We've been nomads for almost four years, but before that, we were very proud “Manhattanites.” If anyone mentioned moving to Brooklyn or New Jersey, we considered it an insult. Were they saying we couldn’t handle life in the Big Apple? Of course not; they meant that we could have more space, find parking spots, and live with kitchens that had dishwashers!
New York City life came with its share of challenges and compromises, and we can see how much of this transferred when we became nomadic. Here’s how our city experiences prepared us for a life on the move.
Noise
As the saying goes, "the city that never sleeps". I lived next to a church with loud organ hymns every Sunday. There was also an elementary school where we heard every school drop-off, recess, and dismissal. My favorite was the Broadway composer upstairs, who was writing a new musical.
We learned how to tune out background noise. Today, when we check into a hotel, and there are many reviews about how “loud” it is, we aren't too worried.
Using Public Transportation
Most don't own a vehicle in NYC and take public transit (subways, buses, and ferries) everywhere. Even though a yellow cab or Uber/Lyft can be more direct, the subway will get you there faster (and for a lot less money) during rush hour.
We still don’t own a car and always consider public transit options. For example, when you talk to an Atlanta native about the Marta (their train system), they look at you like you’re crazy for mentioning you are taking public transit. The Marta is connected to the airport terminal, meaning you can jump on it, and it can take you to Buckhead for under 30 minutes vs the 1+ hour you might spend sitting in annoying ATL traffic.
Walking
Not every place is built to be walkable or has NYC's easy grid structure, but it's a great way to get to know a new destination. We love exploring new cities and towns on foot. Make sure to explore the many walking paths you can now find in many cities.
Small Spaces
NYC-centric TV shows like "Friends" and "Sex and the City" misrepresented how people really live in NYC—in very small apartments! The transition to living in hotels was seamless. Although we have gotten used to more space, when we return to NYC, we can’t do anything smaller than 300 sq ft (which is hard to find; most are between 195-250 sq ft).
Creative Cooking
Many old NYC buildings have outdated pipes, so to regulate it, Con Ed (NYC’s gas and electric company) will immediately turn off your gas if it doesn't pass certain inspections. This happened to us, which meant our stove, oven, heat, and hot water wouldn’t work. The landlord only needed to provide working heat, hot water, and an electric cook burner. So I went from a four-burner stove and oven to a tiny burner and microwave.
We ended up having 6 months without a working stove and oven. At that time, we found many ways to make healthy food and not rely on a microwave. Learning to cook with a very limited kitchen prepared me for hotel living in ways I couldn't have imagined then.
Many extended-stay hotels will allow you to sign out appliances like a slow cooker, which is also a great option when you’re working all day and has minimal cleanup. During one of our visits to Hawaii, the hotel had a rice cooker, it was very exciting to find a YouTube video on how to cook chicken in a rice cooker.
Minimalistic approach
Landlords don’t have to provide closets in NYC apartments, so guess what that means? Many apartments have small IKEA wardrobes, clothing racks, or one tiny closet for everything. There isn’t such a thing as a pantry, linen closet, his/hers closet, etc. We were so limited in storage space, and I hate clutter, so we had to be very selective with our things. Impulse buying is much easier to regulate when you don’t have space to store things. Plus, there is a mandatory purge between season changes.
Transitioning into two suitcases was much easier than we could have imagined. We prioritize decluttering, so remember our hard rule - if you get one new item, something has to go!
New York City taught us resilience, adaptability, and the art of making the most out of any situation. The skills and habits we developed there have seamlessly translated into our nomadic lifestyle. As we continue our journey, we carry the lessons and memories of our Manhattan days with us, grateful for how they’ve shaped our adventure-filled life tour.
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