Officially moving to DC!

Submitted by puregoldenhoney t3_yhgje0 in washingtondc

Good Morning! I posted in here a few weeks ago asking for advice about moving (quickly deleted haha) and just wanted to say thank you to everyone who offered advice! For those that saw it, I was the one who wanted to live within walking distance of a Trader Joe’s and wanted to know which one suited my needs the best. I ended up finding a place kind of in between Thomas Circle and Logan Circle so will be using the 14th St location. Thank you all so much again!

Today is Sunday and I got here on Thursday and kept a running list of “quirks” and things different from Denver where I’m moving from. If anyone cares I’m posting the list here! Now I know these things may be “negative” but I promise they were taken lightheartedly and all the positives truly make up for it. I’m very excited to move to your city!

  • Bikers/Runners never announce “on your left!”
  • Smoking weed so openly that clouds of smoke hit people behind you walking (i’m no stranger to consuming but i find denver folks are more considerate? or maybe it’s just pens so less “offensive” than a blunt)
  • Crosswalks don’t announce to walk/ No buttons to press
  • Outside heaters on at 6pm on a 65 degree night
  • Truck exhaust smell!!!!
  • Honking/Aggressive driving in general (think i heard more honks in my 4 days here than a year in denver)
  • Taxis
  • Everyone speaks about directions SO confidently (i am directionally challenged)
  • Cars are like fully in the crosswalks even when pedestrians have right of way
  • Cigarette smokers are so common
  • Finally, the way men brazenly stare at my body! From their cars, sidewalks, to passing conversations some of them didn’t even make eye contact haha Never been “checked out” like that before (i wasn’t even wearing anything particularly interesting)

All that said, it was a great trip and I’ll be heading back to Denver tonight and will be moving in in about 2 weeks! Thank you for the warm welcome and I can’t wait to be here full time!

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Reasons2BCheerfulPt1 t1_iudms27 wrote

Welcome. You have spotted many of our ways. A few more: When you ride the Metro, don’t stand to the left on escalators, and stand aside outside cars before boarding to let others out. And if more than 1 inch of snow is forecast, go to that Trader Joe’s and buy out all eggs, milk and bread.

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joymarie21 t1_iue0c2i wrote

You forgot toilet paper. An essential for one inch of snow.

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Southern-Caregiver-5 t1_iufelao wrote

> and if more than 1 inch of snow is forecast, go to that Trader Joes and buy out all eggs, milk and bread.

I get that this is probs a joke but pls don’t do this. Only buy what you need. It causes unnecessary panic

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lonliestnumber t1_iuetan8 wrote

Welcome to DC. Make sure you get a library card so you'll have access to the ridiculous amount of digital materials available through dcpl

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puregoldenhoney OP t1_iue4yog wrote

Adding some extra things here in this comment! My previous post I added a comment that said something along the lines of “please be nice I know y’all hate these posts haha” and a comment here that said “thank you!” was downvoted so I will do my best moving forward to not piss y’all off lmao

Here are the positives!

  • Currently at Baked & Wired and these are great! Very glad I listened to recommendations to come here instead of a more popular touristy spot.
  • I enjoyed hearing SO many different languages spoken
  • Everyone was so willing to offer suggestions and give thorough advice on where to live and what to see while here. They weren’t bothered by questions and in fact welcomed a lot more than I even had!
  • Went to Stan’s DC and loved the energy there and I feel like that’s where we really experienced the “Chocolate City” vibes with such a lively vibe
  • The buildings are so pretty and I loved that they were not skyscraper heights
  • Any folks experiencing homelessness were also very kind to me when approaching
  • Blown away by how walkable this city really is. That was my main reason for moving!

*also noting that my comment about men was for me and how they behaved towards other women as well! certainly not trying to flatter myself!

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teamuse t1_iuffxcl wrote

Don't change your behavior based on downvotes, unless you were rude or commenting off topic. Especially a down vote for a thank you. Why let the toxic people dictate your behavior?

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kudzufourdsys t1_iufdua2 wrote

You are gonna love it when we are forecasted to get our first 1/4 inch of snow. And snow holes. We are babies about weather.

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puregoldenhoney OP t1_iufeqhh wrote

It snowed in CO the day I left! I’m so excited to get back to it but did appreciate the true Autumn weather I got these last few days. I moved to CO from Nova and remembered how I always got a 2hr delay the night before when they forecasted snow and closure as soon as we woke up to a few flakes on the ground lmao

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jurgenius87 t1_iufanmq wrote

Just closed on a place in Cleveland park so I’m right there with you

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puregoldenhoney OP t1_iufb4ch wrote

Congrats! I hope you love it! I unfortunately didn’t have a lot of time to really get a read on the city as I was doing a ton of apartment showings and whatnot. This trip was dedicated to business vs pleasure. We’ll find our way soon enough, good luck!

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NewUser22031 t1_iueqebz wrote

I'll add another as a semi-recent transplant, people in DC seem to think people talking about their jobs is unique to DC.

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DfcukinLite t1_iufn7q8 wrote

It’s not. But people in DC take their job title and make it their entire personality. That, and fact that whatever you your reply is you will be judged based on your “usefulness” or title by social/career climbers.

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karmagirl314 t1_iugjm0m wrote

I’ve found that that’s a social bubble that can be easily popped.

