Greatest Variations Transferring From East Coast to West Coast, Stunning


  • 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 shocked me, like that folks in LA appear to drink lower than individuals in NYC.
  • In my view, hustle tradition does 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 dwell there for the remainder of my life. I did not drive, I beloved strolling all over the place, and I assumed I would not be capable to dwell with out a grocery retailer, nail salon, dry cleaner, ice cream store, and bar close by 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 needed to expertise the “excellent” California climate that so many rave about.

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

Individuals appear to deal with automobiles like equipment in LA.


Cars on a road in Los Angeles in front of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

I did not understand how a lot time individuals spend caring for their automobiles in Los Angeles.


brunocoelho/Shutterstock

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

In my expertise, when somebody has a automotive in NYC (and may truly discover a parking spot for it), they actually solely drive it on weekends to depart 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 evening in New York Metropolis, my buddies and I often casually hopped round with out a 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 decide a spot — perhaps two — and that is the evening.

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 automobiles, or they should plan their ingesting round sobering as much as drive dwelling.

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


A close-up of two people's hands toasting with non-alcoholic cocktails.

Ingesting mocktails appears to be extra in style in LA.


Annette Riedl/Contributor/image alliance through Getty Photos

In my expertise, ingesting alcohol in LA does 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 pal group is driving dwelling from the bar, in order that they’ll be ingesting much less alcohol or sticking to mocktails.

Comparatively, in NYC, I’ve observed that persons are extra seemingly 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 for the reason that heat climate lends itself to plenty of different choices for socializing, like mountain climbing, biking, or strolling on the seaside.

Because the climate is commonly excellent, 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 an even bigger disruptor than in NYC.


Amanda Pellegrino

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

When there is a robust breeze, it is cloudy, it is under 60 levels, or it is raining somewhat, 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 jot 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 a whole lot 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 properly what all of the highs and lows of fixing seasons can seem like, and somewhat rain or wind does 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 feel individuals in LA do a greater job of prioritizing work-life steadiness.


Amanda Pellegrino

In my view, hustle tradition does not really feel as glamorized in LA because it did again dwelling.

The place being busy can translate to trying necessary in NYC — I have been that lady along with her laptop on the bar on a Friday evening — individuals I’ve encountered in LA appear to set higher boundaries to guard their work-life steadiness.

I can not assist however suppose the proper climate has one thing to do with it.

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



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