It had been nearly 15 months between visits … but within seconds of landing at the JFK Airport in New York I had this all-familiar feeling of being at home. With cold winter reluctantly giving way to a hesitant spring, the chilly evenings were ideal for long walks prescribed by the good doctor.

At every corner there is a memory, even if some of my favorite dives have gone the way of the rotary phone. The ever-changing urbanscape, the fashion parade (despite the gloomy gray skies) and the raw energy of the city are a sensory overload, something not advisable for someone who has spent time at the hospital only recently. Yet, I came back refreshed (if not rested) with clarity that only New York can provide.

Accompanying me on the plane ride back to San Francisco was “the economic reality check” that the entire country is experiencing but of which our corner of the world seems blissfully unaware.

The visit that lasted almost a week was for mostly personal reasons and one professional reason. GigaOM, along with our investors True Ventures, Automattic, Sphere, The New York Times Co. and Hearst Interactive hosted a little cocktail party on the top of the Hearst Tower. I got a chance to make some new friends and catch up with others, including Jason “I am Live Streaming” Calacanis who live streamed the event. Thank you for coming and making it a special evening.

The event and the visit back East was a chance to get a good glimpse of New York’s vibrant digital media and thriving Internet economy. It was a very timely reminder that we should set up an outpost in the Big Apple. We are actively recruiting for writer/s in NYC, so if you are interested, drop me a note. Check out the photos from the event.