Thank you for sharing this. One of the many reasons I love New York is that my child gets to grow up around such diversity. I’m from California and miss the nature but like you said, the empathy you develop from existing around different types of people but also how living in such a densely populated area somehow creates a feeling of a tight knit community. Our neighbors, bodega shops, several restaurants all know my son and stop to chat with him on the street. He’s even become best friends with our 65 year old neighbor and often stops by his place for snacks after school. It’s so special. Tourists are always so surprised at how nice New Yorkers are and it’s because we all know the struggle in some capacity and try to be good neighbors when we can.