Biggest Differences Moving From East Coast to West Coast, Surprising

I used to be born and raised in New York Metropolis, and moved to Los Angeles a 12 months in the past.
Some issues have stunned me, like that folks in LA appear to drink lower than individuals in NYC.
For my part, hustle tradition would not really feel as glamorized in LA because it does in NYC.

I am a born and raised New Yorker. I grew up in Queens and, after a four-year stint in Washington, DC for school, I moved to Manhattan.

I assumed I used to be going to stay there for the remainder of my life. I did not drive, I beloved strolling in every single place, and I assumed I would not be capable of stay with no grocery retailer, nail salon, dry cleaner, ice cream store, and bar nearby of my entrance door.

Then, I packed up and moved to Los Angeles. I simply felt prefer it was time for a change, and I wished to expertise the “good” California climate that so many rave about.

I knew there can be variations between life on the East Coast and West Coast, however right here are some things which have stunned me most to this point.

Individuals appear to deal with vehicles like equipment in LA.

Cars on a road in Los Angeles in front of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. — I did not know the way a lot time individuals spend taking good care of their vehicles in Los Angeles.

brunocoelho/Shutterstock

I knew Los Angeles was a driving metropolis, however I did not understand how widespread it feels for individuals right here to deal with their vehicles like massive, costly equipment. It feels just like the norm to spend vital quantities of money and time washing and caring for autos right here.

In my expertise, when somebody has a automotive in NYC (and might truly discover a parking spot for it), they actually solely drive it on weekends to go away the town — and so they’re nearly actually not souping the car up LA-style.

Bar tradition feels extra destination-oriented.

A bar with a windowed roof and string lights at dusk. — Bar tradition in New York Metropolis felt extra spontaneous than in Los Angeles.

Amanda Pellegrino

On a Saturday night time in New York Metropolis, my pals and I often casually hopped round with no clear plan.

We would have chosen a neighborhood or had a place to begin in thoughts, however we would all the time find yourself strolling a block or two to attempt to discover our subsequent hangout spot.

In distinction, I’ve discovered that Los Angeles bar tradition appears extra destination-oriented. Individuals choose a spot — perhaps two — and that is the night time.

There appears to be extra forethought and logistics concerned in night-out plans, maybe as a result of lots of people drive and do not need to depart their vehicles, or they should plan their ingesting round sobering as much as drive house.

Mocktails appear to be extra in style right here, too.

A close-up of two people's hands toasting with non-alcoholic cocktails. — Consuming mocktails appears to be extra in style in LA.

Annette Riedl/Contributor/image alliance through Getty Photographs

In my expertise, ingesting alcohol in LA would not appear as in style right here because it did in NYC.

In LA, I’ve discovered there is a robust probability you or somebody in your buddy group is driving house from the bar, so that they’ll be ingesting much less alcohol or sticking to mocktails.

Comparatively, in NYC, I’ve observed that persons are extra doubtless to make use of public transportation, so they do not have to fret about getting behind the wheel after an evening out.

It additionally feels simpler to make plans that do not contain alcohol in LA because the heat climate lends itself to a number of different choices for socializing, like climbing, biking, or strolling on the seaside.

Because the climate is commonly good, I’ve observed persons are extra sad when it isn’t.

The author's laptop on a picnic table outside. — In LA, unhealthy climate appears to be a much bigger disruptor than in NYC.

Amanda Pellegrino

Since LA’s climate is nice more often than not with a lot of sunshine and heat, individuals listed here are fast to be sad when it is something lower than good.

When there is a robust breeze, it is cloudy, it is under 60 levels, or it is raining a bit of, I’ve observed that Angelenos appear extra more likely to cancel plans or be fast to complain.

The perspective feels contagious, too. Simply the opposite week, I made a decision it was too chilly to write down in my yard and went inside — it was 65 levels Fahrenheit and sunny with a slight breeze.

I wasn’t all the time this manner, although. Throughout my time in NYC, 65 levels and sunny in March equaled lots of of individuals (together with myself) flocking to Central Park with picnic baskets, video games, and cheese boards to bask within the solar all day.

New Yorkers know very nicely what all of the highs and lows of fixing seasons can appear to be, and a bit of rain or wind would not cease them.

It looks like individuals in LA have higher boundaries between work and life.

A picnic blanket with a cooler, two salads, and two cans of beer. The picnic setup has a view of the water. — I believe individuals in LA do a greater job of prioritizing work-life stability.

Amanda Pellegrino

For my part, hustle tradition would not really feel as glamorized in LA because it did again house.

The place being busy can translate to wanting necessary in NYC — I have been that woman together with her pc on the bar on a Friday night time — individuals I’ve encountered in LA appear to set higher boundaries to guard their work-life stability.

I am unable to assist however suppose the proper climate has one thing to do with it.

Certain, this metropolis can also be full of individuals chasing their goals, nevertheless it feels quite a bit simpler to cease and take a break if you’ve acquired the California coast at your fingertips.

Source link