Kirk Love

“I don’t think that it’s the practical ones among us who move to new york. (perhaps it is just that it needs a naive trust in life, that whatever happens is meant to, or could, or does and you’ll get through it.) There is something about this place that requires a leap of faith, that asks you to hold tight and see what happens, that never actually promises that you’ll come out the other side not worse for wear. But you do, usually. I have, mostly.”

Emily, via Texturism



I saw this pop up on my dash via M. I always love her posts. This one in particular struck me hard. Mostly because I agreed with it. After two years I finally started calling myself a New Yorker. Though in all honesty I kind of cringe using that term. It somehow has an air of arrogance about it. That seems to be the prevailing sentiment about much of New York. Arrogance. It’s abundant here. Don’t get me wrong – I love this city. I truly do. I just don’t love the people so much. That’s a tough thing to say since I’m surrounded by 8 million of them. There is a coldness here I’ve never witnessed anywhere. It’s part condescension, part fear, and part loneliness. Millions of people living in virtual isolation. It’s bizarre on so many levels and unless you live here nearly impossible to describe accurately.

The phoniness in NYC is rampant as well. This ridiculous desire to be hip, cool, trendy, whatever. The great irony is that most New Yorkers are ignorant lemmings flocking to whatever they are told is the next big secret New York thing. The more obscure the better. That’s how New Yorkers want it. They are above it all. It’s nauseating.

And yet, despite my little tirade of contempt I love this city. I have always wanted to live here and I consider it a privilege to be able to. Its energy is remarkable. Its diversity astounding. Its culture remarkable. There literally is no other place like it on earth. If you can live here and survive you’ll be better for it. Stronger is some way. There is a unity here unmatched. Pick a fight with New York and you pick a fight with 8 million strong. Even the streets themselves have personality. Each section of the city its own, distinct style. You will not find more disparate parts that somehow, unbelievably coalesce in five square miles of awesome. In a word New York City is astounding.

I still look up often. I revel at being a tourist in my own city. I hope that feeling never ends. I still stand (in the much maligned) Times Square with my mouth agape. I walk with Reese in Central Park each morning and I am floored by the beauty and tranquility that lives in the heart of this frenetic city. I visit museums that host the world’s greatest collections of art and culture and pinch myself they are just blocks from my house. I weep while sitting outside in front of Lincoln Center listening to a free version of La Boheme. I stop and listen to the subway buskers pouring their hearts out for quarters and nickels. I dine on the world’s food. The very best of it at that. I get giddy just riding the subway. 

It’s all here. Everything. Literally every single thing you can imagine is here in New York. And it’s yours if you’re willing to take part. I am. It’s funny. I started this blog to document my move to New York. I gave that up a while back. I even gave up writing very much at all here. I’m not sure why, it just got old for me. I suppose I got tired writing about New York and just wanted to live here. And there is no other place I want to live. I am a New Yorker - for better or worse.