Biglaw associates: What class year were you when you bought a house? How expensive of a house did you get? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Am I the only NYer who lives here because of the job opportunities? I am in funds (and I bet finance is similar) and I've been having a tough time finding decent inhouse opportunities in "secondary markets". I'd love to move to Atlanta/Portland/Austin/etc. but there don't seem to be any jobs in the funds space. Are folks who are living in these secondary markets in M&A/Capital markets?

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

I feel like the insufferable NYer is unaware that Tony-winning shows, comedy clubs/bars, italian pianists and composers, niche theater, and Michelin star restaurants aren't exclusive to NY. I may not be able to get that all in Milwaukee, but I certainly can in Chicago, LA, and several other cities. But, keep stanning for NY as you return to your $3,000/mo. 450sq ft apartment.

In terms of cultural and culinary amenities, sure, the sky is the limit in LA and Chicago. Both are huge metros with tons of affluent residents.

The distinction I would make is the extent to which NYC is a cosmopolitan, international city — in that respect, I don’t think LA and Chicago compare. Is that a super relevant distinction for your average biglaw associate’s lifestyle? Probably not, but it’s not imaginary either. Just the conception of living in Chicago for “Michelin star restaurants” and “Italian pianists” sounds rather bourgeois, because that’s not how I think about “culture”

[thisismytlsuername]

Yeah, prestige is the only reason to avoid secondary markets. It couldn't possibly have anything to do with wanting to avoid eating at Panera 3 times a week or having bands I actually want to see tour where I live regularly.

Have you ever lived in a “secondary” market? There’s plenty of good food and entertainment. We’re not talking Peoria.

It gives you some real NYC vibes when someone makes such a stupid comment. Nashville, Detroit, Milwaukee, Atlanta, etc. are all awesome places to live that certainly have a lot more options than Panera, or the like, and get 95% of the national acts that would visit NYC, Chicago, or LA. The further solidifies my take that New Yorkers are trash.

Who said anything about national acts? Bowery ballroom or bust, baby.

A lot of people on this forum consider any market other than NYC as "secondary" lol. Love living in New York, but it's a ludicrous proposition to claim that secondary markets don't have much to offer in terms of cultural options. I think a lot of people in NYC espouse the city's superiority in an attempt to justify how much they pay to live here.

In the past few weeks I've seen an Oscar winner on Broadway, a couple of other Tony winning shows, David Cross working out new material, an Italian pianist and composer, some experimental theater in Bushwick, and eaten at two Michelin starred restaurants, but I'm sure that I could easily do all that stuff in Milwaukee.

That was a pretty awesome way to move the goal posts. Originally your argument was secondary markets don’t have any restaurants besides Panera, now you’ve given up on that and are just listing off cool shit NYC has. No one (or at least not me) is saying secondary markets offer the same things as NYC.

1. They're my goalposts, I can put them wherever I want
2. While we're talking about poor argumentation, that's a complete mischaracterization of my original argument

I feel like the insufferable NYer is unaware that Tony-winning shows, comedy clubs/bars, italian pianists and composers, niche theater, and Michelin star restaurants aren't exclusive to NY. I may not be able to get that all in Milwaukee, but I certainly can in Chicago, LA, and several other cities. But, keep stanning for NY as you return to your $3,000/mo. 450sq ft apartment.

$4500 for 800 sq ft in Manhattan south of 23rd and north of Houston (and not in StuyTown or PCV either), thank you very much.

[Anonymous User]

Have you ever lived in a “secondary” market? There’s plenty of good food and entertainment. We’re not talking Peoria.

It gives you some real NYC vibes when someone makes such a stupid comment. Nashville, Detroit, Milwaukee, Atlanta, etc. are all awesome places to live that certainly have a lot more options than Panera, or the like, and get 95% of the national acts that would visit NYC, Chicago, or LA. The further solidifies my take that New Yorkers are trash.

Who said anything about national acts? Bowery ballroom or bust, baby.

A lot of people on this forum consider any market other than NYC as "secondary" lol. Love living in New York, but it's a ludicrous proposition to claim that secondary markets don't have much to offer in terms of cultural options. I think a lot of people in NYC espouse the city's superiority in an attempt to justify how much they pay to live here.

