We're from...New York City

We've officially become residents of New York City. This happens when you reside here for more than one year. One year ago we drove a rental car into the City to embark upon one of our wildest and greatest adventures. We had NO idea what we were getting ourselves into, but we came willingly anyway.

Here are a few things we have learned throughout the year:

• money is just money...you can throw it away on ANYTHING...including food
• celebrities are not that big of a deal...you see them, you mingle with them, they are just normal people (except for the crazy tabloid type)
• the buildings are the oldest in the entire COUNTRY...including the first hospital in the entire COUNTRY - belleview hospital - the one I was admitted to for strep
• the City is DEAD on Sunday mornings until about 10am
• it is not cool to be a tourist...in fact, they are quite annoying - NEVER, I repeat NEVER just stop in the middle of a sidewalk. You will get KICKED.
  
• paying $1250 a month for an alcove studio made up of 400 square feet with unlevel flooring and holes in the wall in midtown is a STEAL!
• the streets are the DIRTIEST in the world...your feet will be black if you wear flats or sandals
• dust settles like CRAZY. If you mop or vacuum in the morning, there will be dirt and dust that afternoon - just expect it
• you actually run into people you know...it might seem crazy, but I see someone I know on the street EVERY single day (whether I am in our neighborhood or halfway across the island)
• Sometimes taking a cab is a must...those are the best ;)
• Paying $50 for a meal for two is average - just get over it already
• You are not allowed to have the AC and the microwave on at the same time - do you want to blow a fuse and make your landlord drive 30 minutes from Brooklyn to go into the basement of another building (because you're not allowed access) to replace the fuse?
  
• You can get STEALS on designer items...it's all about who you know and what THEY know
• You WILL get sucked into lusting/purchasing pricey designer items...even the islander NANNIES wear them
• Christmas is the kindest season of the year
• It smells wretched in the Summer...especially on Trash Day or in ChinaTown...blah! Where am I? New Orleans?
• People always visit ;)
• Halloween night and the night of an election are the busiest drinking nights of the year. The streets are SWARMED with drunks!
• Be nice to your super...he can make your life better or worse
• Don't pick up the flyers people hand you on the street, just say "no thanks"
• Even the most decent looking person will say something CRAZY to you or may BEG for money from you (because they don't drink or do drugs and he lost his job recently).
• Finding the best Cupcake in the City is really tough!
  
• Do NOT expect the trains to be running normally on weekends or holidays. You will be wildly disappointed...not to mention you will be LATE to wherever you are going.
  

It has been a great year. We have learned so much and I wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING in the world. Three more years to go and a whole bunch more to learn. ;)