On living in Harlem
Harlem has this reputation of being this really dangerous place in the city. (here, the city refers to Manhattan. The outer boroughs are "New York", and the rest of the New York is just "upstate") It's probably true at some point, and probably relatively true for now, but it's not so bad.
Being spoiled by living in Union Square, the transition was not painless, but for 800$ a month, I got an 1 BR with a little backyard in a "quiet" part of Harlem was nice - since I need to sleep to close to silent.
Equivalently, an apartment closer to downtown would cost in the neighbourhood of 1800$ a month at the time. It sounds as awful as it is.
There were many arguments against Harlem - mostly the usual about safety concerns. Being a minority in a minority neighbourhood must have some concerns.
But, the simple math won out. Not even discounting the cost of food and other expenses, the 1000$ savings comes at a cost of a 30 minute longer commute with some safety concerns.
The math is simple - 1000$ = 50 20$ cab rides. I never came close, and in the city it's not always the smart choice, but it actually costs me ~25$ to get work in a cab. So basically I can literally cab to and from work almost everyday. That eliminates a majority of the safety concerns.
I don't, because I'm cheap, and usually only cabs during those late night drinking days. Still though, I don't usually carry that much cash to begin with, but the difference is that if I got mugged less than say, 5 times (probably high) a month, for 200$ each (almost never carry that much cash.. and probably would stop after the first or the second time..) I would still come out ahead. So getting mugged wasn't a concern for me - probabilistically it wasn't going to be that awful. Being a New Yorker all my life probably helped - I don't think I'm a particular pushover.
The people I fear most are really the crazy and the irrational. I'm cheap because I can be, but I don't actually value money all that much - though mostly I would like to spend it as efficiently as possible. So if people want money, and poses a real immediate threat (as opposed to people trying to scare you and have you marked) I would not care too much about handing it over.
Crazy people are just crazy, not much to say about them. Irrational people are probably teens for my definition - either they're bored and just wants to find something to do, or they are out trying to prove something, both classic "wrong place at the wrong time" scenarios. They can happen anywhere in either case, but in theory more likely there.
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So I spent a few months in Harlem, and while outside circumstances forced me away from it, I got friendly with some locals, and mostly enjoyed my time there. There was only one instance where I was given a racist comment, but that was by some drunk, and mostly people didn't really care. I didn't come close to being mugged, and I enjoyed it there.
Being spoiled by living in Union Square, the transition was not painless, but for 800$ a month, I got an 1 BR with a little backyard in a "quiet" part of Harlem was nice - since I need to sleep to close to silent.
Equivalently, an apartment closer to downtown would cost in the neighbourhood of 1800$ a month at the time. It sounds as awful as it is.
There were many arguments against Harlem - mostly the usual about safety concerns. Being a minority in a minority neighbourhood must have some concerns.
But, the simple math won out. Not even discounting the cost of food and other expenses, the 1000$ savings comes at a cost of a 30 minute longer commute with some safety concerns.
The math is simple - 1000$ = 50 20$ cab rides. I never came close, and in the city it's not always the smart choice, but it actually costs me ~25$ to get work in a cab. So basically I can literally cab to and from work almost everyday. That eliminates a majority of the safety concerns.
I don't, because I'm cheap, and usually only cabs during those late night drinking days. Still though, I don't usually carry that much cash to begin with, but the difference is that if I got mugged less than say, 5 times (probably high) a month, for 200$ each (almost never carry that much cash.. and probably would stop after the first or the second time..) I would still come out ahead. So getting mugged wasn't a concern for me - probabilistically it wasn't going to be that awful. Being a New Yorker all my life probably helped - I don't think I'm a particular pushover.
The people I fear most are really the crazy and the irrational. I'm cheap because I can be, but I don't actually value money all that much - though mostly I would like to spend it as efficiently as possible. So if people want money, and poses a real immediate threat (as opposed to people trying to scare you and have you marked) I would not care too much about handing it over.
Crazy people are just crazy, not much to say about them. Irrational people are probably teens for my definition - either they're bored and just wants to find something to do, or they are out trying to prove something, both classic "wrong place at the wrong time" scenarios. They can happen anywhere in either case, but in theory more likely there.
---
So I spent a few months in Harlem, and while outside circumstances forced me away from it, I got friendly with some locals, and mostly enjoyed my time there. There was only one instance where I was given a racist comment, but that was by some drunk, and mostly people didn't really care. I didn't come close to being mugged, and I enjoyed it there.