observation

I have all sorts of theories about New York (surprised?).

It is often noted that there is a large quotient of attractive people in NYC. This may be due to many factors but I used to wonder if more-attractive people were more likely to be well-received in life and be given more opportunities, and thus be successful and perhaps drawn to A-type New York. This could be. It could also have to do with the distribution of types of industries here- the high presence of theater, arts, fashion, in combination with money-making industries.

Though more at play is probably less the capital costs, and more the operations and maintenance, in construction terminology. The old saying about how it's about what you make of what you've been given. There is a lot of maintenance occurring here, it seems, by the amount of teeth-whitening, wrinkle-reducing, weight-losing ads I see above people's heads in the subway, and Bloomingdale's bags I see at people's feet.

Viva the American Dream.