5 Benefits of Living in NYC with Small Town Roots

Glitzy. Crowded. Intense.

New York City is the ultimate antithesis of a small town. It’s glitzy, crowded, intense, and can be difficult to adjust to if you’re used to a slower pace. For a transplant moving from a small town to NYC, however, there are reasons to appreciate your background and the benefits of living in New York when you have small town roots.

You have a broader perspective.
Traveling and visiting New York is one thing, but moving to the big city and living the daily ins and outs is a whole different story. When you come from a small town, you have the opportunity to broaden your perspective by experiencing a completely different type of lifestyle – something that doesn’t happen if you’ve lived in the same setting your entire life.

You understand the importance of building personal connections.
Small towns are known for their great sense of community, but in NYC, don’t expect to be on a first name basis with your postman, or for your neighbors to welcome you when you move into a new apartment building (many of us locals don’t even know the names of the other tenants on our floor). The absence of these personal connections doesn’t mean they’re not important – it’s just not always a priority in the big city, as everyone is so busy and consumed by their own lives.

If you come from a place that values fostering positive relationships with those around you rather than avoiding eye contact with strangers at all costs, don’t let go of that mindset. It may take longer to make connections and build friendships in NYC, but it’s absolutely possible, and feeling closer to those around you will make you happier in the long-run.

Making connections in NYC might take longer than it would in a small town.

Small town values make it easier to stay grounded.
Let’s be honest – New York City (Manhattan in particular) is centered on money, keeping up appearances, and status. And it’s those small town values that will help you stay grounded when you’re in the middle of a cosmopolitan city where everyone is racing each other to the top. Getting caught up in the materialistic mess is easy, but when the most important things in your life are family, friends, and helping those around you, you’ll be able to stay focused on what really matters.

You can appreciate what NYC has to offer.
When you come from a small town, it’s impossible not to appreciate all the positives NYC has to offer. You can buy almost anything at any hour of the day, there’s always something new to experience, and career opportunities are more likely to arise here than anywhere else. Natives to the city may be jaded by many of these factors, but small town transplants can appreciate – and take advantage of – all the fabulous goings on in Gotham.

You have a peaceful place to go back to when you need a break from the city.
Whether you’re headed home for the holidays or you simply need a break from the NYC hustle, it’s nice to know that you have a peaceful place to escape to. The small town lifestyle may not be appealing to some, but visiting family from time to time is a wonderful way to rest up and reboot so you’re good to go once you return to the big city.

Posted on April 20, 2016