For the last few hundred years in New York City, there have been three “classes” – the ultra rich, the middle class – and the very poor. But for the last few years, this City has done a delicious job in eliminating that middle class to make sure that this is a City of “haves” – and “have nots.”

In today’s New York City, people either have everything they want and need – or nothing at all. I wish I knew what happened to bring about this trend, but I do not. All I do know is that if you are not very rich – you are very poor – and I find that to be very sad.

Living in this City is very difficult, with the cost of living higher than anywhere else and the salary levels lower than anywhere else. I have friends all over the world, and they always ask me how I can live in New York City without either going bankrupt – or going crazy. With cigarettes nearly eight dollars a pack, gas close to three dollars a gallon and rents over one thousand dollars a month – it takes a lot of chutzpa to be able to endure life in “The Big Apple” – but somehow – I trek on.

Whenever I travel, I am astounded by the cost of life outside of “The City That Never Sleeps.” For example, when I went to visit my friend Mary in Florida a few years ago, her friends James and Chris were renting an apartment twice the size of mine for half the rent. When I went to Ohio, my friends Tom and Carla owned a house that they bought for a price that was cheaper than my mother’s co-op. And when I visited my friend Summer in Georgia – she told me how much her mother paid for her house – and I realized you couldn’t buy a cardboard box here for that amount of money.

I realize that this town has “everything” – but that is still no excuse for what it costs to live here. Granted, this is New York City, but if you are not a millionaire – living here is impossible. Without exaggerating, you would need an income of at least nine hundred dollars a week to even exist here – and that existence would be minimal. But in order to “live comfortably” – you would need to make at least four thousand dollars a month. Right now, I just have the bare minimum, which includes an apartment, cable, an internet connection, a phone, gas and electric – I am paying close to two thousand dollars a month – and I am certainly not rich. So if you are not one of the “privileged” – living in this City is not for you.

Recently, I have gotten three different offers to move out of New York and “start a new life.” One in California, one in England – and one in Alaska. To be honest, I have always been a proud New Yorker and someone who was in love with his hometown. But as of late – I have been giving serious thought to getting the hell out of New York and living in a town that allows people to live without impossible odds against them…

…and if all works out – I might not be a New Yorker for much longer.