the 18 year old cigarette buyers would have brought

[Death Metal Moe]

I don't owe you an answer for anything.

I guess things never change with you.

[Snoogans]

I don't owe you an answer for anything.

I guess things never change with you.

All I've done is respond to your posts and the topic, and asked you a question based on the topic. I have not personally attacked you in any way, in fact I have tried to be peaceful with you in the few baseball explanations and the whole tornado thread. yet you just want to bait me into a fight so bad you act like I am somehow being a dickhead to you and attacking you.

how bout one time, you realize you posted something to be discussed and just discuss it. Rather then tryin to make yourself a martyr every time you post, with no real basis

[Contra]

I love NYC. The 2 years I worked in Manhattan were easily the most exciting and enjoyable times in my life. Working freelance in indie film took me all over Brooklyn, Queens, and everywhere in between. Now living in PA I visit whenever I can, and everytime I do it invigorates me. Plus meeting the fine folks from this messegeboard at events in the city, and the experiences derived from meeting those people make it even more special to me.

[Death Metal Moe]

All I've done is respond to your posts and the topic, and asked you a question based on the topic. I have not personally attacked you in any way, in fact I have tried to be peaceful with you in the few baseball explanations and the whole tornado thread. yet you just want to bait me into a fight so bad you act like I am somehow being a dickhead to you and attacking you.

how bout one time, you realize you posted something to be discussed and just discuss it. Rather then tryin to make yourself a martyr every time you post, with no real basis

Yea, you're a saint. I guess the part where you lauged at the thought I dated someone was meant to bury the hatchet. Or the posts where you had to keep bringing me up instead of just discussing the topic was supposed to be you being a sweety to. Who's being passive agressive now?

I posted a thread about how NYC is already too expensive, I don't like to go there and now I like to go there less, then left it open to discussion.

Period.

[Sinestro]

NYC is a great place to visit, but I would never want to live there. or could with my salary.

[Snoogans]

Yea, you're a saint. I guess the part where you lauged at the thought I dated someone was meant to bury the hatchet. Or the posts where you had to keep bringing me up instead of just discussing the topic was supposed to be you being a sweety to. Who's being passive agressive now?

I posted a thread about how NYC is already too expensive, I don't like to go there and now I like to go there less, then left it open to discussion.

Period.

I laughed at you bringing a chick long after you acted like i was some sort of asshole for STAYING ON TOPIC and asking how this effected you, then responding to you saying how it effected you with responses ONLY TO WHAT YOU POSTED. all you simply would have had to do was respond to my assesment of what it costs to go into NYC and it woulda stayed on that. You are the one who somehow acted like i came in here to fight you

[Sinestro]

Can we let bygones be bygones and bury the hatchet for 2009 and start with a new slate?


Let go of the past. Work to the future. It's all about change if you want it. Yes we can.

[Snoogans]

Can we let bygones be bygones and bury the hatchet for 2009 and start with a new slate?


Let go of the past. Work to the future. It's all about change if you want it. Yes we can.

Cant we just start 2009 by not putting ourselves into things that have nothing to do with us and just minding our business?

[Sinestro]

. You are the one who somehow acted like i came in here to fight you

??? You can't even beat up a speaker. (or was it a boom box).:devil2:

[Sinestro]

Cant we just start 2009 by not putting ourselves into things that have nothing to do with us and just minding our business?

okay.:thumbup:

[Sinestro]

Nobody wants to be taxed or pay taxes. But then how do we expect to pay for stuff like services, roads, school, infrastructure, etc.???? It has to come from somewhere.

But if it's sports related like a stadium, you have to pay for it and the city, politicians subsidize them and give them lots of breaks.

[Death Metal Moe]

Nobody wants to be taxed or pay taxes. But then how do we expect to pay for stuff like services, roads, school, infrastructure, etc.???? It has to come from somewhere.

But if it's sports related like a stadium, you have to pay for it and the city, politicians subsidize them and give them lots of breaks.

The story said they were going to raise taxes, spend more than last year overall but then expected to cut service to the public. I don't get that one.

[Sinestro]

Maybe a dollar doesn't stretch as far as it used too. Yet they could find concessions for sports teams like the yanks and mets who over pay for players and at the same time crying poverty when they need a new stadium. And spending all that money on renaming a bridge after RFK in this environment. :huh:

[badorties]

manhattan is a pricey place to live, and visit ... but there are endless cheap and free options for having a good time in manhattan

new york city (sans staten island, i can't wait unitil they finally secede) is comprised of tons of interesting and reasonbly priced neighborhoods & attractions

if you come into manhattan (by car) and visit touristy areas, you're gonna pay a premium ... if i went to an event at the meadowlands, i'm gonna drop $100 for tolls, parking and food

it seems more of a story for what is being taxed -- downloads, cigars, soda & booze

[Sinestro]

it seems more of a story for what is being taxed -- downloads, cigars, soda & booze

Prohibition part duex!

