Ahhhhh..... New York

After exactly a month's absence, it's really nice to be back in NYC again. NYC is kind of like an old, soft comfortable sweater that you can just relax into and always know that it's going to fit perfectly. Even the frayed edges and cuffs just add a certain charm.

What have I missed about the city?

I love the fact that I can walk to work and walk home again (weather permitting, of course!). I'm quite happy to not have to worry about sitting in traffic and I'm certainly not broken up about not having to pay over $4.00 a gallon for gas.

I'm happy that I only have a two block walk to the grocery store and that it's easy to slip down the street to pick up whatever I feel like eating. So European! Ooh la la!

When not in NYC, I miss the fresh fruit stands that populate the sidewalks at regular intervals. They're a perfect place to pick up some breakfast, lunch or a snack. And a banana that would cost $1 in the cafe at the base of my office building only costs 30 cents at the street cart. (And he'll sell me two for 50 cents! What a deal!)

I also love how easy it is to be social and meet up with friends here... it's easy to get pretty much anywhere in the city after work and you can have a drink or two (or more!) without having to think about whether you're driving home or not.

There is a palpable energy on the streets of New York and it gets under your skin and makes you want to keep insanely busy, going out with friends, seeing the latest museum exhibits, checking out the hip new restaurant down the street... and on and on and on. Then at some point, you exhaust yourself enough that you have to retreat to your little slice of personal Manhattan paradise for a bit while you recharge and get ready to do it all again!

I love this city.