The City That Chose Me

The other day, I returned from my trip to New York, and you know what I realized? I chose the perfect city for myself.

Since childhood, among all the cities in the U.S., Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York were the ones I dreamed of visiting the most. For various reasons, I ultimately chose Los Angeles to be my home. Initially, I picked LA primarily because of work—it was the most logical decision at the time, and the fact that Alex was living there was a bonus since he could offer some help. But even aside from these practical considerations, I fell in love with LA from day one.

Yet, before visiting San Francisco and New York, I always wondered, "What if I fall in love so deeply with one of these cities that I'll want to move?" But that never happened.

San Francisco, for instance, gave me the immediate feeling of a charming seaside provincial town while strolling along its piers and bays. And although lovely, I personally prefer the glamour and flair of LA. Please don't mistake my words for objective city reviews—these are purely my own subjective feelings. Another reason I wouldn't choose San Francisco is its hilly terrain. The constant climbs and descents, especially when driving and rapidly experiencing air pressure changes, gave me terrible headaches. And, of course, there's the weather—foggy, humid, significantly rainier, and cooler. Plus, no matter how clichéd it may sound, LA is the heart of the film industry; Hollywood is here, and I genuinely enjoy that fact.

Regarding New York, I had even more anxiety about it because, as a child, my ideal place to live always oscillated between New York and Los Angeles. But those concerns quickly disappeared.

My first dislike was the weather. Even at the same temperatures as LA, New York felt unbearably hot. I completely misjudged my wardrobe, and it was truly awful. For example, at 80°F in LA, I can comfortably wear jeans and a light jacket in the shade, and near the ocean, it's comfortable to wear such clothes even in the sun. In New York, however, the shade felt just as oppressive as direct sunlight, making even 75°F almost unbearable. I had forgotten this kind of climate from my time living in Russia—cold winters, scorching summers, snow, frost, thunderstorms, heavy rains, gloom, and blazing sun—the full range of intense seasons. In LA, the climate is pleasant all year round, with rain mostly limited to winter, and sunshine dominating the rest of the year. LA is the type of city where it's perfectly normal to wear summer shorts and winter Ugg boots simultaneously, lol. Honestly, I love that about it.

Another significant downside for me regarding New York is the lack of immediate ocean access. During my trip, I stayed on Manhattan, the area I'd most likely choose if I ever moved there. It's an island surrounded by rivers, and I never saw the ocean once during my visit. I only briefly left Manhattan to explore a few spots in Brooklyn.

On my very first day in New York, I understood why people always say New Yorkers are perpetually in a hurry and walk fast. It's not so much the pace at which they walk—I'm usually quicker—but because pedestrians constantly cross against the red light. Several times, I watched cars forced to halt at green lights to let pedestrians pass. That creates the impression everyone is rushing. I'd never seen that before.

Then there's transportation. In LA, everyone drives, while in New York, walking and taking the subway are common. Initially, I was shocked by how long it took to get anywhere in LA using public transport or walking compared to driving. In LA, it might take 7 minutes by car, 30 minutes by bus, or an hour walking. In New York, it's entirely different: 25 minutes by car, 20 minutes by subway, and 30 minutes on foot. Even though New York has a far more developed transit system, its subway stations are a nightmare—extremely hot, even when cool outside, with air conditioning only available in trains. In contrast, LA’s subway system is comfortably cool both inside trains and on platforms. LA is built for driving, and I love driving; I can't stand crowded public transit and germs everywhere.

Of course, visiting New York was incredible, and I'm delighted I went. Yet, I'm even happier knowing with certainty that Los Angeles is precisely the city I want to call home. It's fantastic that I chose it.

Anyone who is even slightly interested in astrology knows that it's possible to determine how suitable a city is for you based on astrological parameters. I've checked, and LA is a perfect match for me. One more reason to stay. It's genuinely wonderful to find a place you not only enjoy but that truly suits you.