Read This Before Moving to a New City

Every place is eerily similar. That’s good and bad

If you’ve ever thought about running away from where you currently live, you should know that some things will look the same no matter where you go. This could work for you or against you.

I can see similarities between cities because I have lived in 17 places across the U.S., from Los Angeles and New York to Albuquerque, Tampa, Houston, and more. I’ve also lived in small places like Paradise, CA, with just over 2,000 people.

I was not an Army brat. Instead, I had a 30-year radio career that lived up to the theme song from WKRP in Cincinnati, which has the line, “Town to town, up and down the dial.”

Here are seven common city characteristics I learned after being a vagabond.

#1-Every city has a good and bad part of town.

This may not be obvious in some places, especially tourist towns. You only see the resorts and the clean areas when you’re visiting. Las Vegas is a perfect example. Life on the strip is fun and exciting, yet no one goes beyond it to find the seedier parts of town. If you’re downtown enjoying the Fremont Street Experience, it’s only a block or two to find the junkies and people experiencing homelessness.

Hawaii is similar. The coast of each island has the resorts, while inland is where you might want to watch your back.

Even if it’s not a tourist town, you will find areas with expensive homes and places of neglect. But you’ll soon learn where you should avoid being at night.

#2-Many people have never been a tourist in their town.

I’m amazed when I find people who have never visited the most popular places in their city — those who have never hiked the stunning trails nearby or have avoided local museums.

Even though it was close by, I found people who had never been to Disneyland, the most prominent tourist attraction in Southern California. Some claim they hate Disneyland yet have never visited. How can you hate a place you’ve never been to?

It’s not just Disney. When I lived in San Francisco, I met folks who had never walked across the Golden Gate Bridge or visited Alcatraz.

There’s a reason tourists go to these places. They’re beautiful or interesting in some way. However, you may discover when you move there that the locals will try to talk you out of visiting them.

#3-Everyone thinks their traffic is bananas.

First, it’s all relative. L.A. is notorious for heavy traffic 24/7. People there don’t think of driving in terms of miles but instead in terms of time. If someone asks how long it will take to get somewhere, it will depend on the time of day, the day of the week, and if there are accidents. Going from Anaheim to Culver City could take 45 minutes or two hours.

The biggest surprise was the perception of bad traffic in smaller places. A short drive that takes 20 minutes would be considered terrible traffic in upstate NY. Even in tiny towns, people complain about waiting for a signal more than once.

It’s all what you’re used to.

#4-Politics are the same everywhere.

From the small-town Mayor to the Governor of your state, everyone claims there is corruption and injustice no matter which political party you belong to. Every politician is both loved and hated. Every local government project is welcomed and criticized.

Issues are handled differently depending on a city’s size, but the general sentiments are the same.

#5-Every place has its slang.

If you live in the west, you drink Soda. If you live in the east, you drink Pop. Texas is an exception. Every carbonated beverage is called a Coke. Not confusing at all.

Or how about a long sandwich? It’s called a Sub on the west coast, a Grinder in some places, a Hoagie in the northeast, or a Hero in NY.

Expect to ask people to repeat themselves for a while.

#6-Every place has some form of natural disaster.

I was a Program Director in Monterey, CA, and convinced a guy from Rochester, NY, to come out and be my morning DJ. Three months after moving here, we experienced a strong earthquake. I immediately called him at home, and he said he was frightened and packing to return to NY.

I asked him what natural disasters occurred where he came from. The biggest were ice storms. People died from driving on slick roads, slipping on icy sidewalks, and being crushed by trees falling over from the weight of the ice.

It doesn’t matter where you live. Planet Earth produces hurricanes, floods, ice storms, tornados, earthquakes, volcanoes, etc. Take the time to learn what to do in each case.

#7-Everyone wants out at some point.

In Hawaii, they call it Island Fever when you visit and imagine living there. New Orleans may charm you with its music and culture. You may fall in love with New Mexico when soaring high at the Albuquerque Balloon Festival.

Everyone has dreams of living somewhere else, even those in desirable places. Maybe you believe moving will give you the spark you need to live a better life.

This happens to everyone, but it’s important to note that moving may not change your life the way you think. You may have heard that you take your problems with you, and you do. In time, your lifestyle may become similar to how you lived before, just in a different place.

I’m not saying don’t move. On the contrary, I loved relocating to new cities. It’s fun to explore. You could search for that great hole-in-the-wall restaurant or pizza joint, places to hear great music, or look for breathtaking views.

However, I’ve learned knowing what’s different and what’s not goes a long way toward helping you adapt to a new place to call home.

I write on a wide variety of topics, from health and aging to technology and writing as well as the quirks of life. Please feel free to follow me.