the only good reason to move to New York

Election night in Raleigh, November 2008. Photo by Rachel Berry.

Friday I went on a rant about why you shouldn't move to New York or some other more noteworthy city to pursue your art or better public transportation or whatever.

But even I admit that there are times when you really do need to get out and experience a new and bigger place.

I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't, because 13 months ago I left Raleigh, North Carolina to live here in Atlanta. I left because I wanted to live somewhere with rapid transit, anonymity, more than one independent video store, multiple dance clubs, a skyline, and the sense of possibility.

I also had some personal reasons for leaving, in addition to the fact that I simply needed out of my hometown.

Even though I could have stayed in Raleigh and helped grow that city's culture—I had a community of readers through New Raleigh and was connected to designers, architects, developers and artists—I haven't regretted leaving. And I know people who have moved from Atlanta to New York and feel the same way.

And as much as I love it here, I will probably decide to go engage with another city one day.

I think it's really about the attitude with which you approach the place you live. Don't be a culture leech. Don't expect awesome art, music, food and fun to come to you and complain when it doesn't. Go out and find it. And if it's not there, start it.