New Yorkers Aren't Rude, But We Are Different

As a big snowstorm approaches back home I might be stuck in Florida longer. The fact is, although the weather is beautiful here, I am bored out of my mind. I'm living the life or a retiree in Florida, only it is 35 years too soon. On one hand I am grateful for this time off to enjoy life but on the other hand, I can't seem to let myself fully enjoy it once I remember (and worry about) the fact I am ignoring my sky-high rent in NYC and the scary fact I still do not have one job prospect in sight.So far my fave place is Sanibel and Captiva. Around the St. Pete area I am feeling bored and I've had some of the worst food I've ever been served in my life, with endless chain restaurants. A New Yorker gets spoiled by the best bagels and pizza in the world. I'm growing impatient with the slower service too. Geez, I sound like an impatient New Yorker. What's the rush anyway? I sure have nowhere to go.I'm not used to strangers talking to me on line at the grocery stores, at the gas station and at the gym. A guy asked me, "are you starting your workout or finishing up?". I must have looked at him like he had 2 heads. People in the gym in NYC just don't seem to start up conversation. A lady in the grocery store started commenting on the items in my shopping cart! Can't imagine that happening in NYC. Although you might look into another person's cart, who actually comments on it? And most people actually seem to look at you on the street here. You can have hundreds of people walking down blocks in NYC and nobody looks into the eyes of anyone. Too many people, too much commotion and you simply tune people out.New Yorkers have a reputation for being rude. Not so. We are very friendly once approached (almost all the time) and very helpful. The difference is that we just keep to ourselves and don't start up conversation. A guy walked past me on a quiet street and said 'hi' with a smile. In NYC most women would not respond to that well as it just doesn't seem to happen in New York.In my perfect world, I would have a place outside of NYC and an apartment in the city. It is always nice to escape the hustle and bustle to a place with peaceful and beautiful surroundings. But it is the energy of NYC that I love and I'm missing. It really is true there is no other place like NY.I'm at my elderly aunt's I haven't seen in years. We played shuffleboard yesterday and I went to play Bingo with her. Seriously, I will make a very good old lady since I have always loved Bingo.Today I walked on the beach that my college ex-boyfriend from Florida and I always used to go. The past few days have been a trip down memory lane. I think to where he is now and his friends - all married, with kids already or one on the way. And I think to where I am -- traveling alone yet again, unattached, unemployed, escaping from a city I was starting to feel lost in and confused about an uncertain future.And then I remind myself...My life now is a result of actions I took or didn't take. Sure the job loss I could not control but when I get back to NY I need to focus on changing what I CAN control. And I really do want to get back to New York....