Strongly disagree about culture and basic needs, I have two grocery stores walking distance to me (urban market, food cellar) and several delis/pharmacies, the 7 is closest but the E and M are subway options from Court Square with the N/W from Queensboro, there's a great park (Gantry), plenty of art studios, a few museums (MOMA PS1, Museum of Moving Image a few minutes away), a quick walk/uber to Astoria or Greenpoint for other nightlife or food.