Your doing it, you've done it: the bright lights, the hustle and bustle--they're yours now. You've made yourself a part of one of humankind's sociological phenomenons: the metropolis. Welcome to the city--your city, and if you take nothing else from these words remember that: It's your city...

Step 1: The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

Finding a place to hang your hat is the first and most important step in making a home in the city. Ultimately, no matter how popular you are, no matter how hard you work, your place of residence is where most of your hours will be spent. Setting yourself up in a safe and comfortable environment is the most critical and crucial move one can make in the process of joining the city folk. The more hands-on research that can be done the better--never take a real estate company's word or an internet photo at face value unless you're prepared to move into a place very unlike the picture painted in your head. You can do the legwork yourself or It's relatively easy to track down real estate companies that will personally escort you to some of your top choices for little-to-no fee. A chance to get a feel for the space, the building and the neighborhood before you commit to a lease can be priceless. Your gut should tell you the same, but be as circumspect as possible when picking any roommate[s] if your situation requires teaming up. You'll be inevitably sharing some indescribably unique moments in close quarters with the selection[s] you make--for better and for worse: so again, trust your gut. Also try and hang onto as many of the boxes you move with as possible. Unless you've pinned the tail straight on the metaphorical donkey you're probably gonna move again in a year or two or three when you have a better feel for the layout of the city as it pertains to your needs and wallet. Boxes can also be lived in if the roommate thing turns into a disaster; furthermore they're great for fort building and whatnot if you're bored and broke.

2) To Beep or not to Beep: the question of the car

It goes without saying [a completely oxymoronic statement] that each city is as unique in its layout and nature as the proverbial snowflake. There are a handful of major American cities that almost require a car in order to get the most out of life there. However with the exception of these few, most large cities have entirely comprehensive systems for public transportation and one can get anywhere he or she aims with two feet and a pass. It's probably an unwise investment to buy a car before you move to the city. If you spend some time in said city and find you need a car to comfortably get around then you'll be missing out on some of the trials and tribulations that make city livin' the unique experience it is and you'll also get hassled for rides by friends. The reality is that bad things often happen to unguarded property in the city and a lot of paint, fenders and stereos go by the wayside in the night [depending on vigilance]. Once you know your way around a bit, it's hard to beat a bicycle for getting around, a lot of big cities are extremely well adapted for traversing on two wheels--you'll save money, save time and get a remarkable amount of fitness going with the ol' two wheeler [a win, win, win]. There is also the added benefit of joining an inevitably interesting social facet of your city--the bicycle people: folks that generally share camaraderie as they share the road. If you choose the bike, make sure you do wear a helmet because idiots don't wear helmets and you're not an idiot; regardless of the city cars are often inconsiderate of cyclists and you will get a sense rather quickly just how "Bike Friendly" your city is. Gas prices and green initiative being what there are more and more large cities encouraging their residents to bike.

3) Papa's/Mama's Brand New Bag

Even if you're not cycling you're gonna need a bag. In general the ladies seem to be ahead of the game on this one; fellas, if you don't have something with some volume that you can carry comfortably for an indefinite period of time you need to get a bag, satchel, manpurse, backpack: whatever your senses of style and utility can come to an agreement on. Ladies and Gentlemen it's crucial you keep your trendiness on a leash as far as size is concerned: to a reasonable extent, the bigger the better. You never know when the grocery bag is gonna bust, when you want to hit the gym [or the club] straight from your occpation, or when those sweet shoes you keep walking past en route to work get 75% knocked off etc... Inside this essential tool of city livin' you need to install a map of the city [particularly including a Mass Transit map--available for free in stations all over your city], a backup transit pass, and sundry other items dependent on lifestyle [water bottle, change of shoes, small umbrella, portable music apparatus, leisure reading, etc...] with generally enough room to carry, y'know--work or schoolbooks or sculptures or whatever parcels are linked to your moving about the city in the first place--your city, remember? If you choose to ride a bike around your city you'll probably find that a "messenger bag" will fit the bill nicely. Fortuitously it also turns out that messenger bags are chic these days and so not only will you have more than enough space for all of the above, but you'll be trendy as well.

4) Putting Yourself on the Map

It's hard to stress how valuable the knowledge of a general map and/or a public transit map can be. It's essential to know your way around this city of yours and having a geographical sense of the layout and an understanding of the way the Public Transportation System is dispersed. Interestingly, no matter how well you think you get that information memorized you are inevitably going to have to consult a map at some point, even if it's to be an upright citizen and aid the obviously lost or to help that cute lady or fella find her/his subway stop. Maps are truly good things in the city; there's essentially no rational reason not to carry both the knowledge and the article itself [for both your own usage and the helpful visual aiding of the populace]. If the following is not a statistically documented fact then it should be: nothing makes one feel more like a local [and a good person] than helping someone else out with directions. Some people think maps are for tourists and they're mistaken--getting lost is for tourists [though upside-down maps are actually for tourists]. Furthermore, it's no shock that big cities are comprised of areas that you do want to be in, areas you kinda don't want to be in and areas that you definitely do not want to be in--all of which can also vary depending on darkness. The solution to navigating these nebulous neighborhoods: again, maps--simple as that.

5) When in Rome [or other large cities]

Enough cannot be said for reading the local free press and generally [though certainly not a rule] the larger your city, the wider the variety of free alternative press is at your disposal. Read these. Most of them also have online manifestations and given the fact that you're reading these very words it's likely you'll have no trouble accessing them. Many of them boast an extraordinary high level of journalism as well as social savvy, and even if they don't quite have their finger on the pulse of your city they'll at least give you an indication as to where the pulse is. Such publishing, combined with the internet is an ideal place to begin as you seek out the coffeeshops, bars, gyms, clubs, groups, and recreation that will help you decide how to construct a tailored social life in these new surroundings. Furthermore, never hesitate to take it a step further and ask strangers for their own input. City folks get a bad rap for being antisocial--they're not, they're just distracted. It turns out more often than not that people love telling you about their own favorite places in your city [it's funny, they seem to feel it's their city too]. Of course these interactions can be hit-or-miss as far as valuable information goes, but you'll learn of new destinations to check out and you may even find yourself making a friend or two.

6) Fortune favors the Bold [and also the people that walk around a little bit]

Perhaps the most obvious advice in the whole playbook--yet necessary to drive home: get out and explore your city. Visit the places you hear about, go to several clubs in one night, see the bands that are being written up. Forget Starbucks ever marred the planet--you can drink cheaper, better coffee, espresso and tea made by people that actually enjoy making coffee, espresso and tea--in cafes that employ different themes and color schemes depending on the cafe, no less!. Remember that you live in a city now--the good things come to where you are! There's no more need for fast food when the same price can render terrific food and lots of it from a guy or gal that'll start to know your name after a couple visits. Ethnic communities serve food as delectable and authentic as in their native lands, museums have art that you've seen before in class or in movies. Your city probably has at least one professional sports team--maybe six or seven! Go to a game even if you're not a fan--it's part of the fabric of your new home and live sports are a whole different ballgame altogether anyway [pardon the pun]. They actually have theater where you are now. Movies open on Tuesdays sometimes or at least one or two Fridays before they get rollin' in the rest of the country. You'll realize that you've set down some roots in a place so full of life that going home to visit family can feel like a camping trip. Your city is a wonderful thing, and if you can keep yourself from taking the special things for granted, you'll find that the vibrance of a big city is one of the only truly renewable resources we're dealing with these days.