I've lived here long enough that my mental map has calcified. Work, apartment, favorite restaurants, the gym. Efficient routes between known destinations. The kind of tunnel vision that develops when a place becomes familiar.
But there's a whole other version of this city I've systematically avoided: the touristy parts, the odd corners, the experiences that locals skip because "we can do that anytime" (and therefore never do).
The Tourist Experience
I want to see the parts that are touristy, to experience what draws millions of people here. There's probably something valuable in understanding what makes these places magnetic to outsiders while invisible to locals.
The major landmarks. The observation decks. The stuff that feels too obvious to bother with.
Culinary Exploration
New York has so many good food, and I want to try them. I want to experience food that I have not had before, from countries that I have not learned anything about.
Parks and Odd Spaces
The islands. The elevated parks. The piers beyond the popular ones. The major parks beyond their most-trafficked sections. Green spaces on weekdays instead of weekends.
The city has remarkable public spaces, but I've only seen the ones that fit conveniently into my existing routes. Time to actually explore the system rather than just knowing it exists.
The Meta-Project
I want to break out of the optimization trap and experience something new. Seeing familiar places through unfamiliar frames. Trading efficiency for exploration.
I want to be curious again.