[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by DianeM

Thank you for "getting it". If you haven't lived there you cannot understand how awesome New York is

You are welcome, for sure. I certainly do "get it".

Good luck on your next adventure. Nothing in life is "cast in stone". Change is good. Follow your heart.

I just ordered & received overnight some hand made Italian mozzarella cheese & ricotta cheese for my baked ziti, plus some fennel sausage which I plan to make for my husband's upcoming birthday. The "real deal", not Kraft shredded in a Ziploc bag.
Overwhelmingly moist, fresh, delicious......will melt perfectly.

I've discovered some great N.Y.C. Jewish deli's as well as Italian stores in both N.Y.C. & Brooklyn, plus Philadelphia.......that can supply a "treat" or more when the nostalgic feeling strikes.......FEDEXED overnight with ice bags.

My husband & visiting kids/grandkids are all IN LOVE with the half sour pickles from Zabar's Jewish Deli in N.Y.C.......a long time tradition. Excellent corned beef & pastrami, etc. plus so much more.

Nothing but good memories of New York City. Our New Jersey nieces & nephews just took their little ones to see the tree in Rockefeller Center a few days ago.......great photos. Ice skating, etc. What fun.

Young moms (friends of mine) up here take the train down with their little girls to go to The American Girl Doll Store for lunch, etc. in New York City.........can't be beat.

New York State also has great skiing (not just Vermont & Colorado) upstate........plus beautiful fall foliage in the autumn.

We also miss the wonderful Chinese restaurants, Japanese restaurants, German restaurants and so on.......found in N.Y.C., a cultural mecca. Not the boring same old, same old which a lot of chain restaurants provide (actually frozen food with tons of additives). Any fans of Anthony Bourdain know that real food is cooked from scratch.

Wish I could teleport down to Little Italy for just a casual grocery shopping excursion........ending at Ferrara's Bakery.

When we were dating teenagers, we'd drive over from New Jersey to see the United Nations Building, the big library, the Metropolitan Museum, etc., etc., etc.........have lunch, go to the movies, etc.

New York City was "date night" for us........also side trips to Patricia Murphy's restaurant. Not sure if that is still there.
Or, the restaurants near CENTRAL PARK. We would take our little New Jersey nieces & nephews (now in their 50's) to play in Central Park.

We'd see the Rockettes dance......plus so much more. Never boring in or around New York City.........plus all that theatre. My sister in law was a huge fan of N.Y. Broadway theatre performances & still takes her own grand daughters when she visits N.J. from Arizona.

My father would always take us to Times Square around New Years (not late at night)......it must have been his own teenaged fave.
He's long gone, but I still remember........when I was about 5 years old. Also, the beaches around & including Coney Island, which now is inhabited by many Ukrainian transplants, plus Far Rockaway, also Jones Beach, etc..........

My New York City father "courted" my New Jersey mother in the 1940's with boat excursion trips around Manhattan Island.

Let's just say there is something for everyone.........in N.Y.C.

However, ultimately, "home is where the heart is" & that becomes very personal to each & every one of us. So, all should enjoy their own home sweet homes in peacefulness & good health during 2015 & beyond.

We are set for a DEEP FREEZE up here.........but this too, shall pass. Looking forward to springtime & the apple blossoms, lilacs & more new babies, another big family reunion upcoming.........

............again, home is where the heart is. Where your memories are most profound. Where you feel the love. Good luck.