I have had a lifelong love affair with New York City, and I spent over half my life there, but unfortunately, I agree with you.

It got harder and harder for people, particularly new arrivals. So many great spaces, places and people were destroyed, and not enough new ones were created. When I first came to New York City I rehearsed my band in midtown - later we got forced out to Williamsburg.

Now I hear people going as far as Sunset Park to get rehearsal rooms, except bands aren't really such a thing anymore, because most of the clubs that played live music switched away from it.

All those crazy bands I used to see - I saw thousands of music shows there! Some still exist, but mostly they have been replaced by an affluent kid with an expensive laptop and modular synthesizers sitting motionlessly and twiddling knobs.

I miss NYC but I miss New York of the past. I thought I'd come back every year after I left, but five years later I haven't been back.

Very best wishes, and I'm glad you're still there and have found an island of serenity there.