Think Piece: What Do I Miss About NYC?

This past weekend, Ayhan asked if I missed the city. I paused... "Well, I miss you and our home, I miss Kirby, I miss our friends. And..." To my surprise, that was about all I could come up with. This summer in the Hamptons has not only been divine simply because of the locale and the number of fabola events I've had the pleasure of attending, but after 14 years in New York, I have realized that the convenience of a car—being able to go to the grocery store and buy what you need instead of what you can carry—has been a real simple pleasure. Imagine planning meals for the good part of a week instead of... tonight.

Walking around our nabe in Brooklyn Heights is a lovely diversion from the (wondrous, ever appreciable) madness of Manhattan proper, but it's not exactly what I would call green (in the literal sense, not the politically correct horseshit). The privilege of stepping outside to the deck and sitting here with trees and foliage all around me has fostered a civility that I didn't realize I missed. A fire escape and a rooftop just don't equate "outdoor space."

And then there are the basics, like a washing machine and dryer in-house. Being able to grill during the summer months. Looking out windows that don't face a brick wall. A yard. Being able to plant flowers or a garden. Arms-length space. Quiet. Things I never realized I missed until I had this wondrous opportunity in Southampton this summer.

As part of the entertainment biz in the city, I certainly lived New York to the fullest, out most every night, courted at fabulous restaurants and clubs, seeing live acts without giving thought to paying for entrance, much less drinks. If there was a new hotspot, in time I would have the benefit of an event there. It was the life that greeted me when I came to work at Billboard, and while I never took it for granted, I understood the workings of the industry: Treat me well and I will do my best to do the same for you and your artist, within the realm of honest criticism: the "gentlemen's" agreement between publicists and journalists.

Now that I am no longer part of the glamorous life, New York, admittedly, has lost some of its luster. I actually suggested to Ayhan last weekend: "What do you think about buying a car, you know, once I have an income again?" Six months ago, if I'd said such a thing, there would have been a punchline that followed.

This whole thought process has been shocking to my system. Since I arrived in NYC in the center of the last decade, I've lived a dream life, thanks to my career. The kid from Lynchburg, Va., made good. Real good. Who knows, in three months, I may find the next dream job... but what if that doesn't happen? What then? Is it time for transition?

I've discussed this with Ayhan and to my surprise, he didn't slam the figurative door in my face. There are precious few cities I could imagine comparing with New York—but we have friends who have found their nirvana in unlikely locales, with thriving culture and forward-thinking allies... along with an affordable lifestyle. Hell, even NYC has Applebee's and Olive Garden—and the just-opened J.C. Penney, in addition to 50,000 Starbucks, so it's not as if America's strip malls aren't already in da house.

Time will reveal.