@Roberta,
I've visited NYC a few times, and enjoy the vibrancy. Remember taking my family to see the first David Letterman show, and told my family as we walked out, he wasn't going to last.
My first visit was in the late fifties, when I was being transferred to Morocco for a one year tour of duty in the USAF. While in Morocco, was able to visit Madrid, Paris and London, and the travel bug bit my behind. Have since then visited over 80 countries.
While in Morocco, we lived through sand storms that covered everything in our living huts.
We lived in Chicago (Naperville) for three years when I worked for Florsheim Shoe Company, and we had snow in April one year.
Used to own 1/5 share in a condo at Incline Village at Lake Tahoe where we used to visit year around for skiing and fishing, but when our sons lost interest, I sold our share.