...although I do have to wonder about the wisdom of rental kayaks in the East River... (grin)

Rents in Brooklyn have risen roughly 80% over the last decade, and in certain neighborhoods like Williamsburg, the rise has been 175%. Over the same period of time, the median income of New Yorkers has dropped 5%... I'm simply wondering, "where does it end?", is all... In the form of another 'bubble', perhaps? Are all these neighborhoods simply destined to become metropolitan versions of places like Aspen, where the 'commoners' are consigned to living in trailers 40 miles outside of town?

Obviously, my perspective on this stuff is largely informed by what I'm seeing here in my neighborhood, where long-time residents who've planned to live out their retirement here are finding it impossible to afford New Jersey's ever-rising waterfront property taxes... There just seems to be no end in sight, I'm really beginning to wonder whether I'll be able to live the rest of my life here, as well...

I thought this piece in the TIMES was pretty interesting...

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/09/arts/design/rising-rents-leave-new-york-artists-out-in-the-cold.html