Movin' On Up or Movin' On Out?

In the last dozen years, G and I have lived in the East Village, Jackson Heights, Carroll Gardens, Downtown Brooklyn and Battery Park City.

Jackson Heights and Carroll Gardens were mistakes, but not because of the neighborhoods. Both places were too far from the subway.

Lesson: never evaluate the walk to the subway on a warm, sunny day. You will be tempted to say, "a bit of a walk, but I need the exercise." Take that walk on a miserable rainy, windy day and decide how much you need that exercise.

Distance wasn't the only problem. In Jackson Heights, we couldn't stand the intrusive, noisy neighbors above and below. In Carroll Gardens, new wood floors, french doors and sunlight streaming through the apartment blinded me to the tiny bathroom and lack of closets.

The East Village: we outgrew it in more ways then one. Aside from constant construction, Downtown Brooklyn was great--until we got itchy during the real estate gold rush.

It felt good to be back in Manhattan when we disembarked in Battery Park City. We like our apartment and our Hudson River view. We could lose the kids and the wind. But sometimes the West Side Highway feels like a mountain range that we don't have the strength to cross.

Of all our ex-neighborhoods, we are most likely to return to Jackson Heights. (Surprised?) Also making the cut: Astoria, Hunter's Point, Long Island City, Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, and Washington Heights.

Desirable, but mostly unattainable are: the Upper West Side, the Upper East Side (west of 1st ave), Murray Hill, and the West Village. Each of these neighborhoods have the potential to produce an affordable fluke. But are we fast enough to snag it?