New York State of Mind

There are many lists out there that verify all the situations you have to experience before you are considered a "true" New Yorker.

The Kvetchettes would like to give you our own list. Please feel free to comment with additional bullets you deem relevent for this topic.

You are a tried and true, jaded and real New Yorker when you:

1. Have been in a cab expecting to be driven from point A to point B, and been told quite matter-of-factly by the cab driver that you should just get out and take the subway; there's too much traffic and he doesn't feel like sitting in it.


2. When you are in a bodega ordering your Boar's Head special sandwich, and the "house cat" traverses unimpeded through the premesis likes he owns the place, and guess what; he sort of does, or at least he owns the mice that he kills so they don't end up in your Boar's Head special. And no one blinks an eye.


3. Have had a sidewalk encounter with a rat the size of the cat mentioned above, and he literally stares you down and tells you to give him your Boar's Head sandwich.


4. Have waited in line outside on the sidewalk (close to where the rat encounter took place) for forty minutes in minus thirty temperatures, to finally get to the front of the line and pay the bouncer $40 for entry in order to get inside, pay another $8 to check your coat, an extra $4 to check your scarf (because they charge individually for each item even if they go on one hanger) and then traverse over to the bar to pay $15 for a watered down, kids-cup sized vodka tonic.


5. Have paid over $18 for a burger, over $8 for french fries and over $16 for a glass of wine.


6. Have ordered pot from a delivery service and had the delivery guy show up, sit down on your couch, and ask if he can watch Family Guy.