If you want to read what this series of posts is all about, go here.

Disclaimer:

So I thought I’d do a pros and cons for each of the cities (NYC and LA) based on 15 categories of my choosing – i.e the kind of things that are important to me about a place that I chose to live. For example, since I don’t have any children, so you won’t see “education” on the list, but I do love to eat sandwiches, so “food” will definitely be on the list.

Keep in mind these are MY pros and cons…pros and cons that I have come to after living in LA for five years (2000 – 2005) and then living in New York for five years (2005 – 2010).  This is intended to be a fun (and funny) list, and is not to be taken seriously, but I hope some of you, especially those of you who have lived in both places (or experienced them) will enjoy it. Come back tomorrow for Round 6.

05.  PETS

I have been craving having a pet that’s not a goldfish for a long time now.

I used to want a dog, and though I still want a dog I’ve become a bit obsessed with kitties (this is mostly Adam’s fault).  I’m getting old…I want to be a grown up that has a pet and maybe access to outdoor space that doesn’t also belong to the rest of the world.  These things don’t seem to be possible in NYC the way they might be in LA.

Reasons why I can’t have a cat in NYC:

My current apartment is stuffed to the gills, with not a square inch of space available for a litter box.

My apartment gets zero air flow and cross breeze, even when it’s windy outside (though I will never understand how this is possible).  So the smells that are in this apartment?  Are REALLY in this apartment.  It’s bad enough with two people in here…adding a pet is not a good idea.

This apartment is small…it’s two people living in 450 Square Feet…450 well laid out, well organized square feet, but still.  I’d feel bad adding a pet to that equation.

I’m broke all the time, which is not a good environment to bring an animal that needs food and toys and likely regular medical care (which I don’t even get) into.

Technically I’m not allowed to have pets in this apartment (though it doesn’t seem to stop some people).

Reasons why I can’t have a dog in NYC:

All of the above “cat” reasons, plus I live on the fourth floor and am way too lazy to take a dog out as frequently as he needs and deserves.

Plus, I don’t want to add to the piles (and smells) of shit, even though I’d always clean up after my dog, that line NYC streets with regularity.

Do some of these apply to LA?  Sure, but based on where and how I lived in LA previously (in ground floor apartments in neighborhoods conducive to walking pets, in large roomy apartments, with windows that frequently caught lovely breezes) that it’s much more doable, realistic and less painful in LA than NYC.

I REALLY want a cat, hence – Advantage:  LA