In the past few weeks I've seen an Oscar winner on Broadway, a couple of other Tony winning shows, David Cross working out new material, an Italian pianist and composer, some experimental theater in Bushwick, and eaten at two Michelin starred restaurants, but I'm sure that I could easily do all that stuff in Milwaukee.

That was a pretty awesome way to move the goal posts. Originally your argument was secondary markets don’t have any restaurants besides Panera, now you’ve given up on that and are just listing off cool shit NYC has. No one (or at least not me) is saying secondary markets offer the same things as NYC.

1. They're my goalposts, I can put them wherever I want
2. I certainly mentioned music as well

I feel like the insufferable NYer is unaware that Tony-winning shows, comedy clubs/bars, italian pianists and composers, niche theater, and Michelin star restaurants aren't exclusive to NY. I may not be able to get that all in Milwaukee, but I certainly can in Chicago, LA, and several other cities. But, keep stanning for NY as you return to your $3,000/mo. 450sq ft apartment.

$4500 for 800 sq ft in Manhattan south of 23rd and north of Houston (and not in StuyTown or PCV either), thank you very much.

Sounds like you can’t move those goalposts into something bigger than 1000 sq ft, though.

[thisismytlsuername]

Sounds like you can’t move those goalposts into something bigger than 1000 sq ft, though.

Why do I need more than 800 sq ft for me and my partner, especially when we go out 4-5 nights per week? I guess if having a big place to live that is mostly empty makes you feel better about running out of things to watch on Netflix in your home theater because there's nothing else to do in the suburbs of Dallas, good for you.

[Anonymous User]

Sounds like you can’t move those goalposts into something bigger than 1000 sq ft, though.

Why do I need more than 800 sq ft for me and my partner, especially when we go out 4-5 nights per week? I guess if having a big place to live that is mostly empty makes you feel better about running out of things to watch on Netflix in your home theater because there's nothing else to do in the suburbs of Dallas, good for you.

I truly can’t understand your level of hostility, especially when earlier you complained about how pointless this whole thread it.

And when we run out of things to watch on Netflix, my family and I hang out in our backyard and watch our dog be a goofball. It truly sucks not being able to go see Italian pianists, as you can tell.

[Anonymous User]

Have you ever lived in a “secondary” market? There’s plenty of good food and entertainment. We’re not talking Peoria.

It gives you some real NYC vibes when someone makes such a stupid comment. Nashville, Detroit, Milwaukee, Atlanta, etc. are all awesome places to live that certainly have a lot more options than Panera, or the like, and get 95% of the national acts that would visit NYC, Chicago, or LA. The further solidifies my take that New Yorkers are trash.

Who said anything about national acts? Bowery ballroom or bust, baby.

A lot of people on this forum consider any market other than NYC as "secondary" lol. Love living in New York, but it's a ludicrous proposition to claim that secondary markets don't have much to offer in terms of cultural options. I think a lot of people in NYC espouse the city's superiority in an attempt to justify how much they pay to live here.

In the past few weeks I've seen an Oscar winner on Broadway, a couple of other Tony winning shows, David Cross working out new material, an Italian pianist and composer, some experimental theater in Bushwick, and eaten at two Michelin starred restaurants, but I'm sure that I could easily do all that stuff in Milwaukee.

That was a pretty awesome way to move the goal posts. Originally your argument was secondary markets don’t have any restaurants besides Panera, now you’ve given up on that and are just listing off cool shit NYC has. No one (or at least not me) is saying secondary markets offer the same things as NYC.

1. They're my goalposts, I can put them wherever I want
2. While we're talking about poor argumentation, that's a complete mischaracterization of my original argument

I feel like the insufferable NYer is unaware that Tony-winning shows, comedy clubs/bars, italian pianists and composers, niche theater, and Michelin star restaurants aren't exclusive to NY. I may not be able to get that all in Milwaukee, but I certainly can in Chicago, LA, and several other cities. But, keep stanning for NY as you return to your $3,000/mo. 450sq ft apartment.

