I lived in Chicago for 10 years and it was fun. However since moving to NYC there is so much more opportunity and other benefits as well.

I’ll make a list of the top 10 ways I have found NYC to be better than Chicago.

1. Jobs. This goes without saying. Chicago has a problem with unemployment and underemployment. See this video from yesterday. Both the number of jobs and the quality of jobs has been higher since moving to NYC. It is remarkable. I grew up in a small town without any jobs, and moving to large cities it is just remarkable how many opportunities are available.
2. Traffic. Traffic in Chicago is difficult. People who have never left NY like to complain their traffic is bad, but it is not. Yes NY traffic has traffic jams, and yes, construction is a pain sometimes. However overall traffic is excellent. I think it is remarkable how many people there are that there are not worse issues with traffic. It has to be that cars are not affordable to many people that prevents more cars. When I tell NY people that Chicago traffic is worse, they can’t imagine it. Well it is, and it is one of many downsides to living in Chicago.
3. Friendliness. People like to say that New Yorkers are gruff or cold people. I have not found this to be the case. Of course you don’t greet everyone, but on the whole my neighbors and others close to me are friendly. In traffic there are lots more gracious NY drivers than Chicago drivers. Of course there are jerks on the road too, but that is true anywhere. However it is easier to drive in traffic because there seems to be a sense of community that I never felt when I drove in Chicago.
4. Diverse cultures. NYC is hands down the winner in diverse culture. Yes Chicago has many cultures, but I have meet people in NY that I have never encountered anywhere else. I love the fact that the richness of culture is something we can enjoy everyday. Not just talking about all the delicious food either. I am talking about appreciating other points of view and having interesting discussions about values and beliefs.
5. Fun. NY is open 24/7. Chicago closes down about 9/10 at night. At anytime you can do anything in NY. It is remarkable.
6. Opportunities to grow. You have any choice of enriching activities to do, and different philosophies and cultures to explore. Everyday you get challenged in your beliefs, and I like that. That old saying “who isn’t busy growing is busy dying” is something I believe in.
7. Relationships. You can easily find friends or whatever you are interested in. Perhaps this is true also in Chicago, but when I was in Chicago I didn’t feel people were as open. I think there is a honesty in NY that comes from people living their authentic selves. So naturally they open their heart more for real relationships.
8. Weather. I almost forgot. The weather is nicer in NY. You don’t freeze with bitter winds in the Winter like you do with Chicago. That was always a downside for me, and being warm is awesome in the Winter.
9. Easier international travel. With the multitude of airports, and seaports that you can travel from, it is easier to travel wherever you want to go. Chicago is a huge hub of traffic of course, but it is also more sensitive to the weather and more likely to have  problems than NY airports. So you can travel almost all the time.
10. More educated people. There are more educated people in NYC than I encountered in Chicago. The average person on the street seems to be more with it and aware of things than they were in Chicago. Even the tourists seem smarter. I don’t know, it just seems like having to be aware of where you are in NY is more challenging than Chicago so people seem to rise to the challenge.

I realize in writing this than part of this can be explained that I am older so perhaps I have changed. Yes that is true, but for me NY is my future.

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