Thinking about leaving New York City

Move to San Diego. You will love it here. We lived in Chicago for 10 years, had a baby and then packed up for the warmer weather and more relaxed lifestyle. Less crime and homelessness.

I lived in NYC for a while and LOOOOOOVED it. I can't believe you are leaving willingly :) It can be a bit overwhelming but to be honest, it was amazing and I hope to be back there early 2010. I've been through San Diego and it looked quite nice as well. It depends on what you like AND hate about NY that should determine where you want to move to. Chicago is beautful as paulie123 mentioned, but we should maybe consider San Franciso. Great place to raise a family I think.

Where are you looking to move to? OS or are you going to stay in America. It really depends on your criteria - i.e. kids? business? climate? I've traveled a lot and lived in many places so I hope I can be of some help.

Lots of my peers are considering leaving because they're at the age when they want to start a family. Unfortunately this is a city which makes family living almost impossible. And I don't mean because of the costs or lack of space, but because you can't even let young children do normal things like go outside the house and play ball with friends. In Manhattan especially, putting young children though the everyday noise and strange stresses seems almost irresponsible.

I may have to relocate in a couple of months and I totally depressed about the thought of leaving NYC. Yes NYC is expensive but then are so many other cities in the world. I have lived in London which is prohibitive and now even formerly affordable cities in Asia like Mumbai, Hong Kong and Singapore are getting crazy. In fact the prices of real estate in all these three cities is much higher than what it is in Manhattan. So you can imagine the other allied costs.

It seems like most people I know who are planning on leaving the city also plan on eventually returning. It seems like New York is the one city that people always long for after they leave it. If I ever leave the city it will be do to some traveling - I've been planning to tour South America for years - but I think I will always come back to this city.

True, it seems hard to imagine not coming back, unfortunately I think the prospect of children changes that sentiment for a lot of people. One friend who's very much an urbanite and expecting a first child was talking about how New York is an abnormal environment in so many ways, and he didn't really think his children would have a chance at a normal childhood if they grew up in a place like this.

I agree with Uraniumfish. I have lived in NYC off and on for the last 4 years. I lived in the Bronx for 3 years. I am working on screenplays at the moment. I am planning to move to LA sometime by March or April of this year. When I move, I am not coming back. NYC and me just don't mix that well. Many people see the excitement of it, but I think NYC is just overrated. I think NYC is way too expensive to live here.

@hhusted People who think New York is overrated probably belong in Los Angeles. Though it's way too expensive to live there, too, if you ask me. If you think traffic is bad here wait till you get there. At least here you can avoid it by taking the train. Not so much in LA. @uraniumfish I often think about all the things that a New Yorker has to consider when it comes to raising children compared to most other Americans, so I actually understand that leaving the city may sometimes be the best thing.

@BroadwayBK-At least the people there are friendlier. People here are too much into themselves. At least that has been my experience. I am more open and friendly. I'm not used to the coldness of people here. I'm not saying everyone here is that way. But I have met quite a number of them that were. Plus, LA is never cold. I hate cold weather. This is another reason why I want to leave this area. I prefer to hang out with nothing but short pants and a teeshirt, with my laptop on my lap, making money while I relax, soaking in the sun.