The NYC that is restaurants, bars, theaters, movie houses, and most other things that make this city so wonderful and energizing are at a standstill right now, and the likelihood of their coming back within this year is practically nil. So, we weighed the cost of rent vs. paying into something we’d own, and the latter felt like a no brainer — we can stream TV and movies, walk our dogs, and get Blue Apron anywhere, so let’s build our equity while we’re doing it. However, we’re looking at this new home as a project that we’ll take on for a few years to improve and sell before moving back to NYC or to Palo Alto, LA, or London. Do I think this city will bounce back? Abso-fucking-lutely! Per usual, this city will reinvent itself and will send out its siren song to people around the world who are itching to experience life in a cultural fast lane. This will always be the destination for a new crop of young people ready for the nightlife and energy of this city; this will always be an unrivaled location for people who need proximity to the large number and varying types of museums, galleries, shows, cabarets, and the like — all of which will come back full force — on a regular basis; and this will always be a necessary community for artists who feed off the excitement, diversity, and intellect of NYC’s population. This city will come back with a vengeance with both a number of steadfast faces and with a whole slew of new faces who are ready to be here and replace those of us who decided to buy houses in Hightstown, NJ. And to all of them, I say, “Enjoy the fuck out of the greatest city in the world.”