Moving to NYC from LA- help me new yorkers!

abcd1357

Hi ladies,

I'm moving to Tribeca from Los Angeles because of my hubby's new job.  We'll be moving there in July and I'm prepping myself for the big switch (never lived anywhere besides LA).  What is the best advice you can give me on how to be successful at living in the Big Apple? 

newporter

Be open to everything and very flexible.  NYC is amazing, but only if you allow yourself to be immersed in it and not fight it (it's too strong, you won't win).  Do your research so you know what to expect as far as apartment sizes, weather, cost of living, etc.  

 

Is there anything specific you were wondering about?

Will you be working?

 

It's not an 'easy' city to live in, but remember, nothing good comes easy! 

MrsDe2008

I've been to LA a few times and it is a totally different world than NYC. People in LA are much more laid back and go-with-the-flow. NYC is much more fast paced. Don't stop or you might get runned down...by the mobs of people that is. lol No seriously, NYC is a wonderful place to live. Like the pp asked...what kind of information are you looking for?

abcd1357

Thanks ladies.  Well, I'm not really sure what to ask to be honest.  It's probably best answered by someone who also has come from LA so they know what the hardest transitions are...but here are some questions...

Well, what about grocery shopping?  Sounds silly but here, we only have to go a few times per month because we can load tons of stuff up in our cars.  There, it's more challenging i would imagine without cars.  I've heard of Fresh Direct there- is that good?

Apartment size is obviously something I'm becoming more aware of.  West LA, where we are, is also quite expensive so we're used to it but I know apts are just smaller over in NYC in general.  I guess I'll need to find clever ways to make things fit into a smaller space  Any tips on good, more compact furniture places?

In terms of people, my hubby said he's worried I'll get taken advantage of or people will be "mean" to me (he's lived there for many years before coming back here).  I've heard new yorkers are just more direct while people in LA can sugarcoat more, which isn't necessarily better.  I feel like I'm being mean if I'm too direct but inside I feel it sometimes just makes more sense so I'll see how that goes.

I do have a friend who moved there from Cali and she hates it so that's why I'm a little nervous and want to start prepping myself now.  She did say that New Yorkers are much more open to social stuff than Cali folks.  For example, she said in NY, if someone says we'll do lunch next week, they actually call.  Here is CAli, that's just another way of saying goodbye and there's no intention of doing lunch  Does that sound about right for NY?  If so, that's nice to hear.

I will be working but won't look until I get there and get acclimated.  I work with children with autism so I'll have to orient myself to the types of services NY has because I know they are different out here.

Weather!  This is a big one, as you can imagine.  Extremes are foreign to me.  Cali winter clothes are just made differently.  How do you cope with the middle of winter?  THis is where I'll struggle the most probably...  I guess I'll have to start appreciating sunny, warm days more while there.

Also, can you buy a monthly subway pass?  Where?  

Ok I think that's it for now  I'm sure I'll have more ?'s later and figure stuff out when I move.  Thanks! 

AmyLR

Starting with grocery shopping...Fresh Direct was one of my favorite parts of moving to the city when I came.  Groceries delivered to your door!  We do most of our shopping there, then hit the grocery stores for little things, last minute items etc. 

Apartment  size is definitely an issue.  I moved from a four bedroom, bath and a half house, into a small one bedroom apartment.  It was really overwhelming when we were packing, but I will say it gave me "permission" to get rid of a lot of stuff that I was keeping just because I felt I should or needed to, but i found that I really didn't miss it.  In terms of furniture, we got our couches from Jennifer Convertibles. They are designed with ny apartments in mind, often coming apart into pieces to allow them to get in small elevators or up small stairwells.  

 Meeting people is an interesting thing.  I find New Yorkers to be much more welcoming.  So many people in NY are from somewhere else, that I feel like it helps people be more welcoming.  

Weather is what it is.....winter can be miserable, and this winter has been tougher than the last few.  I highly recommend a long, warm coat, good warm, waterproof boots, and good hat and gloves.  The best thing you can do is layer.  It's often really warm inside, and cold out.  

Subway passes:  You can get an unlimited monthly, they are now $104.  You can buy them at any subway stop, and at some stores.  They work on the buses too.  

Living in NYC can be a tough transition, but I made it 4 1/2 years ago (from Rhode Island), and never look back. 

 Good luck, and definitely let us know if you have more specific questions.  

newporter

I also recommend Fresh Direct.  I use it weekly for everything and pickup what ever else I should need during the week at the smaller market shops - they are everywhere.

I think New Yorkers are really nice- seriously!  They will do anything for you - it's is just that we get a bad rep because we are in a rush.  Nothing is slow here.  It's annoying to wait unnecessarily!   

A down coat is a must!  And boots. 

