I live in CT. About 1.5HRs from NYC. I'll take the train in to the city a few times a year. I can only take the city in small doses... It's cool for a day trip... But I wouldn't ever want to live there....
There is one thing that I love about the city though...
Your train pulls in to grand central station... As you exit the train and head to the main lobby of grand central. A HUGE interior with very high ceilings... The space is so large that a very unique echo resonates. It's fairly dull and mundane... People talking, walking, shuffling bags... footsteps... etc. As you head for an exit, the echo fades quieter and quieter... Then you put your hand on the door and push it open and step outside...
YOU'RE BLASTED with the sounds of taxi's beeping and busses wizzing by, the sound of car tires hitting bumps and grooves in the road. People marching down the side walks at breath taking speeds... Choas.... Newspaper, Hotdog, Pretzels, various vendors all along the streets... Most streets are like this... it's loud and chaotic.
But, then you step into a building and it's really quiet and orderly again. It's cool, you'd have to experience it.. typing it doesn't do it any justice.