Its hard of me to believe or admit it, but just over a month ago I moved to New York. I have sworn for years that I would never move to New York, this has been my longest stretch in New York since my summer before college, and it feels really weird to be living in a place I despise so much. But all is not lost, I have figured out some ways to make the most of my stay.
I moved back to New York over going to the Bay Area for one reason alone, good job! I was about to leave Colorado for the San Francisco area and a company I did some internet work for asked me if I would come to New York for a few weeks to help them build their sales team, I really didn’t want to, but the holes in my pockets and looming bills forced me to reconsider, I figured it would only be a few weeks, but have since decided to stay a bit longer.
When I moved to New York the only logical place to live was at my dads in Far Rockaway, take my hate for the New York metro area and multiply it by 5 when talking about Far Rockaway, I don’t hate Far Rockaway for Jewish reasons, its not a bad place if you like New York and want to live cheaply, but for someone who is into arts and culture and likes to do anything outdoorsy or walk to the grocery store or park, it’s a terrible place. I describe it as the horrors of Queens, without the convenience of mass transit. There is really only one way out and it is one of the roughest roads in New York.
So I moved in with my dad and his new family (which I really want to rant about but will refrain from doing so) and I commute daily to Bay Ridge. It’s really not that bad, you kind of get used to rush hour after a while, I am at the point that when there is no traffic I wonder what is wrong, I am actually scared. The Belt always has traffic during my times and I find things to do in the car, like watch the kite surfers or see how far I can go in neutral.
The hardest thing about living in New York is my outdoors lifestyle. New York and the outdoors don’t mesh at all. Yes, you can ride around Central or Prospect parks until you dehydrate, but its just not the same. Of all the places I have lived Monsey, believe it or not provided the best outdoors opportunities. Just to get out of New York after work takes an hour so you really have to be hardcore and addicted to do some outdoors stuff on a weekday night.
Luckily for me, I have good bargaining power; I told my office I would never come in on a Friday and in order to keep me in good working condition I also told them I would be taking random trips to recharge my outdoors batteries. Ever since I have been in New York I have not stayed one weekend, every Thursday I drive upstate or somewhere rural and come back Monday morning for work. Last week I decided to test out how long it would take me to get upstate during rush hour to mountain bike, an hour and 45 minutes wasn’t too bad. I am also planning on doing weeknight overnights into Harriman and coming out the next day for work, I did it when I lived in Monsey – but now I am feinding the woods even more.
Besides for exiting the NY area for weekends, I try to stay in Far Rockaway as little as possible. Every night after work, I either ride laps around Prospect Park or ride over the bridge into the city, or go paddle my kayak around the Rockaway beach area. I try to sleep at different places in Far Rockaway or the city in order to stay away from the suckiness of Far Rockaway.
Living in New York has its perks though, I am doing some great networking and did 3 shows that I wouldn’t have done if I were out west. One could also say that its better for my social life, but in fact its much worse. I have shunned socializing in favor of trying to use my spare time for outdoors activities and have not been on a date since I have been living in New York. I would even argue that living out of town was better for my social life (although I am getting away from the whole shidduch dating thing) because I had more time and people thought of me more. For some reason I have been having quite a few ladies making advances over email or facebook but none of them are really my type, think you are my type? Well drop me a line, and we’ll go for a walk in the park or something.
My best writing took place when I lived in Albany, this is because I write better when I’m removed from the situations and people I am writing about, having a job as mashgiach with loads of time on my hands.
There are other good things about New York, seeing random fans in the street is flattering and having fans take me out to eat is even more flattering (you can take me out any time) I appreciate the woods even more than I used to because I’m in the concrete jungle all of the time. I also discovered that I don’t hate Brooklyn, in fact I could see myself living for a little while in Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn Heights or Carroll Gardens – I guess I hated Brooklyn so much because the traditional Jewish parts of Brooklyn are so ugly and devoid of culture (save for Williamsburg which has culture but is damned ugly and congested) that I judged the whole Borough based on Flatbush mostly. I also see the brilliance of Manhattan now and miss having a place to stay on the West Side immensely.
I have no idea how long I will be in New York, but as of now I am actually enjoying my job, getting paid pretty well and networking and trying to push my blogging/comedy career. I have some cool stuff coming up that should take me to the next level, but who knows what will happen.
Hey Hesh,
anytime you want an escape feel free to come up to rochester. I got a spare room you can have for as many shabosim as you need.
Quote from the rolling stones about NYC “bite the big apple, don’t mind the maggots” (shattered)
What I wouldn’t give to be able to live on the ocean with a kayak… Looking for a good date with an outdoors type woman? Invite her on a kayaking trip around the corner from home, won’t cost you a dime (maybe parking).