[badorties]

Prohibition part duex!

i wonder what apple thinks of itunes tax -- just seems like a solid, viable excuse for the masses to explore 'illegal' downloading and piracy

[Don Stugots]

manhattan is a pricey place to live, and visit ... but there are endless cheap and free options for having a good time in manhattan

new york city (sans staten island, i can't wait unitil they finally secede) is comprised of tons of interesting and reasonbly priced neighborhoods & attractions

if you come into manhattan (by car) and visit touristy areas, you're gonna pay a premium ... if i went to an event at the meadowlands, i'm gonna drop $100 for tolls, parking and food

it seems more of a story for what is being taxed -- downloads, cigars, soda & booze


As much as I hate staten island it does have some cool stuff. Historic richmondtown has shows how the life was way back when. Snug harbor cultural center has I think 6 buildings of art and science exhibits.

[Freakshow]

go to the kids museum in Philly or even the suburbs... you pay the same, most places are 15+ a head. a family of 4 on a day out these days always costs about 100 bucks, NYC or not.

Most DC musuems are free. :)

[yojimbo7248]

I love living in New York. I have lived in both Manhattan and Brooklyn and have had a great experience. If you aren't a city person and are easily annoyed by noise and filth then you probably won't like it. I do think, however, that many people I meet here aren't aware that the rest of North America has changed. NYC is no longer as unique as it was, say, 20 years ago. Now you can go and live in many places like Austin or Chicago or Philadelphia and get all of the music, art, culture, whatever that you would get living on the Lower East Side or Williamsburg.

[Freakshow]

I went to new york city,
But then i come right back,
Everyone was cool there,
I couldn't get no slack
You seen me in the papers,
You seen me in the voice,
I think i'd stay in dixie,
If i had the choice.

[A.J.]

I'll take overpriced NYC over shitty, overpriced Washington, DC/Northern Virginia any day of the week.

[led37zep]

I moved here from LA and I love it.

So...there.

I also loved living in Eugene and Northern California....Neat right?

[biggestmexi]

A 50 cent tax on cigars. The current tax is equal to 37% of the wholesale price, or 34 cents a cigar.

WHAT THE FUCK!

[angrymissy]

These taxes are for New York State, not just NYC... and the budget increase is 1%, the smallest in almost 20 years.

Here is what people forget.

NYC is one of the BIGGEST cities in the world. There are people thousands of miles away who are dying to just visit. You can get ANYTHING you want. The other day Jeff decided he wanted to eat a meal made from bugs. WE FOUND A PLACE IN 10 MINUTES.

You gotta pay to play. Being older now, I love the balance of being able to live in the burbs but get to the city in under an hour.

The tax hike? OMG I GOTTA PAY 8 EXTRA CENTS FOR MY ITUNES OR NASTY SODA! This is going to put my struggling, ipod equipped, family into the poorhouse! Please. First of all, again, it's for all of NYS, not just NYC. Second of all, most of the items being taxed are luxury items. Third of all, NYS has a huge fucking deficit! How else are we supposed to get over it? At least Patterson has the balls to be realistic and try and do something about it.

[biggestmexi]

Third of all, NYS has a huge fucking deficit! How else are we supposed to get over it? At least Patterson has the balls to be realistic and try and do something about it.

Why is it in a deficit?

Realistic is not taxing I-popsongs. That will only make piracy worse.

Cigars I can understand, but for god's sake please think about Mr. B.

[angrymissy]

Why is it in a deficit?

Realistic is not taxing I-popsongs. That will only make piracy worse.

Cigars I can understand, but for god's sake please think about Mr. B.

People bitch and moan, but they are not going to stop downloading their itunes because of a piddly tax. The average joe is not finding ways to DL pirated songs to their ipod, they want point/click/instant gratification straight to ipod.

[Jujubees2]

As a Queens resident for the past 14 years (and someone who never thought he could/would live in New York City) I have to say that it's much better than I ever imagined! Of course, you have to realize that New York City is one of the most, if not the most, diverse city in the world. Before I moved to Queens, to me New York City was Manhattan. Now I realize that there's so much more going on in the other boroughs.

My kids have had so many opportunities that I never had growing up in Rhode Island. They have been exposed to numerous museums, theaters and cultural events, all at little cost (Don't drive into Manhattan. Take mass transit. Even if they raise the price for a ride to $2.50 it's still a good bargain compared to driving).

When I lived on Long Island I would take the LIRR into the city and go by the houses in Queens and think to myself that I could never live in houses that are so close together and look so crowded. So, I ended up buying a house that sits right next to the LIRR tracks.

[Freakshow]

Why is it in a deficit?

Realistic is not taxing I-popsongs. That will only make piracy worse.

Cigars I can understand, but for god's sake please think about Mr. B.

I be surprised if Ron has payed for cigars in years. Didn't he just get a whole box of Cohibas yesterday????

[biggestmexi]

Why is it in a deficit?

People bitch and moan, but they are not going to stop downloading their itunes because of a piddly tax. The average joe is not finding ways to DL pirated songs to their ipod, they want point/click/instant gratification straight to ipod.

see above. Also I am not trying to be a dick. I really dont know why.
And it really is not hard to find ways to D/L stuff for free onto the Ipod.
I myself never used one but I am sure its rather easy.



