I grew up in Brooklyn,NY and my family and I moved to Long Island when I was 10. Being born and bred in NY all I ever knew was the fast paced, hectic lifestyle that was part of my upbringing. When I was 20 I married a local guy and we decided to head out for greener pastures. We decided on the Roanoke, Va area.
Virginia was a tad bit too slow for my personality. It is hard being a type A personality in a place where slow is the only speed.(It seemed like it to me) When I lived in Va, now remember, I moved there at the ripe old age of 20 and had absolutely no patience. I wanted to jump behind the counter of the local McDonalds cook my own meal, put my money in the register and be out of there lickety split, but actually for the amount of time it took them to just takemy order I could have been out of there and back out on the road speeding off onto I-81 and getting another speeding ticket because I was relying too much onthe illegal radar detector that didn't worth for crap!!...Needless to say I wasn't ready for the slower paced life that Virginia had to offer and Virginia was not ready for me.
Just about the time I realized this I was getting divorced anyway and moving to Pennsylvania to be closer to family. I have to say I really did enjoy living in Va, it just wasn't the right time for me. I moved to Pittsburgh in 1992 and have been here ever since. The way of life here is right in-between the fast paced; I don't care attitude of NY and the almost backward pace of Virginia. Pittsburgh seemed to be a perfectfit and it still is. It is a great place to raise a family. The cost of housing and gas and everything is just around the middle of the national average. I am able to have 3 acres of land, keep my children safe and still am able to afford all the little extras that we like to have. All in all it is a great place to be.
There is one catch. I have always felt like I didn't fit in anywhere I have ever lived except NY. Don't get me wrong I do have friends and fun. I feel after living here and living in Va that NYers are just unique. We have a different way about us. I just can't explain it!! I am sarcastic, funnyand look at things in the weirdest way(compared to others). I am overly concerned with safety and I don'tknow. ... It is funny though when I do meet someone else from Long Island we always just click. We fall into easy conversation, talk about the places we have been and it just is so easy. My NY attitude and accent just jumps right back out whenever I talk to family or friends back in NY.
I have always said you can take the girl outof NY, but you can't take the NY out of the girl. My heart will always be in New York.
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Comments: 17
I'm a country girl at heart my self. Someone once told me that if anyone can survive New York, they can survive anywhere, as it is such a fast-paced and hard place to live. He's a New Yorkian. I guess it depends on where in New York where you were born and raised... Therefore, here's my question to you: Where were you born and bred as you put it?
Well, I grew up in the 'burbs of NY, went for my Masters in NY and a good number of my doctors are in NY ... my favorite is my cardiologist whose office overlooks F.A.O. Schwartz! I shop there then go for my office visit! (lol).
Knowing I can be in Manhattan in 15 minutes is fantastic and it is never lost on me that when I stand on Madison Avenue looking at all the beauty of NY there are people all around the world that want to be there too!
Danielle, I agree, NY is the best! I know I love it and I do not take it for granted.
Now I am somewhere in between. A smallish town about 3 hours from the hustle and bustle of LA. I love it, but I wouldn't trade the experience of snow, raising pigs, having a house goat, etc for anything. (Well, maybe the time spent wasted in the relationship, but that is another article:)
The whole New England area has the same rush rush, fast talking and forward moving environment. Glad you have found a safe place to call home.