Birthday party Quote by David Sedaris
““It was generally agreed that a coffin-size studio on Avenue D was preferable to living in one of the boroughs. Moving from one Brooklyn or Staten Island neighborhood to another was fine, but unless you had children to think about, even the homeless saw it as a step down to leave Manhattan. Customers quitting the island for Astoria or Cobble Hill would claim to welcome the change of pace, saying it would be nice to finally have a garden or live a little closer to the airport. They’d put a good face one it, but one could always detect an underlying sense of defeat. The apartments might be bigger and cheaper in other places, but one could never count on their old circle of friend making the long trip to attend a birthday party. Even Washington Heights was considered a stretch. People referred to it as Upstate New York, though it was right there in Manhattan.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The New York City Apartment Story” from Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, 2004
Living in Manhattan feels like a status symbol; leaving it, even for better space, feels like a loss of social capital and community ties.
In simple terms: Manhattan is a social hub; moving away feels like stepping down.
Key Takeaway
Weigh social connections against material benefits before relocating.
Themes
status
community
urban life
identity
trade‑offs
Mood
nostalgic
reflective
thoughtful
Type
observational
narrative
When to use this quote
- career move
- family relocation
- friend gatherings
- social events
- urban planning
Key Concepts
social capital
urban sociology
place attachment
Questions to Reflect On
- What social ties would you lose by moving?
- How can you maintain community after relocating?
A Different Perspective
Leaving may improve quality of life but can erode existing support networks.