$4500 for 800 sq ft in Manhattan south of 23rd and north of Houston (and not in StuyTown or PCV either), thank you very much.

Lol. That's only double my mortgage on a 3500sq ft house on 1/2 an acre 10 minutes from my office. But I suppose I have to see David Cross on TV.

[nealric]

Sounds like you can’t move those goalposts into something bigger than 1000 sq ft, though.

Why do I need more than 800 sq ft for me and my partner, especially when we go out 4-5 nights per week? I guess if having a big place to live that is mostly empty makes you feel better about running out of things to watch on Netflix in your home theater because there's nothing else to do in the suburbs of Dallas, good for you.

How does a biglaw associate go out 4-5 nights per week?

[nixy]

Certainly there are people for whom NYC is the only acceptable place to live, and NYC is welcome to them.

[Anonymous User]

I really don't understand what there is to debate here. Of course NYC has things other cities don't have to offer - that's why so many people flock there and pay insane housing prices for a literal stamp of a room to live there. And of course other cities have something other than Panera. Both those things can be true at once. The rest of what's going on here is flame, so let's stop taking the bait.

The question is whether you're willing to forgo the housing you want for the additional opportunities NYC affords. A biglaw associate can absolutely afford a comfortable house/apartment in most other cities (SF being one of the notable exceptions). But if you want NYC pizzazz, it shouldn't be a shocker that you you have to pay for it by buying something in a less nice neighborhood (god forbid) or that's way smaller. It doesn't mean you can't afford an apartment in NYC, it just means you can't have your cake and eat it too - you can't have Houston housing and NYC entertainment/nightlife while living in SoHo. It just isn't possible, and I don't know what's to discuss here since any decision within that framework is personal.

For example, I live in a secondary market, which affords me a $1m+ house outside the city with >4k sqft, a huge yard, and a big ass dog to run around in it. Most weekends I prefer cooking my own food (I know what I like), drinking a good beer/scotch without paying someone else to pour it, mowing the lawn, seeing my family at my house or theirs, taking a hike, and playing with my dog to whatever I'd do in NYC. Visiting the local museums 1x/yr is enough art for me, and I'm fine seeing a show or two a year when they finally make it to my city (without the original cast). There's nothing objectively wrong or worse with that lifestyle - it's just what I like. And it's not objectively better either, because there are obviously things that I'm "missing out on" (even if I don't care about them). If and when I really want the NYC vibe, I pay for a weekend trip instead of paying NYC prices literally all the time. I see the draw, don't get me wrong. I just don't need to pay for it 24/7. That's WAY cheaper for me and I can afford more NYC when I go because, of course, I save bank in my secondary market. And besides, I feel claustrophobic in NYC apartments (or in the city in general), so I'd go crazy living there. But that's just like my opinion man, and YMMV.

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

I really don't understand what there is to debate here. Of course NYC has things other cities don't have to offer - that's why so many people flock there and pay insane housing prices for a literal stamp of a room to live there. And of course other cities have something other than Panera. Both those things can be true at once. The rest of what's going on here is flame, so let's stop taking the bait.

The question is whether you're willing to forgo the housing you want for the additional opportunities NYC affords. A biglaw associate can absolutely afford a comfortable house/apartment in most other cities (SF being one of the notable exceptions). But if you want NYC pizzazz, it shouldn't be a shocker that you you have to pay for it by buying something in a less nice neighborhood (god forbid) or that's way smaller. It doesn't mean you can't afford an apartment in NYC, it just means you can't have your cake and eat it too - you can't have Houston housing and NYC entertainment/nightlife while living in SoHo. It just isn't possible, and I don't know what's to discuss here since any decision within that framework is personal.

For example, I live in a secondary market, which affords me a $1m+ house outside the city with >4k sqft, a huge yard, and a big ass dog to run around in it. Most weekends I prefer cooking my own food (I know what I like), drinking a good beer/scotch without paying someone else to pour it, mowing the lawn, seeing my family at my house or theirs, taking a hike, and playing with my dog to whatever I'd do in NYC. Visiting the local museums 1x/yr is enough art for me, and I'm fine seeing a show or two a year when they finally make it to my city (without the original cast). There's nothing objectively wrong or worse with that lifestyle - it's just what I like. And it's not objectively better either, because there are obviously things that I'm "missing out on" (even if I don't care about them). If and when I really want the NYC vibe, I pay for a weekend trip instead of paying NYC prices literally all the time. I see the draw, don't get me wrong. I just don't need to pay for it 24/7. That's WAY cheaper for me and I can afford more NYC when I go because, of course, I save bank in my secondary market. And besides, I feel claustrophobic in NYC apartments (or in the city in general), so I'd go crazy living there. But that's just like my opinion man, and YMMV.

This is a totally reasonable take and sounds like you have a sweet setup. What comes across as less reasonable to NYC residents are posts like “Chicago has 95% of what NYC has for half the price” when that’s so subjective and virtually nobody here agrees with that. No amount of dinners at Alinea or Italian operas will make someone who loves NYC happy to live there.

[nixy]

I really don't understand what there is to debate here. Of course NYC has things other cities don't have to offer - that's why so many people flock there and pay insane housing prices for a literal stamp of a room to live there. And of course other cities have something other than Panera. Both those things can be true at once. The rest of what's going on here is flame, so let's stop taking the bait.

The question is whether you're willing to forgo the housing you want for the additional opportunities NYC affords. A biglaw associate can absolutely afford a comfortable house/apartment in most other cities (SF being one of the notable exceptions). But if you want NYC pizzazz, it shouldn't be a shocker that you you have to pay for it by buying something in a less nice neighborhood (god forbid) or that's way smaller. It doesn't mean you can't afford an apartment in NYC, it just means you can't have your cake and eat it too - you can't have Houston housing and NYC entertainment/nightlife while living in SoHo. It just isn't possible, and I don't know what's to discuss here since any decision within that framework is personal.

For example, I live in a secondary market, which affords me a $1m+ house outside the city with >4k sqft, a huge yard, and a big ass dog to run around in it. Most weekends I prefer cooking my own food (I know what I like), drinking a good beer/scotch without paying someone else to pour it, mowing the lawn, seeing my family at my house or theirs, taking a hike, and playing with my dog to whatever I'd do in NYC. Visiting the local museums 1x/yr is enough art for me, and I'm fine seeing a show or two a year when they finally make it to my city (without the original cast). There's nothing objectively wrong or worse with that lifestyle - it's just what I like. And it's not objectively better either, because there are obviously things that I'm "missing out on" (even if I don't care about them). If and when I really want the NYC vibe, I pay for a weekend trip instead of paying NYC prices literally all the time. I see the draw, don't get me wrong. I just don't need to pay for it 24/7. That's WAY cheaper for me and I can afford more NYC when I go because, of course, I save bank in my secondary market. And besides, I feel claustrophobic in NYC apartments (or in the city in general), so I'd go crazy living there. But that's just like my opinion man, and YMMV.

This is a totally reasonable take and sounds like you have a sweet setup. What comes across as less reasonable to NYC residents are posts like “Chicago has 95% of what NYC has for half the price” when that’s so subjective and virtually nobody here agrees with that. No amount of dinners at Alinea or Italian operas will make someone who loves NYC happy to live there.

I generally agree, but the debate started with someone saying that outside of NYC there’s nothing but Panera to eat and no entertainment, so I don’t think it’s only the Chicago homers being unreasonable.

[Anonymous User]

This is a totally reasonable take and sounds like you have a sweet setup. What comes across as less reasonable to NYC residents are posts like “Chicago has 95% of what NYC has for half the price” when that’s so subjective and virtually nobody here agrees with that. No amount of dinners at Alinea or Italian operas will make someone who loves NYC happy to live there.

I generally agree, but the debate started with someone saying that outside of NYC there’s nothing but Panera to eat and no entertainment, so I don’t think it’s only the Chicago homers being unreasonable.

+1, hence why I said lets stop falling for the bait on both sides.

Anyway, even if 95% were correct there are still plenty of reasons in that purported 5% to pick NYC over Chi even for twice the price, so I don't know why it's worth debating on a forum with people we don't know.

