We literally can't all drink from a cup.

You do not deserve these downvotes or this criticism. Like all social institutions, the PATH is the result of the community that made it. It's absurd to say it's not Jersey City's problem, even if it's not directly under the control of the Jersey City government.

I lived modestly comfortably in a Journal Square studio from 2018-2021 on $55k, BUT I did move out due to my roommates, who were a variety of species of vermin - so I was probably on the lower end of the spectrum.

Not in Maine, so normally I don't get issues with this, but a few weeks back I had the MOST amazing DD call. The driver pulled into an apartment complex. (I do not live in an apartment complex.) I could see on the map that she was slowly driving around in there, so I called and told her I wasn't in the complex. I told her when she pulled out to head TOWARDS a particular street. She opted instead to turn AWAY from that street without any comment, and it took a solid block and a half for her to understand what I was saying to her about that. Once she got it, she wanted me to tell her how to turn around. Once correctly oriented, she then proceeded to drive slo-o-o-owly past my building on her right looking earnestly to the left and in front of her only while I described her car to her asking if that was her. (Example dialog: Me (correctly): Are you in a jeep? A jeep SUV? Her: No. ... it's ...it's black.) When she finally pulled up, she stopped right in the active road and proceeded to tip my whole order sideways so she could fit it out of the one-third opened driver's side window.

Get real bagpipes and truly commit to the bit.

It seems a little strange to me that your friends would say not to take a picture of a cute cat - I'd consider that entirely normal - and it makes me wonder: is it possible there was something ELSE about that photo they were talking about? If you got very close to someone's window, close enough to see well inside their home, or took a picture from that close, maybe that's what they were advising against? If not, I'd say your friends are wrong about what reasonable boundaries are or are even fucking with you.

I can't properly express the joy that just came into my heart to finally see this question in this sub WITHOUT a spotted lantern fly pic attached.

My dad learned a trade at BIW in the 80s and worked there until retirement a few years ago. My impression is that he really hated it. He felt so disrespected and disregarded by his management, and he felt so out of place among his coworkers - people who were generally crude and cruel to him and thoughtless. And probably most of all it thoroughly wrecked his body. He has been dealing with chronic, untreatable pain as a direct result of his work there since at least the 90s.

I am a white collar professional also struggling with my career options, but after seeing his experience, whatever else happens to me, I will NEVER take that path.