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Hey Neighbor!

Welcome back to THE NEIGHBORHOOD!  This week’s story is about home.  

Home.  I love that word.  Home is New York City.  Most specifically, Hamilton Heights in Upper Manhattan.  It has been my home for the past 10 years and I love it. 

My little corner in this massive city.  My cozy nook.  My safe haven.  It is my favorite place.  

As an artist, a home can seem unattainable.  Artists constantly move around from gig to gig, it almost feels like you don’t have a home.  However, I crave one  I need it. 

A place to set my roots. 

A place that’s mine.  

The day I move into the apartment, I start walking to the subway to go to work, and I hear a saxophonist playing on my block.  It’s like a movie and felt so New York to me. 

To this day, I constantly hear neighbors playing the piano, or opera singers rehearsing.  A man down the corner reads tarot cards. 

The street is lined with brownstones that have adorable fall decorations on the stoops. 

It feels like a community and that these people are my people.  

One day I hear my upstairs neighbors having a song salon.  I am intrigued and immediately go upstairs to say hi.  They invite me in and I get to sing a bit with them.  This is by far the closest I have ever gotten to living my FRIENDS dreams. 

What’s even crazier, is that I find out that one of them is engaged to a friend of mine that I grew up with in Philadelphia!  WHAT?!  What are the odds in such a huge city?  

New York City gets this reputation for being a city of strangers. 

I disagree and here’s why.  In the past 10 years since I have lived in this apartment, strangers in my building and neighborhood have become friends. 

I wave hello to the man down the street every morning on my way to work.  Doing that is always a bit taboo in New York, but sometimes it’s necessary.  And if the other person smiles at you?  Why not?

One time I noticed an apartment across the hall still had a key in the door.  I knocked and told them and would you believe that the next morning there was a bag on my door with the most delicious salted caramel brownie I have ever tasted?! 

I have been invited to house parties in the building.  One time, a sublet who stayed in my apartment one summer ended up moving in upstairs!  See?  It really is a small world.  

Living in New York is OVERWHELMING in all capitals. 

It’s expensive.  It’s loud.  Sometimes people can be really mean.  Sometimes there are leaks in the bathroom or the heat shuts down.  Or your landlord is insane.  But you know what?  I have found that the key to finding solace here is finding my home.  The best feeling in the world is when I can exhale as I open the door to my little slice of Heaven in the middle of this crazy, loud and dirty city. 

Apartment 24.  It’s home and I adore it. 

Okay, Neighbor, it’s your turn.  What do you love about your neighborhood?  What makes your home feel cozy?  

I look forward to hearing your stories.  

I’ve Got You in My Pocket,

Jackie Ostick 

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