Living in the big city is not for everyone.
I grew up on the East Side where the noises, lights, and smells of the streets became comforting to me.
We didn’t have a lot of money so summers were hot and sticky as we had no air conditioning. I would sometimes sleep out on the fire escape just trying to catch a breeze in the concrete jungle where our little apartment was. Now, years later, I have a good job and could afford to live anywhere I wanted, but, I still live on the East Side, although in a much nicer building. I have all the comforts I could ask for including a doorman who keeps out the less than desirable people that tend to congregate outside. I live on the tenth floor with a fully automated HVAC system that keeps me warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I no longer have need of sleeping out on the fire escape to take in the night air. Although, the hum of the HVAC system is no match for the soothing sounds of city streets. When I miss those sounds I simply open my windows for a bit and take it all in. It is nice having the option of perfect climate control and that of remembering my childhood too. When I have had enough of the muggy hot night air I simply close the window and adjust the program on my thermostat to cool the apartment off quickly. I feel happy that I have come so far in life and no longer need to pray for a breeze to be able to sleep at night.