As many as you may or may not know, I have lived on Long Island my entire life up until a few years ago. In March of 2006, I made the move all the way across the country to Las Vegas, Nevada. If you’re read my book, Finally Home: Lessons on Life from a Free-Spirited Dog, then you’ll remember the horrific car-ride that I described and somehow, lived to tell about!
Have you ever moved far away from your comfort zone? I wonder if you had felt the same shock that I did. I didn't know what to expect when moving away!
The move wasn’t a bad change; it was just a different change. When you are used to a way certain things are done or how certain people act, it takes some time to get acclimated to new surroundings.
In addition, I had never been the new kid in town, so the New Yorker in me was skeptical about meeting new people, weeding out the scam artists and those looking to take advantage, as well as keeping the "good" people. I'm not a trusting person by nature so when people got too chummy too fast, promising the sun, the moon and the stars, I bailed. Needless to say, it took a while to make friends, but the ones who were low-key and unassuming turned out to be wonderful people. I suppose the skepticism comes from reading tons of true-crime books over the years, but that's an entirely different story.
Aside from the people, however, there are other differences that took some getting used to.
What to Expect When Moving Away
Food:
While Las Vegas is filled to the brim with restaurants of every kind, there’s one thing that just cannot be emulated: NY Pizza and NY bagels.
For New Yorkers, you’ll be nodding your head in agreement. If you never had New York pizza or bagels, you’re probably wondering “what is the big deal?” All I can say is visit New York and you’ll see!
Weather:
Here’s the one main reason I moved. Ahhh- almost year round beautiful weather. New York has four seasons of very diverse climates. New Yorkers are no strangers to snow, rain, hail, and humidity.
Though this is no surprise to anyone, Las Vegas is rarely humid and it rarely rains or snows. Well, unless it is the year 2008 when it snowed eight inches here while New Yorkers enjoyed a fairly mild winter!
The rest of the year—aside from two or three months of a hot summer— is beautiful. The sky here is the bluest I have ever seen and at night, you can see almost every star, or though it seems!
Of course, you can’t beat the Long Island beaches and east end wineries, but that’s a good enough reason to visit a few times a year!
Culture:
Visit Manhattan and you’ll experience amazing art and history museums, exquisite cuisine and historic buildings; everything that would be considered antiquated and knocked down in Vegas.
In Vegas, everything is neatly manicured, pretty and for the most part, new. For me, sometimes that is refreshing, other times, I miss the old buildings!
One thing I miss is actual New Yorkers. I’ve heard people stereotype New Yorkers as “rude.” I see it very differently.
I never perceive myself or any other New Yorker as rude- just upfront and honest without the sugar-coating. It’s not a bad thing. Really. I guess we are always in such a rush to get things done, we don’t have the time to beat around the bush! I have found myself finishing sentences for people when I am in a rush, oops, though it is something I have made a point to stop doing (although I do slip up every once in a while)!
Stability:
One very odd thing I have noticed since I have moved here is that it is a very transient city, at least from the people I have met. One day they are here and the next day they are gone, either to move back to their hometown or to greener pastures.
For that reason, it can get quite lonely when the good friend or neighbor that you hung around with has suddenly left town!
There is, however, a great sense of community. Well, at least amongst animal lovers. There are many animal rescue groups in the valley and a dog park on almost every corner. Some restaurants allow dogs to sit on the patio and dine with their owners. I didn’t find that to be the case in New York and that was one of my biggest complaints.
Nightlife!
I laugh every time I get on a plane traveling from anywhere back to Vegas. More times than not, you’ll encounter the partiers screaming “Vegas!” Then, if they find out I live here, they act surprised as if no one could possibly live here.
It’s funny because there is so much more to do here than just visit the strip, gamble and drink. Vegas has some of the best hiking trails and outdoor activities I have ever encountered! Mount Charleston even has skiing and seems like a world away.
Red Rock is absolutely beautiful and serene.
Want to visit the Hoover Dam? Why not take the boat ride on Lake Mead?
Wildlife:
Is that a coyote? Brace yourself Long Islanders. The coyotes will cross your path in a pack and howl as if they are auditioning for the next horror movie.
Bats are common, as are scorpions, lizards, roaches and crickets. I have yet to encounter a snake (nor do I want to), but they do exist here, as well.
In summary, if you are ever thinking of making a move, realize the type of place that you are moving to and be prepared to make adjustments to your lifestyle. It will help you adapt that much quicker.
Have you ever moved away from home? If so, what new things did you encounter?
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