On leaving New York…

You know, Vincent really thinks I hate this city, and I suppose I do complain an awful lot about things. I think that may be a really bad quality in a person, to be constantly thinking the glass is half empty (shut up, Anthony), so I will do my best to reconcile that by telling you all (whoever you are) why it is that I love New York.

First and foremost, my apartment was amazing. For those of you who missed it, it was a three bedroom, two bath marvel with a gaggle of closet space that most New Yorkers would consider a luxury, if not a complete unknown. Vince and I decorated the place together, coming to what I consider an excellent compromise in function and beauty. You could say it was my first real apartment, replete with furniture I’d picked out, a refrigerator Vince lovingly moved in from Philadelphia, and all the urine stains my kitties could manage (would it kill you, Daisy, to work on your aim???). And Andrew even said it was the nicest apartment of all his friends’ apartments – not that Andrew’s opinion means much to all of you, but after all he is my Masshole and I was flattered.

Anyway, it was my first home away from home. Yeah, I lived in Philadelphia for six years, but that was all dorms and, to put it as mildly as I can, Vince’s “bachelor pad.” This was the first time I took part in the process of procuring, paying for, and creating a home to live in. For someone raised like I was, it is a truly liberating thing to be living on your own and taking care of your own responsibilities.

Another aspect of New York that I truly loved was being able to reacquaint myself with old friends. Mel and I were able to start up our friendship again, once we realized that Brooklyn and Inwood aren’t ALL that far away from each other. I saw my favorite narcoleptic, Dave K., once in a while too. I got to see Starr, Dara, Mark, Toni, and Mark more often than I did when we lived in different cities – in fact, even though we had lived in the same city for years, only blocks away from each other, I even managed to see Corinne more than I had when in Philly (strange, but true.) It may have taken me over a year of adjusting, but I finally have my finger on the pulse of New York, and more importantly, I have friends here.

Then there is New York itself. I’ve seen so many things – the Bronx Zoo, the cherry blossoms in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, several Broadway shows, a comedy show, the Museum of Sex, the Cloisters, Central Park, the inside of a room at the Waldorf Astoria… There is no comparison if you’re looking for a city with something to offer in the way of entertainment. I’ve been to gay strip clubs, a lesbian bar, a transvestite bar (don’t ask), a lingerie party and so much more. I’ve pushed the boundaries and discovered a lot more truths about the world and myself through my experiences. New York gave me so much; I wish I could afford to give it more…

I’ll miss the Subway sandwich shop only a block away where the owner knows me and the Spanish girls really know how to make an Italian B.M.T.; the CVS pharmacy where the pharmacist actually knows my name; the tiny Asian postal employee that delivers my mail and always chats with me when I see her carting around her ten tons of packages; the Inwood Post Office where, no matter the time of day, the line is always out the door; Victor’s Gym, where all the Spanish guys behind the dumbbells know my name; the A Express train (for obvious reasons); all 2 million Starbuck’s I’ve frequented; the freaky, hairy man in Central Park who we mistook for wearing a shirt instead of only being one or two steps away from his ape ancestors in terms of body hair evolution; the escaped parakeet I found in Fort Tryon park; the guys at EMS in Soho that actually know the products they sell; the guys in front of the Union Square Barnes & Noble who sold me that Columbian child (I’m a sponsor for Children International, folks – his name is Eduardo); that gay boy named Vincent who works at Mexx, Vince’s favorite men’s clothing store; the AMC 25 and Loews Kips Bay where I spent many a Thursday night – not to mention the Baskin Robbins right across the street from the Loews where I spent many a Thursday late night (after the movie of course!); that Petco on 31st and 2nd where they have kitties in cages at the front of the store for adoption, with their life stories on index cards right outside their cages (what ever happened to my favorite one-eyed cat??!); the lovely Team in Training office on S. Park Avenue that helped me have focus these past few months, knowing exactly when and how to drive on the Henry Hudson Highway; the crazy, drunk homeless men who sit around the community garden all day and chat with one another, their shopping carts full of trash and memories not far off; our first floor neighbors whose kitchen I can see clearly from my office and our kitchen, who smoke a lot of weed and then do a TON of cooking; the Park Side Restaurant where I get my Sunday brunch and the Dyckman Deli where I get everything else, including Vince’s turkey sandwiches and Pirate’s Booty; not to mention the professional trumpet player in my building who practices every afternoon…. There are so many little things that I’ve grown to love over the past year that it would almost be a shame if I never came back to live here again.

But we will see. There is so much more of the world to explore and I intend to do a lot more of it! Once I’m financially capable, that is. Who knows where I will be next?! Life is such an exciting adventure, is it not?

Well, I did promise Michelle that if she comes to work on the East Coast for a few years, I will move out to the West Coast for a few years afterward. So maybe that will really happen.

In any case, right now I’m heading to Philadelphia. I sent out an email with my contact information so if you didn’t get it and think you should, go ahead and get in touch with me and I will determine if you are cool enough to be privy to that kind of information.

Anywho, all my love to New York and everyone in it…