I've spent my life living kind of all over, but the majority has been spent in Greensboro, North Carolina (or right outside in the suburbs of North Carolina's third largest city). I spent some time in New York last week, and discovered that there are some key differences between life in a "big" city in North Carolina and an actual big city like New York City.
1. Transportation.
In a big city, you walk, you take the subway, or maybe you take a taxi. Meanwhile back at the ranch in a smaller city you're driving all the time. On the bright side, you're not too likely to end up in a situation like Chandler's, but you also don't get quite as much exercise, and you definitely don't get quite the experiences.
2. Performances.
In a big city, you might get some really impressive live music. You might also get some really weird stuff. More often than not though, it's relatively impressive. In a smaller city, you're much more likely to get a school choir, Girl Scout Troop, or maybe someone still in school hoping to make it big. Certainly no Phoebe Buffays on the street though.
3. Manners.
Manners in a place like Greensboro are please, thank you, following signs, and speaking at a reasonable level at all times. In a big city, manners doesn't seem to have any meaning. Basically, you can say and do what you want, and nobody knows you. If nobody knows you, I guess it doesn't matter what you say or do.
4. Clothes.
It seems like a lot of the people in a big city like New York are thinking this. In a smaller city, dressing like you're at the gym to go everywhere is totally okay, but for a big city everybody seems to dress to impress (at least most of the time).
5. Eating.
In a big city, food has a story. And like Joey, we wonder, can we eat it? But at the same time, the story makes the food special, and the fact that chains don't dominate the scene makes eating out more fun. In a smaller city, there are lots of chain restaurants, and there's not much variety.
6. Tourists.
In a smaller city, there's not a big sense of adventure. People just see what they'll see and are happy with it. In a big city, there are landmarks and museums and places from movies. There are tons of things to see and do, and everybody wants to have their own adventure.
7. Nature.
In a big city, the outside and nature means parks. There are lots of them, but they're all quite small, and usually center around monuments or architectural features. In a smaller city, houses are on big lots where there's plenty of space to "be outside". Parks have running trails and are pretty gigantic.
Big and little cities both have their merits, but there's something about a chance to take a break and be in the other for a little bit.