Ask Jeannie: Advice from Jean Grae for December

Jean,

I live in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and I’m tired of the winter and all the train delays. I’m also bothered by the profusion of aspiring novelists there (but I’m a fan of The Believer so maybe I will eventually grow to like them, if and when they release their works-in-progress? Idk). Would you happen to know what the New York City–to–LA pipeline is all about? I keep reading about it and am thinking of switching coasts, but I’m wondering if I’m just making a superficial shift from one expensive city to another. Please help!

Casey

Brooklyn, NY

Jeannie responds:

Hi Casey. 

I’ve been a New Yorker for forty-two years, since I was three months old. That’s almost half a century! Oh shit, Casey! I am an old. As an old/Old New Yorker, there isn’t a day that goes by that doesn’t include my husband and me pondering moving out of New York City. Mostly pondering WHY we are stressing ourselves out with the cost of living here. A few job reasons, but really…[girl shrugging emoji] I think a lot of it at this point is refusing to be defeated by gentrification. Is that the best choice to make? For the next few years it will be, acting within the parameters of a three-year plan we’re working with. We have a lot of reasons to strike so many places to live from our lists, like delicious racism, or the fact that I don’t drive. (Mostly it’s the delicious racism.) 

Things could change, though, and we could end up leaving New York for other reasons. Perhaps the winds of work or our hearts will carry us to LA, the same way they have carried many of our friends. I love sun. I love work. Not too big on dying in an earthquake. I also really love seasons. Change. Enough about me! 

Here’s the basic deal: You can go. You can come back! Why not try it? New York City will be here. Rent will rise exponentially, $876,482,642,364 more dollars per month, until you return, but it’ll be here. Change is never superficial. Trying something that might be good for your heart and spirit isn’t either. This is long because it’s close to my heart and no one can tell me what the fuck to do thaaaaanks, Casey! GOOD LUCK! 

Hey,

I notice that you really dislike the word femcee; I totally understand and agree with your reasoning. Are there other words you disdain, and if so, why?

Noelle

Auburn, NY

Jeannie responds:

Noelle. 

What a lovely question! I love talking about words. I’m rarely asked about words, because...