I’ve lived in New Jersey my entire life.  Yes, there have been stints on cruise ships, sublets in Manhattan, sit downs in faraway lands of Ohio, Florida, etc, and then all the glamorous tour destinations from Texas to Oklahoma to Arkansas to Pennsylvania.  I’ve been all over the place.  I liked it that way when I was younger.  What stories I have about some of my dwelling spaces: tiles falling from the ceiling, food stealing, cockroaches aka water bugs, you name it! I will always call New Jersey home even if I’m considering leaving it someday.  I do love it here.  With the suburban atmosphere on this side of the river and the hustle and bustle on the other side as my backyard, I really get the best of both worlds.

BUT as a resident of Manhattan’s annex, I can say that many of the rarer but super cool things to do are foreign to me. Sure, I know the important stuff like all the attractions and as a concierge, I’ve been lucky to be able to educate myself in all things New York on the cheap or for frizzle but there are things that I have not done that I should. That you should. That all of us who call ourselves New Yorkers, Bridge and Tunnel folks, and Borough dwellers  SHOULD do.

I was inspired by a Facebook acquaintances’ NYC bucket list.  She’s moving and wants to cram it all in before she is no longer a resident.  I think that’s awesome.  She’s made a lot more headway than I have on the rare finds but I wonder why I spend so much time researching other cities to visit when I should be delving into my own.  Is it because working in the city demystified the magic of this metropolis?

Yeah, I think so. Maybe.  Who knows? Working in NYC amidst intense tourism steals your soul a little bit at a time.  Your love for the blinking bright lights, big city life can sometimes change when the bright lights are blinding annoyances rather than blinking excitement.

My hubs and I might move in a few years.  We’re in talks.  We’re hoping to bring everyone with us when we go.  In typical Cari fashion, I want to start planning for things.  SO I’m making a NYC bucket list.  I’m going to do all the things I send people to do everyday.  I’m going to see what stuff inspires me.  I’m going to research all the little hole in the wall cool things to see. I’m going to eat at all the restaurants I salivate over (without blowing my diet or bank account, of course).  I’m going to try to keep up with my Hubs at the Met again and try not to rush him out. Again.  I get antsy in museums but it’s the Met!  It’s humongous. You have to go like 20 times before you’ve seen it all.  I’m going to see past the beautiful Broadway theatres that I’m obsessed with and enjoy more of this city. I haven’t seen enough yet.

So stay tuned for a list! It’s gonna be huge. It’s gonna be great.  I’m going to share mine with you but share with me too!  I want to hear what your most wanteds are in NYC.  Not the obvious stuff like Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building but like Fraunces Tavern, the Transit Museum or the Skyscraper Museum and things like that!  Gimme whatcha got— can’t wait to share mine with you all!