This apartment will be considered opulence for the working class by 2050

[Sterling]

21. I've lived here for 14 years now (NYC)

First year was a real struggle to find ANY place to live I could afford. The longer I have been here the more opportunity I have lucked into. I thought I had a solid plan and one day I could maybe buy a small but adequate place just big enough to maybe have one child. That seems to be more of a pipe dream all the time no matter how well I do or how much I save.

That being said I LOVE this city and would very much like to be able to live here for the rest of my life. It is a trade off. I do know a couple who raised 2 kids in a place not much bigger than mine and those kids turned out great. They just made it work. I don't think I will ever wish to trade "the city" for a burb and a yard and kids can thrive here. Not just wealthy kids either. The more young people I meet here the more surprised I am, even hopeful.

Shockingly many of these kids who are all pretty much from lower income families have a good sense of values and seem far more innocent than me and my peers growing up in the suburbs. I think it is in part because tight proximity to their parents has been a good thing for them. Where and when I grew up the culture is very different toward young adults. We were pretty much expected to move out right after high school and even as younger kids we were left to our own a lot and grew up pretty fast.

I like that families here stick together into the kid's adulthood. Still THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH!