[zerkten]

What would you propose as an alternative strategy?

The billing rates tend to be high to compensate based on my experience with consulting. There is no city in the world like NYC, and it has so much to offer. That's not to say there aren't constraints of different types, but it can be an amazing place to live and do business.

I'm a Northern Irish guy now living in Philadelphia. I think in a lot of ways it is now much more preferable to NYC for me. Anytime I go back to NYC I feel completely energised by the environment.

[MoBattah]

I've never been, I am ignorant.

Alternative - Tech cities with moderate cost of living or suburbs of the majors. So..Texas Triangle (Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio), Research Triangle Park (Raleigh-Durham), Chicago.