I be surprised if Ron has payed for cigars in years. Didn't he just get a whole box of Cohibas yesterday????

good point.

[angrymissy]

see above. Also I am not trying to be a dick. I really dont know why.
And it really is not hard to find ways to D/L stuff for free onto the Ipod.
I myself never used one but I am sure its rather easy.

good point.

I'm not going to pretend to have an incredible knowledge about the inner workings of NYS budgets, but, from what I've read, we are apparently in for some shit because we rely on a crapload of taxes from Wall Street, which recently took a gigantic shit.

See, I thought that too about iPods, but then I see people at my work who can barely work iTunes.

[biggestmexi]

I'm not going to pretend to have an incredible knowledge about the inner workings of NYS budgets, but, from what I've read, we are apparently in for some shit because we rely on a crapload of taxes from Wall Street, which recently took a gigantic shit.

See, I thought that too about iPods, but then I see people at my work who can barely work iTunes.

http://lifehacker.com/software/ipod/hack-attack-add-music-and-movies-to-your-ipod-from-any-computer-without-itunes-237986.php

Oh yeah. relying on wallstreet maybe not so good of an idea.

[angrymissy]

http://lifehacker.com/software/ipod/hack-attack-add-music-and-movies-to-your-ipod-from-any-computer-without-itunes-237986.php

Oh yeah. relying on wallstreet maybe not so good of an idea.

I know how to get my illegal music, Susie in Accounting doesn't.

When it comes down to it, 90% of people are lazy and will pay the 6/8 whatever cents.

[Freakshow]

New Yorks alright--if you like saxaphones.

[biggestmexi]

I know how to get my illegal music, Susie in Accounting doesn't.

When it comes down to it, 90% of people are lazy and will pay the 6/8 whatever cents.

oh do you! i see.

[Furtherman]

The other day Jeff decided he wanted to eat a meal made from bugs. WE FOUND A PLACE IN 10 MINUTES.

WHOA WHOA WHOA....

Please explain THAT!!!!





As for not going into NYC.... if you make a plan, which includes taking in a train, you can have an AWESOME time in NYC without spending big bucks. I hang out there all the time and can have a cheaper night than I would spend in Hoboken, New Jersey.

As for the taxes thing... it won't nearly be as bad as these initial trumped up reports are making it out to be. They just want to sell newspapers.

[Freakshow]

There used to be a bar in DC called the Insect Club where you could eat all the bugs you could handle. It's been closed for quite a while now, though.

[angrymissy]

WHOA WHOA WHOA....
Please explain THAT!!!!


We were watching some Food Network show where they ate fried bugs. Jeff decided he wanted to eat bugs. I found a restaurant in Manhattan that makes grasshopper tacos. Apparently bugs don't really taste that great, however, I got some kind of delicious pork taco.

Now, if I lived in the middle of nowhere w/ cheap taxes, I wouldn't be able to do something like that on the spur of the moment.

[Freakshow]

well, if you live out in the middle of nowhere, the grasshoppers would be plentiful and you could make tacos yourselves...

:tongue:

[Furtherman]

Jeff, you're a man with a brave appetite.

[utriculus!]

I've lived in the greater Boston area for my whole life and I find it to be a perfect blend of metropolis and suburb with forests and mountains never too far away.

I've been to Manhattan a bunch of times, most times without any money or a place to stay. I still had fun. The people are equal parts intolerable arrogance and complete unpredictability. I enjoy that variety but I'm sort of a weird guy. I slept in the park with my shoes as a pillow.

That said I wouldn't want to live there unless I was making 120k+, which is double what I make now and live comfortably on in Boston.

[Coach_Mac]

I grew up in Texas and live in Mississippi now but I lived upstate for a year and visited the city several times and from my perpective, it is an entirely different lifestyle than the rest of the country. I can only imagine that living in NYC is something that takes practice in order not to go broke in a month. I really enjoyed visiting but I can't see people living there if they didn't grow up there.

[boosterp]

The price of gas on the West Coast is higher than the East............and they don't have White Castles.

I think living in any Big City is going to cost more than the outer areas.

Of course, and part of the reason I live in a suburb of Houston.

go to the kids museum in Philly or even the suburbs... you pay the same, most places are 15+ a head. a family of 4 on a day out these days always costs about 100 bucks, NYC or not.

$100 will get you into the Houston museum and pay for a nice dinner for 2.

I be surprised if Ron has payed for cigars in years. Didn't he just get a whole box of Cohibas yesterday????

Ahhhhh, Cohibas, my favorite.


I love Houston for many of it's traits; the arts, museums, and just things to do. I also love Austin for the same reasons and visit there frequently. The climate here sucks especially during summer, but it is where I am from.

Also, Texas as a whole has yet to run into a deficit, but Houston is expecting it to hit sometime next year if the energy market does not improve. And I love our low taxes but hate our high auto insurance because of all the illegals.