I live in New York. But technically, I do not live in New York City. You do not live in New York City if you have to drive some miles before you get to the nearest subway station. That was what I did yesterday. I went to the city.

It was my first time in over six months. I tend to go to the city during the summer or at Christmas when visitors come and want to visit Time Square.

This time, I went to midtown area. I was pleasantly surprised when I got into the E train at 71st – Forest Hill station. The train was clean. It even had a monitor that tells you the next stop. The announcement was done digitally. It was clear that you could actually hear where the train stopped and what connection you could get from there.

Those who live in other major cities of the world may find it surprising. But New York City trains are notoriously dirty. At several stops, you cannot make out what the announcer is saying. Many trains have no useful map of the subway and if they do it is so crowded that it is hard to see it from where one stands. I remember that in London the map of the Underground is always handy. The same cannot be said of New York. So I was pleasantly surprised at things that have changed since the last time I was in the City.

People in the train were civil and quieter than I remembered the last time I was there. No one came in to sell cookies, to beg for money or to preach. I looked around and saw that one-third of the people in my coach had their ears plugged. They were playing with their ipods. I bet you, the social scientists have not studied this aspect of the ipod revolution.

I stopped at Lexington Ave by 53 St Station and took a walk up 3rd Ave. Wow! I was surprised. There were beautiful people on the street. They smelt pretty too. They were also rich people everywhere. I saw men wearing expensive suits and shoes and watches. The girls had their expensive boots, bags, and eyelashes.

People were having coffee, eating lunch, smiling. Pleasant. The economic meltdown must have been overblown. No frown faces. No whiner. No one seemed worried that a terrorist would be tried in New York. The streets were clean. The city smelt good. No rowdiness. Unlike Newark and Jersey City or for that matter, any place in New Jersey.

I could not help to say, let Mike Bloomberg be mayor again. Who cares? Whatever works.