The real marvel here isn't simply that New York seduces quickly—it's Wolfe's claim that *time doesn't deepen belonging*. You arrive as a stranger and within minutes the city claims you wholly; five years later, you're no more "yours" than you were on day one. This suggests something almost unsettling: that New York operates on a principle of instant totality rather than gradual accumulation, that you either fall under its spell immediately or you never do. If you've ever watched a newcomer to the city—eyes wide on the subway, suddenly moving faster, suddenly speaking differently—you recognize what Wolfe means: they're transformed not by learning New York's rhythms, but by being absorbed into them the moment they arrive.