I Met The Love of My Life, New York
If you’re lucky, you’ll get adopted by a high-energy friend. And when they tell you “let’s go”, no argument is strong enough to even say out loud. So you just go. That’s what I have.
New York is a shared love between my friend Agnese and me. Two years ago, it felt like fate when our new favorite band, Gone Gone Beyond, announced a show there — right near her birthday. We bought the $20 concert tickets right away. The flights? The accommodation? Uhm, we’d figure that out later. The intention is set, and we’re going.
Time passed, and so did the money. And about a month before the show, the boys in our friend group talked us out of it. “Not financially responsible.”
I don’t have many regrets, but that’s definitely one.
So when she said, “I was thinking New York for your 30th,” I couldn’t object. Financially, still irresponsible.
But this time, I have a boyfriend who not only encouraged me to go live my dream, but also made me stop paying for groceries just so I could live a little better in New York City.
To be fair, he was so fed up about me mentioning it at every conversation. He figured if I finally went, I might finally shut up about it. It’s a win-win.
And so, late on May 26, two young besties and their luggage full of aspirations landed in New York.
God, I love New York! It has a surprise around each corner, but in many ways, it’s exactly as I dreamed it would be.
It’s ambitious. It inspires you to dream big, it gives you opportunities, but it doesn’t waste time with anyone who doesn’t have the grit. A city that never sleeps, truly. Close your eyes and you're out. It’s not two-faced—it’s honest. In New York, no one cares who you are before you have sound work to back it up. And I love that.
If you could only see one major city in your lifetime, make sure it’s New York — it’s the most beautiful. Other places I’ve visited — Melbourne, Singapore, London – don’t compare. And it makes sense. New York began building its skyline when the world still had taste and minimalism was unheard of.
In fact, New York was the global pioneer of skyscraper architecture. The Woolworth Building (1913) at 241m was the world’s tallest building at the time — and is considered NYC’s first true skyscraper.
Of course, the city has its layers. A caste system, almost. You’re only allowed a few floors up or down. We didn’t mingle with the Van der Woodsens, the Waldorfs, or the Basses. And we only caught glimpses of the other extreme—poverty, mental illness, and homelessness.
But within those limits, there’s so much I was able to live and love about New York! I wrote about my highlights in detail, but Substack said the post was too long, so I’ll share those separately.
Will I now shut up about New York? Definitely not. It was a short romance, and I need more.
I’d missed that feeling of stepping out onto the street and just being excited about where I was. Even a bad day feels better in a place like New York.
That said, I did start to second-guess the idea of studying there for a few years. The concrete jungle takes a lot out of you. Maybe a few months would be just perfect. Just enough to get to know it better, but not burn out.
It’s not goodbye, it’s farewell.
Post about my favorite spots coming in the next few days. 🤞
Have you been? Describe New York in 3 words!
Love love love!
Finally - a post! 👏