Far Rockaway has one great advantage, the beach.
Zvi – I am not much of a beach guy, although I admit I like throwing on my shorts and sandals on shabbos afternoon and walking to the beach.
Now why do people keep on saying shabbosim when it is shabbosos? 🙂
Nice article dude!
How about a posting on what life was like in Denver?
Now why do people keep on saying shabbosim when it is shabbosos?
It’s neither, it’s Shabbatot. 🙂
Heshy – Ever since I have been in New York I have not stayed one weekend, every Thursday I drive upstate or somewhere rural and come back Monday morning for work.
What do you do for Shabbat up there? Also, where are you going to find interesting davening, farting, cholent, and other kiddush stories for us? 🙂
I used to work with a guy that would bicycle a few times a week from the center of Yerushalaim to the Lod area and back! He was a former bicycling champion from Costa Rica (I think, maybe it was some other country in the region).
Heshy- I would love to have you for a Shabbos meal. I usually have lots of buchrim from Shor Yoshuv for the Shabbos day meal.
didnt u live in ny before texas?
You should have moved to the Bay Area. Best thing we ever did. It really made us less anti-semitic.
When you coming to Hartford for a weekend?
Weren’t you in Rochester and Dallas? If you really don’t like New York – why are you here? I assume no one forced you. There are hundreds of communities all over that could use an extra man for minyonim.
I know this may sound a bit weird , but heres some constructive critisism- if you want to appeal to a girl and get a date, it may not be the best idea to rant about your lack of funds and how much you despise so many things …just a thought
If you have any extra groupies to pass along, let me know. (females only)
When you coming to Hartford for a weekend?
PS I am a Yankees season ticket holder and have unused tickets all the time. If you are ever interest hit me up :).
HESHY: If you hate NY so much, why don’t you just head out to a place like Tupelo Mississippi, or Frankfort Kentucky or Intercourse Pennsylvania? There’s life (or something close to it) in these rural places.
I’ll be visiting NY next week, so if I see someone who looks like you, guess it’ll be you and reverse of course. I have less money than you, so you can take me out.. hah!
My cousin has a place by the Far Rockaway Boardwalk.
Did no one actually read this post – I came to NY because I got a well paying job and needed the money.
YO – I am done with explaining myself to people about what type of girl, girls who know will know.
Wow, so many negative comments about what seemed to me a rather non-controversial post. I’m in CT, but if you find yourself up this way or next time I’m in the city, I’d love to take you out to eat. We do have 2 or 3 kosher restaurants in CT – most I don’t like, but Claire’s is great. Actually, just the other day I was in NY and, over dinner, discussing many of your posts with a friend. The people at the next table over were fans too, it turned out.
Rockaway is a great neighborhood (which is where i live) right next to Far Rockaway. There are many Jews in both areas. Honestly prefer my side lol for the quietness and peacefulness lol
Puzzled – where in CT?
Tuvia, I had no idea you lived in Hartford, I totally thought Stamford?
Hesh,
I was in NYC last week. I’d have taken you out for lunch but never heard back from you on my invite.
Anyway it was so nice to see so many Jews on the street, just going about their business or making the afternoon minyan at J. Levine, etc. What a treat to see kosher restaurants all over as well!
The staff at Noah’s Ark on Grand St. was very nice to us and let us sit down for a good kosher dinner even though we arrived just before closing time. Wife noticed one frum couple staring at us when we did the hand washing t’ing. She wasnt offended cuz after all we dont “look Jewish”. It was cute really. Wish we could have met you but maybe next time.
hey hesh, I lived in far rockaway practically my whole life and I’m kind of offended that you “detest” my neighborhood.
Far Rockaway has the distinction of being an enclosed “ghetto” of jews–an area inhabited by only Jewish families. While you may say that this situation is torture for you, it is actually one of the most amazing things to grow up with. Imagine a shabbos that really truly feels like shabbos–no horns honking, no cars in the street, people walking and talking.
I honestly believe that Far Rockaway is actually on of the few Jewish communities today that is actually “ghetto-like”. The only other place you’d find something similar is in israel.
Before the advent of the “Brooklyn invasion”, Far Rockaway also had many nice, heimish people who still live here. A lot of people that I know that has grown up here or went to one of the local schools are extremely normal with good values and a good head on their shoulders.
So yeah, far rockaway may not be at the height of culture by any standard, and it may not have every single kind of outdoor adventure available to you, but it by no means make it an undesirable place to live. Maybe a guy like you who is caught up by these notions can’t appreciate far rockaway’s little charms, but don’t think you can just bash every single
‘frummie’ town in new york just because you have a personal problem with yeshivish jews.