Back to the original topic - for those who were able to buy as an associate in NYC: what, when, where, and how much?

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

I really don't understand what there is to debate here. Of course NYC has things other cities don't have to offer - that's why so many people flock there and pay insane housing prices for a literal stamp of a room to live there. And of course other cities have something other than Panera. Both those things can be true at once. The rest of what's going on here is flame, so let's stop taking the bait.

The question is whether you're willing to forgo the housing you want for the additional opportunities NYC affords. A biglaw associate can absolutely afford a comfortable house/apartment in most other cities (SF being one of the notable exceptions). But if you want NYC pizzazz, it shouldn't be a shocker that you you have to pay for it by buying something in a less nice neighborhood (god forbid) or that's way smaller. It doesn't mean you can't afford an apartment in NYC, it just means you can't have your cake and eat it too - you can't have Houston housing and NYC entertainment/nightlife while living in SoHo. It just isn't possible, and I don't know what's to discuss here since any decision within that framework is personal.

For example, I live in a secondary market, which affords me a $1m+ house outside the city with >4k sqft, a huge yard, and a big ass dog to run around in it. Most weekends I prefer cooking my own food (I know what I like), drinking a good beer/scotch without paying someone else to pour it, mowing the lawn, seeing my family at my house or theirs, taking a hike, and playing with my dog to whatever I'd do in NYC. Visiting the local museums 1x/yr is enough art for me, and I'm fine seeing a show or two a year when they finally make it to my city (without the original cast). There's nothing objectively wrong or worse with that lifestyle - it's just what I like. And it's not objectively better either, because there are obviously things that I'm "missing out on" (even if I don't care about them). If and when I really want the NYC vibe, I pay for a weekend trip instead of paying NYC prices literally all the time. I see the draw, don't get me wrong. I just don't need to pay for it 24/7. That's WAY cheaper for me and I can afford more NYC when I go because, of course, I save bank in my secondary market. And besides, I feel claustrophobic in NYC apartments (or in the city in general), so I'd go crazy living there. But that's just like my opinion man, and YMMV.

This is a totally reasonable take and sounds like you have a sweet setup. What comes across as less reasonable to NYC residents are posts like “Chicago has 95% of what NYC has for half the price” when that’s so subjective and virtually nobody here agrees with that. No amount of dinners at Alinea or Italian operas will make someone who loves NYC happy to live there.

I generally agree, but the debate started with someone saying that outside of NYC there’s nothing but Panera to eat and no entertainment, so I don’t think it’s only the Chicago homers being unreasonable.

Agreed. If anyone is paying to live in NYC because they think everywhere else has no restaurants but Panera and no entertainment besides meth and fentanyl, they are misinformed and are wasting their money.

[thisismytlsuername]

I'm glad that you're all so happy with your TTT city/suburban lives that you're writing hundreds of words to justify why you love your McMansions so much, but now you're all fighting strawmen.
1. I never said Panera was the *only* restaurant in TTT cities, just that there are fewer dining options there than in NYC. Anyone dispute that? I'm a 10 minute walk from pretty much any cuisine I can imagine. Is your 3500 sq ft house on half an acre also walking distance from Michelin starred Korean/American/Spanish/Italian/Sushi/etc?
2. I never said there was *nothing* to do in TTT cities (or anything about meth or fentanyl -- weird that you brought those up), just that there's more varied, interesting stuff to do in NYC. Anyone dispute that?
3. I never said I'm a biglaw associate (although I did plenty of fun stuff when I was)

Did I miss anything? Hard to keep track with all the anons.

[nixy]

You’re right. NYC is superior to every other American city, and anyone who doesn’t believe that is a rube.

Can we move on now?

[Anonymous User]

I'm glad that you're all so happy with your TTT city/suburban lives that you're writing hundreds of words to justify why you love your McMansions so much, but now you're all fighting strawmen.
1. I never said Panera was the *only* restaurant in TTT cities, just that there are fewer dining options there than in NYC. Anyone dispute that? I'm a 10 minute walk from pretty much any cuisine I can imagine. Is your 3500 sq ft house on half an acre also walking distance from Michelin starred Korean/American/Spanish/Italian/Sushi/etc?
2. I never said there was *nothing* to do in TTT cities (or anything about meth or fentanyl -- weird that you brought those up), just that there's more varied, interesting stuff to do in NYC. Anyone dispute that?
3. I never said I'm a biglaw associate (although I did plenty of fun stuff when I was)

Did I miss anything? Hard to keep track with all the anons.

If you’re not a Biglaw associate, and you’re not contributing anything meaningful to the discussion (calling anywhere besides NYC a TTT city, for instance), maybe stay out of a thread specifically directed to Biglaw associates? Let me know if you have trouble keeping track of that.

[thisismytlsuername]

You’re right. NYC is superior to every other American city, and anyone who doesn’t believe that is a rube.

Can we move on now?

Not until we also agree that person who claims to have bought a 4br house for less than $300k in a secondary city and that prestige is the only reason to live anywhere else -- how this all started -- that they must be in a quaternary city at best.

[thisismytlsuername]

I'm glad that you're all so happy with your TTT city/suburban lives that you're writing hundreds of words to justify why you love your McMansions so much, but now you're all fighting strawmen.
1. I never said Panera was the *only* restaurant in TTT cities, just that there are fewer dining options there than in NYC. Anyone dispute that? I'm a 10 minute walk from pretty much any cuisine I can imagine. Is your 3500 sq ft house on half an acre also walking distance from Michelin starred Korean/American/Spanish/Italian/Sushi/etc?
2. I never said there was *nothing* to do in TTT cities (or anything about meth or fentanyl -- weird that you brought those up), just that there's more varied, interesting stuff to do in NYC. Anyone dispute that?
3. I never said I'm a biglaw associate (although I did plenty of fun stuff when I was)

Did I miss anything? Hard to keep track with all the anons.

If you’re not a Biglaw associate, and you’re not contributing anything meaningful to the discussion (calling anywhere besides NYC a TTT city, for instance), maybe stay out of a thread specifically directed to Biglaw associates? Let me know if you have trouble keeping track of that.

Gatekeep much, Mr. Anon?

[Anonymous User]

You’re right. NYC is superior to every other American city, and anyone who doesn’t believe that is a rube.

Can we move on now?

Not until we also agree that person who claims to have bought a 4br house for less than $300k in a secondary city and that prestige is the only reason to live anywhere else -- how this all started -- that they must be in a quaternary city at best.

Dude, I made a playful comment lauding secondary cities. Two posts later I said “to each their own, amigo.” You made this into such a bigger thing than it ever needed to be.

[Anonymous User]

I'm glad that you're all so happy with your TTT city/suburban lives that you're writing hundreds of words to justify why you love your McMansions so much, but now you're all fighting strawmen.
1. I never said Panera was the *only* restaurant in TTT cities, just that there are fewer dining options there than in NYC. Anyone dispute that? I'm a 10 minute walk from pretty much any cuisine I can imagine. Is your 3500 sq ft house on half an acre also walking distance from Michelin starred Korean/American/Spanish/Italian/Sushi/etc?
2. I never said there was *nothing* to do in TTT cities (or anything about meth or fentanyl -- weird that you brought those up), just that there's more varied, interesting stuff to do in NYC. Anyone dispute that?
3. I never said I'm a biglaw associate (although I did plenty of fun stuff when I was)

Did I miss anything? Hard to keep track with all the anons.

This is like the quintessential TLS response here, complete with an anon busting. Bravo.

I'm one of those anons with a McMansion so I'll bite. If you're going to use hyperbole on a forum don't act surprised when people take you literally. It's a thread full of lawyers for god's sake what do you expect.
Nobody is fighting a straw man, you're just being flippant and imprecise. Maybe try getting less defensive/accusatory and people might actually agree with you for once.

You're only kidding yourself when you say you're happy about our own subjective preferences. I see why you want to walk to a fancy restaurant, but you clearly have trouble stepping out of your own shoes to see why I'd rather cook the same perfect steak from the comfort of my big ass home every week, naked if I wanted to because there's nobody close by to see me. You've successfully outed yourself the most unreasonable and narrow minded person ITT right at the moment we were all singing kumbaya.

