A Maspeth living room is transformed into a Thanksgiving dining room that can seat visiting family. Tribune photo By Brian M. Rafferty

20 something Americans:
Folks From Across The Country Adapt

By BRAD GROZNIK

Christmas will always be a special time in New York. The sparkling and always-magnificent tree at Rockefeller Center, ice skaters in Central Park bundled in matching gloves and scarves and the holiday window shopping on Fifth Avenue will always make the season merry.

But what many twentysomethings are coming to realize is there is a perspective shift the older they get and coming to terms with it is part of growing up and moving to the City.


A Homecoming

Astoria is the new home to incoming, ambitious college-graduates because of two reasons: it is still cheap and it is an easy ride on the N train to midtown Manhattan.

Like Williamsburg five years ago, these twentysomethings are changing the neighborhood for better or worse, depending on who you ask. But one thing is for certain; they are coming and not leaving anytime soon.

They come from all over the country and at no time is it more apparent how far away from home they are than Christmas.

Sean Tubridy, 24, moved to Astoria with his brother four years ago and looks forward to this season every year.

"It's my favorite time in the City," he said. "People are in such a great mood."

Like most New Yorkers, the shopping and seasonal activities are the biggest draw for Tubridy but he never second-guesses where he will sleep Dec. 24.

"I doubt I'll ever stop going home," he said. "The older I get the more I enjoy sitting around the table with my family."

Tubridy admitted to feeling antsy around the family when he was a teenager but, as an adult, that has faded.

"When I was younger, it was awkward and I couldn't wait to leave the table," he said.

Tubridy said he does not decorate his apartment for the holidays but will have a party with his friends to celebrate another year passing.


Ever-Evolving

It is still really about going home at this point for twentysomethings, Tubridy said. Going to work day after day is still a new thing and coming home is still standard. Many twentysomethings still have their rooms from when they were teenagers.

The first year out of college, Tubridy was working for a hedge fund, raking in the money.

"I remember getting my Christmas bonus check," he said. "I didn't know a check could have that many zeros."

But his holidays were cut short that year. He only got a day or two off and it was back to the grind.

The next year he had quit his job to discover other opportunities.

"That next year I was so stressed," he said. "I didn't know what I wanted to do-all I thought about was getting a job."

This year, Tubridy has a job in the nonprofit sector he is happy with and took off Christmas week to be with his family in Connecticut.

A 20-year-old Corona resident who goes by Domer Nbt said he loves having his family around on the holidays.

"When I move away," he said, "I'll find a way to come back."

But some twentysomethings are not as lucky to have family so close like Kelly Corbit, 25, who hails from Idaho.

After moving to New York last Christmas to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology, Corbit could not make it home and braved the holiday alone.

"It was really depressing," she said.

Many twentysomethings do not make a lot of money and depend on their parents to buy plane, train or bus tickets to make it home for Christmas.

Corbit said the trek home, a seven-hour plan ride, is a lot to make time for.

"The older I get the less special it is," she said. "I just have no time."

Corbit is able to make it home this year between school and a part-time job. She said she looks forward to relaxing on the couch and hanging out with the few friends she still knows who live in her small hometown.

"When I'm home, I feel I can really relax," she said. "New York can be so stressful and coming home is always so relaxing."


Bring Family Here

For those who cannot make it home, sometimes family comes to them.

Jay Mayo is a busy 21-year-old with family living in the Philippines, where he was raised.

Mayo, who shares a place with his sister in Astoria, has hosted his parents for the past month. He said his mother's cooking has offered a nice break from the monotony of junk food and City vendors.

"It's been so nice to have my parents visiting," he said.

Last year, Mayo was able to take time off as a student to fly home for Christmas but knew he was not going to be fortunate this year.

"My parents have been planning their visit, for like, eight months," he said. "There's a perspective shift when you move here and you have to deal with it."