 

***AmyLR - where in RI did you move from?  I also moved to NYC direct from RI.  Missed it for a really long time! 

abcd1357

Much thanks ladies!  I will post more questions as they come

AmyLR

newporter- I lived in Providence for a year, then Warwick for 3.  Got married at the Casino at Roger Williams.  It was a wonderful place to get married, but this feels much more like home.  :-) 

firedancer22

abcd1357:

Well, what about grocery shopping?  fresh direct is fine, but it can be a little pricey, especially if you want organic stuff.  if you're into organic and local, i'd recommend finding a CSA (farm share) for your fruits and veggies; we've done so, and it is absolutely amazing as far as the quality of the food AND the amount we get for the money invested.  in addition, just about everything in nyc can be delivered for free or for a nominal charge, even groceries. 

Apartment size yep, they're smaller.  you will become an expert on living without excess.  it's actually a beautiful thing, though it does take some getting used to.  "the container store" is a great place for organizing closets and storage units and so on.

In terms of people, my hubby said he's worried I'll get taken advantage of or people will be "mean" to me (he's lived there for many years before coming back here).  I've heard new yorkers are just more direct while people in LA can sugarcoat more, yep, we're pretty direct.  it's not because we're rude, it's because we're in a hurry, and we often don't have time for a lot of the extraneous bullcrap.  people here will not seek you out to hassle or take advantage of you.  as far as "street etiquette":  1) don't engage in conversation with people who are begging for change.  just don't.  it's not worth your time.  2) do walk on the right hand side of the sidewalk/stairs when possible.  it makes everybody's life easier.  3) don't stop in the middle of the sidewalk/aisle at the grocery store/stairs/etc.  many people here in are in a hurry, and they appreciate when others who aren't so rushed are respectful of that.

For example, she said in NY, if someone says we'll do lunch next week, they actually call.  Here is CAli, that's just another way of saying goodbye and there's no intention of doing lunch  Does that sound about right for NY? sounds absolutely right.  if we say it, we mean it.  passive-aggression and sugar-coating do not bode well around here, because we just don't have the time or see the point in it.  we work hard here, and so we also take our free time very seriously...so if someone says they want to meet up, they probably really do!

I will be working but won't look until I get there and get acclimated.  I work with children with autism so I'll have to orient myself to the types of services NY has because I know they are different out here. i'm a teacher, but worked in the psych field in pennsylvania before i moved to nyc.  services are pretty comparable to those in CA, from what i understand.  if you have any specific questions about in-school provider services, i may be able to help you out.

Weather! like one of the PPs said...it is what it is.  in nyc, the thing about the weather is that we don't let it (or anything else, really) stop us from doing what we're doing.  there is definitely no "the sky is falling" attitude around here...we tend to pick ourselves up by the bootstrings and just keep truckin'. 

that said, this winter has been looooooong and coooooooold and so, so, so snowy.  i think the vast majority of us are sick of it and ready to move on!

wldktz10

If you have two cars, sell one if not both. You don't need a car in NYC like you do in LA. There's public transportation and cabs that will get you everywhere. And it's upwards of $400 a month to park it somewhere.

abcd1357

Thank you for the flow of great advice!!   Yep, we are definitely getting rid of our cars.  I think it's funny how many of my friends have asked me if I'm going to drive me car out there or ship it  I guess Angelenos can't fathom a life without a car but I think it will be a little freeing!  Plus, should give me a few years to work off those traffic tickets that are now points on my driving record!

subdola

I moved nearly 10 years ago from north of San Francisco, and there were a lot of strange transitions.  The apartment size was hands down the hardest at first, but you do just force yourself to get rid of your junk.  

People talk about the cold, and yeah, it can be really cold in the winter, but I was totally unprepared for the summer!  It can be SO MUGGY!  I have never experienced anything like it.  There are times when I just feel disgusting being outside on the really humid days, and we don't have AC in our living room...so I tend to hide out in movie theaters or cafe's on those days just to get away from the heat.

People here are not as rude as everyone outside of NYC thinks.  I think people are just so busy that they don't waste time on the fake pleasantries.  For example, it now freaks me out when I go to visit my parents and the grocery clerk tries to chat with me.  That never happens here, mostly they don't even look at me!  On the other hand, there's a deli near our house that we go to all the time and they know us and are quite friendly.  Sometimes they give us little food samples for free

You will find that even though this is a huge city, you can really find a niche in your neighborhood if you want, especially if you stay in one place for more than a year. 

MrsKocal

subdola - my husband is a San Jose transplant, and he has the hardest time with the humidity too.  7 years later, that's the one thing that still bothers him.  He's gotten used to the cold, the fast pace, the impatient drivers, but he can't get used to the humidity!

Finally Getting Hitched

Let me start off by saying welcome to NY. 

Tribeca? lucky you.  I'm from the Bronx which a different type of urban than Tribeca. 

Tribeca is generally the more expensive type of high rent urban.  Great for open minded young couples. Bars, clubs, diverse cultures and sexualities.  You are in the heart of hussle and bussle. go go go.

The Bronx caters to lower incomes less public funding / community involvement residence. 

Both areas have it's ups and downs but my advice to you is to choose your battles know when to say "when".