Everyone loves to imagine their life just like Carrie Bradshaw’s in Sex and the City, a life filled with shoes, friends and endless adventures in a big city. And who doesn’t fantasize about living in a giant apartment à la Monica and Rachel in Friends?
But is that what the living in the city is really like? How do you know if a big city is the right place for you? The only way to really know is to take a risk and try it out for yourself. But if you’re not sure you’re ready to take the plunge, we’ve thought of some ways to know if the city might be the right place for you.
1. You can take care of things on your own (no parents needed)
Living on your own is a big change. You’ll be supporting yourself and facing countless new challenges and responsibilities. From paying your rent on time to being able to advocate for yourself when your landlord won’t fix your broken sink, you have to be ready to take care of things on your own.
If you feel responsible enough handle all the challenges that come with living in a city, feel mature enough to be able to budget your money, and can take care of yourself in such a fast-paced and daunting environment, then New York City or LA might just be a good fit.
Related: 5 Ways to Determine If That Job Offer Is Worth Moving For
2. You love meeting new people
The crowd of the city can be a downside for some people, but for others it’s an exciting part of every day. Using public transit to get around opens you up to opportunities for seeing tons of new faces from all walks of life, from people who live in the city to those just passing through.
“It’s fun to be able to interact with random people, or even people you meet on the street that you’ll [maybe] never get to see again” says Joie Steinbauer, a 2017 graduate of Emmanuel College.
If you’re personable and love to meet new people, you’ll thrive in the city environment.
3. Trying new things appeals to you
Cities have countless new things to see and do, from new restaurants and coffee shops to museum exhibitions and Broadway shows. If you love the constant excitement of new experiences, then you may just be perfect for city life.
“I’ve loved going to Broadway shows since I was really little, and having the accessibility to anything from concerts to street performers is such a benefit of living in the city. There’s always something to look at and go see,” says Zoe Kulina, a 2014 graduate of Pace University who now lives in Brooklyn.
Although city life is not always fun and games (i.e. the major responsibilities that come with it), a lot of it can be.
4. You want to be around constant new opportunities
If you want to have endless possibilities for jobs, internships, and overall amazing experiences, then the city is the right place for you. Whether you have your heart set on a career path or you have no idea what you want to do, the city is a full of opportunities to help you figure it out.
“As I got older I really became interested in working in fashion. It was kind of my big motivator to move. I thought ‘if you’re going to work in fashion, you have to be in New York City,’” says Zoe.
The difference between a small town and a city is the potential for so many different career paths. “There’s so many more opportunities for work in Boston than I would have if I had moved back to New Hampshire,” says Joie.
5. You’ve adjusted well to college life
Living in the city can be roughly equated to living in a college dorm. You have very little space, you have to share that space with another person (or many other people), and you’re constantly surrounded by noise and activity.
“Going from living in a big house in New Hampshire to a small 500 square foot apartment was a big adjustment. You have to learn to live with it and let go of some luxuries that you’re used to having,” says Joie.
If you adjusted well to living in your college dorm (and you maybe even liked it), after graduation you’ll be able to easily adjust to apartment life.
But really, there’s no foolproof way to know for sure if you’d thrive in a big city unless you try it out. “A person that’s made for the city doesn’t exist,” says Zoe, “you just have to come here and figure it out for yourself.”
Moving to the city can be one of the biggest learning and growing experiences you can have after graduation, but you have to know in your heart that it’s the right choice and the right time for you.
In the end it may just end up being the best decision you ever make.