"It's getting better all the time"

Over the weekend my father asked me if New York has changed a lot in the six years I lived in California. Despite some superficial changes - (including why everyone mentions "The Shake Shack" as a location reference, something I still don't understand) - I told my father that the quality of life has improved.

Mayor Bloomberg's focus on green spaces, bike lanes and developing the waterfront is a notable change, as well as New York catching up to west coast trends of organic and natural foods. Last week New York magazine even had a 'what's hot' profile story on something I thought I'd never see in the land of big steak and cigar dinners: Vegetarian restaurants - "Vegetables are the new meat."

What has remained constant in the live-ability factor of New York is that big village feel -- the ability to just walk everywhere you want to, and being truly among the people in day to day life.

So even when our lovely fall eventually gives way to winter, the gift of really being 'in it', is something not to take for granted.