I was pretty depressed about leaving Manhattan and at the thought that if I ever came back, I wouldn't be as young as I was or have as many friends (many have also left to start families elsewhere). Reading this essay reminded me of all the days I could walk around for hours by myself, not knowing a single person or expecting to meet anyone I made eye contact with ever again, but still enjoying myself just the same. If I'm at that age where most of my close friends and family have passed and I have the money, I would definitely love to live my last days in Manhattan.
edit: Another characteristic of New York is the rate of change. Construction is never finished. I still keep in touch with my roommate on FB and she's constantly posting photos of decades-old restaurants and businesses closing shop, and she's been in the apartment for almost 30 years. I'd have that same disappointment/outrage when my favorite places shut down but -- as long as they aren't replaced by sterile condos -- I've loved the variety of new stuff that came in their stead. Living in NY definitely makes you realize that nothing is forever and just about everything can be forgotten or replaced, and you learn to be at peace with it.
> all the days I could walk around for hours by myself, not knowing a single person or expecting to meet anyone I made eye contact with ever again, but still enjoying myself just the same.
This is one of the things I love best about the city. If I want to be alone, but out in public, I can be. I don't have to worry about running into some acquaintance and having to make small-talk when all I want to do is go for an urban nature-walk.
I've very recently moved from the city to the suburbs and I've probably spent more time making small talk with my neighbors in the past 10 days than I've spent making small talk with my neighbors in the 10 preceding years, despite the fact that then number of people who could be considered my 'neighbors' has dropped by an order of magnitude.
edit: Another characteristic of New York is the rate of change. Construction is never finished. I still keep in touch with my roommate on FB and she's constantly posting photos of decades-old restaurants and businesses closing shop, and she's been in the apartment for almost 30 years. I'd have that same disappointment/outrage when my favorite places shut down but -- as long as they aren't replaced by sterile condos -- I've loved the variety of new stuff that came in their stead. Living in NY definitely makes you realize that nothing is forever and just about everything can be forgotten or replaced, and you learn to be at peace with it.