Did my undergrad in NYC, doing my graduate study in LA......
Lived in Manhattan (village) for 3 years, and right now is my 3rd year in Westwood......
can't decide. When I was in New York, I missed the west coast so much. Miss being able to drive, miss the weahter, miss the beaches. I was annoyed by sharing the small apartment with 3 other roommates and still paying rediculous rent, had to walk to take the bus or subway then transfer and transfer and walk and walk and the dog poop on the yellow snow on the sidewalk during the winter doesn't make the walk very pleasant..... I had to give up my favorite high heels because walking was my destiny...... not to mention moving from dorm to dorm with all my properties in a little pushing cart...... cabs do not stop for movers so me and my friends had to push the cart across 13 streets and 2 avenues at 108 degree in the summer..... it's not easy to live in New York, especially being a student with little income. Therefore I moved to LA for graduate school. Perfect weather, slower pace. I drove everywhere with everything i need in the car. High heels, skirts, tan tops, no more walking on snow for half an hour just to do grocery shopping. It takes 10 minutes from my apartment to the beach, and after school i could always drive there, park, change in the car, pull out my beach mat from the trunk and just relax. But guess what? I miss New York. I miss the night life, the museums, the shows, the culture, the center of everything. I miss the big christmas tree in front of Rockefeller Center, the shopping atmosphere on 5th Ave, the museums, time square, SOHO, central park....... lots of unique things that makes it the one and only New York City. I like to be able to sit indoor holding a cup of hot coffee and just watch it snows peacefully.
Now I am thinking to move back for my next degree or postdoc...... but can I ever stand anywhere else after comfortable LA?