I’ve lived all my 54 years in NYC.(Bronx actually) I’ve traveled to Manhattan every day for 20 years for work. I love NY and it will always have a piece of my heart. I will be relocating down to NC next month to be closer to my grandchildren. I still have a lot of family up here and have every intention of coming back a lot to visit. My parents are buried up here in St. Raymonds Cemetary. I guess you have to live here and learn to live with the ups and downs of NYC. That said, there is no other greater place on this earth than NYC. (Excluding DeBlasio and crew of course!)
North Carolina is not that far away - we go down there every year to spend Thanksgiving with friends.
My parents have recently been buried in St. John’s in Queens. And yes, maybe you have to live here, perhaps be born here, to ‘get’ it.
Bon voyage and I hope you enjoy your extended family. It’s a very nice state.