While there’s no formal definition of “epidemic”, 30% feels a little dramatic

Η ζωή εκεί πέρα σας αγχώνει σε άλλους τρόπους.

Not creepy at all. I’d ask if I was gonna be in town. Good luck though!

Sounds like the Lehigh valley- Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton area- is exactly what you’re looking for

I agree. I’m 26 right now and I’d be around 27 by the time I could move to NYC. I never really saw DC as permanent, but NYC I could.

I wish I would’ve done it in reverse though and spent my 20s in the New York and my 30s in DC. I feel like DC naturally fits you more as you age and get more tired of the urban density.

What do you think is easier about dating in New York? The dating scene here kinda sucks imo.

Yeah it’s actually pretty cold out today, but it never really snows here I think that makes winter pretty ugly.

Is it easy to make friend in New York? Do you think you’d ever move back to DC?

“a commuter rail in disguise” is an interesting way to put it. I’d have to agree I guess.

Yeah I mean that’s my conundrum right now. I’m pretty happy here in DC but I only have like 2-3 friends that I hang out with. But as you mentioned they’ll probably be gone in a year or two. In New York I wouldn’t even have that, but at least there’s more people and it’s closer to my family.

For me personally there’s also more room here to grow in my career than in New York.

Idk I’ve never heard anyone say “I tried livining in New York and I just HATED it”. Everyone who goes there becomes adamant that “it’s the greatest city on earth!” so I can’t imagine I wouldn’t like it.

It’s a difficult decision. Did you have more friends/community in NYC and that’s why you left DC?

Thank you for this thoughtful response.

On the cold thing-and this is just a matter of personal preference- if we’re gonna have 4 seasons I’d rather it be actually cold in the winter rather than DC where I have to take a jacket with my in January but I’ll end up sweating through it if I have to walk around in the sun. So I’m cool with that. bu fun tss

Interesting take. Here’s where I agree and disagree:

I disagree that Metro is bad. I think Metro is probably the best public transit system in the country from what I’ve seen (although never used NYCs). It’s very clean and maybe sometimes you have to wait longer than I’d like too but that’s not terribly annoying. Why do you think it’s bad?

I agree that DC can feel very sterile and commercialized, which is odd for one of the most historic cities in the country. There’s no cute boutique shops or underground type bars that a local can show you. There’s no neighborhood like Astoria with a rich cultural diaspora and authentic food. Everything is like brand new and feels very manufactured, and there’s a place for that too in every city but NYC seems to have a better balance.

I disagree that it hasn’t bounced back from covid. Idk when you left but I lived here pre-covid and since the summer it feels totally normal again.

I do agree that I think if you’re young and single (which I am) New York is probably better. Just by the sheer number of people I think that has to be true. That’s a big part of why I’m interested in moving honestly.

I disagree that winter is probably worse but that’s a personal preference. It never really gets cold here in dc so you walk around in a jacket and pants here in February and then start sweating. Like if it’s gonna be winter I’d rather it be actually cold out I guess.

Well yeah I would have to find a job there

That’s a hot take my friend

It’s so fucking depressing. Pass the damn sunshine act Congress