[thisismytlsuername]

You’re right. NYC is superior to every other American city, and anyone who doesn’t believe that is a rube.

Can we move on now?

Not until we also agree that person who claims to have bought a 4br house for less than $300k in a secondary city and that prestige is the only reason to live anywhere else -- how this all started -- that they must be in a quaternary city at best.

Dude, I made a playful comment lauding secondary cities. Two posts later I said “to each their own, amigo.” You made this into such a bigger thing than it ever needed to be.

How am I supposed to know who is who when everyone is posting anonymously?

Anyway, want to see X Ambassadors in Stamford with me? I've seen them twice, they put on a good show.

[thisismytlsuername]

I'm glad that you're all so happy with your TTT city/suburban lives that you're writing hundreds of words to justify why you love your McMansions so much, but now you're all fighting strawmen.
1. I never said Panera was the *only* restaurant in TTT cities, just that there are fewer dining options there than in NYC. Anyone dispute that? I'm a 10 minute walk from pretty much any cuisine I can imagine. Is your 3500 sq ft house on half an acre also walking distance from Michelin starred Korean/American/Spanish/Italian/Sushi/etc?
2. I never said there was *nothing* to do in TTT cities (or anything about meth or fentanyl -- weird that you brought those up), just that there's more varied, interesting stuff to do in NYC. Anyone dispute that?
3. I never said I'm a biglaw associate (although I did plenty of fun stuff when I was)

Did I miss anything? Hard to keep track with all the anons.

This is like the quintessential TLS response here, complete with an anon busting. Bravo.

I'm one of those anons with a McMansion so I'll bite. If you're going to use hyperbole on a forum don't act surprised when people take you literally. It's a thread full of lawyers for god's sake what do you expect.
Nobody is fighting a straw man, you're just being flippant and imprecise. Maybe try getting less defensive/accusatory and people might actually agree with you for once.

You're only kidding yourself when you say you're happy about our own subjective preferences. I see why you want to walk to a fancy restaurant, but you clearly have trouble stepping out of your own shoes to see why I'd rather cook the same perfect steak from the comfort of my big ass home every week, naked if I wanted to because there's nobody close by to see me. You've successfully outed yourself the most unreasonable and narrow minded person ITT right at the moment we were all singing kumbaya.

If you're cooking that steak the way it should be cooked, I'd recommend an apron -- there's going to be some butter splatter.

[Anonymous User]

You’re right. NYC is superior to every other American city, and anyone who doesn’t believe that is a rube.

Can we move on now?

Not until we also agree that person who claims to have bought a 4br house for less than $300k in a secondary city and that prestige is the only reason to live anywhere else -- how this all started -- that they must be in a quaternary city at best.

Dude, I made a playful comment lauding secondary cities. Two posts later I said “to each their own, amigo.” You made this into such a bigger thing than it ever needed to be.

How am I supposed to know who is who when everyone is posting anonymously?

Anyway, want to see X Ambassadors in Stamford with me? I've seen them twice, they put on a good show.

Sure—sounds fun, buddy. After that, you can visit me in me “quaternary city” where we can drive from my house to an MLB game in 20 min.

[thisismytlsuername]

You’re right. NYC is superior to every other American city, and anyone who doesn’t believe that is a rube.

Can we move on now?

Not until we also agree that person who claims to have bought a 4br house for less than $300k in a secondary city and that prestige is the only reason to live anywhere else -- how this all started -- that they must be in a quaternary city at best.

Dude, I made a playful comment lauding secondary cities. Two posts later I said “to each their own, amigo.” You made this into such a bigger thing than it ever needed to be.

How am I supposed to know who is who when everyone is posting anonymously?

Anyway, want to see X Ambassadors in Stamford with me? I've seen them twice, they put on a good show.

Sure—sounds fun, buddy. After that, you can visit me in me “quaternary city” where we can drive from my house to an MLB game in 20 min.

I'm in, but can we take public transportation so we can both get drunk? Otherwise there's no draw for me.