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brodies t1_iui6q6a wrote

I don’t know why people are downvoting you, because you’re right. The title obsession and focusing only on how others can help you get ahead is far more prevalent in “Washington,” the political town and its hangers-on, than it is in DC, the vibrant city of 700,000 people living here and working in all sorts of walks of life. It certainly exists in the rest of the city, just as it does anywhere else in the world, but it being a defining characteristic of people is far more common on the Hill than just about anywhere else. That people mostly see that suggests they’re spending most of their time with those people.

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Snoo-33261 t1_iudxoob wrote

I rarely see people smoking cigarettes.

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puregoldenhoney OP t1_iudzsn0 wrote

We saw quite a few, but remember this is also compared to Denver where it seems to be even more rare! No offense meant (:

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MuchNoise3218 t1_iudozba wrote

Welcome to the east coast 😊- I feel like that explains like 80% of your list haha. Seriously though welcome to DC - enjoy and stay safe out there!

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puregoldenhoney OP t1_iugmn61 wrote

Thank you! I actually moved to Denver from nova and spent a lot of time as a kid in the southeast so i’ve lost my east coast flare 😔 hoping to get it back, though!

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guy_incognito784 t1_iufvrj4 wrote

Fun fact, at Work and Class in Denver, one of the cash registers behind the bar has a 9:30 Club sticker on it. I asked why it’s there but no one knew why or what it was.

Welcome to DC btw. Hope you enjoy it.

Also when it snows here, it all doesn’t melt the next day. If we get a big snow storm, it’s not uncommon to have mounds of snow left by snow plows stick around until late spring/early summer.

Also all hell breaks loose here whenever it snows a measurable amount so plan accordingly.

Skiing out East also doesn’t hold a candle to skiing out in CO and points west.

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puregoldenhoney OP t1_iug8xlp wrote

I also have no idea what 9:30 club is! Thank you for the welcome! Def gonna miss my CO winters 😔

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finna_JACK_dispickle t1_iujkxs1 wrote

Fantastic small venue, keep a eye on shows you might wanna go to there

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NPRjunkieDC t1_iudpxn2 wrote

For me being walking distance from a Trader Joe's is a deal breaker.

I'm in Atlanta right now . A lime is $1 at Publiks and $0.35 at the Trader Joe's a mile away

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puregoldenhoney OP t1_iudqhti wrote

just too many things i love there to give it up!

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NPRjunkieDC t1_iudqsx9 wrote

Me too. Long list . I don't shop there because of prices. DC now has Aldi and soon Lidl I think it's called. Lower end same German family .

Brothers split up like Adidas/Puma

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colorofmydreams t1_iuhzw6n wrote

When I moved from Colorado 20 years ago, learning to tell directions without the mountains always being to my west was a real challenge! Welcome to DC!

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puregoldenhoney OP t1_iui1ltd wrote

Thank you! Even with the help of the mountains as a marker I’m still horrendous at directions so this will be extra difficult! I was truly in awe at how people there know exactly what neighborhood, street name, metro line, etc to take and what direction they all run. They didn’t even have to think about it or process it! Heard some phone conversations of people yelling at the other end (someone who clearly didn’t know where they were going) and thought “oh god people are gonna be frustrated with me all the time bc i never know where i am” lmao

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ottereatingpopsicles t1_iufwfxa wrote

Runners announce “on your left” in Denver?? I’ve been running a long time and in a few places, I’ve never experienced that being a thing.

It’s definitely a thing for bikers though I always panic trying to remember which side is my left or right.

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puregoldenhoney OP t1_iug9832 wrote

Seems like a very decent amount like to announce it! But even if it were just the bikers I will still definitely miss the courtesy haha

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hirscheykiss5 t1_iuggg3c wrote

Georgetown resident here for 3 months (and as long as I’ve been living in DC). 1 and 9 are the ones I identify with most strongly. Especially 1 on the P Street path that runs through Rock Creek Park. I get off that path as quickly as I can to avoid the crazy bikers. Take my life into my own hands doing that, I tell you. I still love the city and am excited for my next chapter here to continue :)

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puregoldenhoney OP t1_iuglijy wrote

It will definitely be an adjustment! So glad you’re loving it and I completely relate to that excitement for the next chapter! Hope it turns out well for you in the end!

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DCGinkgo t1_iugny20 wrote

I had to lol on 65F/heaters. Saw somebody today with earmuffs...in October. I truly feel for non cold weather natives when the highs are in the mid 30s.

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puregoldenhoney OP t1_iugo8bk wrote

i’m literally anemic and run cold generally and was sweating in some places bc the heat was so high! very excited to see how it plays out in actual winter haha

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JustHereForCookies17 t1_iuj300w wrote

Humidity is a bitch, regardless of what the thermometer says. Welcome (back) to living at sea level!

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puregoldenhoney OP t1_iuj3pur wrote

thank you!!! even in October waking up felt SO different than dry CO. mentally preparing myself to get used to humidity again 🥴 i read a couple times on here that August seems to be the most brutal and the city is kinda empty so maybe i’ll get a jump on planning a trip for then haha

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JustHereForCookies17 t1_iujs8kc wrote

That's a good plan. I'm from here but briefly lived out in the Tetons. My first visit back east to DC felt like walking into a damp washcloth.

However, it turns out 500" of snow a year is NOT my cup of tea, so I'm back in DC.

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JonohG47 t1_iugpvsa wrote

> Honking/aggressive driving in general…

I grew up in New Hampshire. In my younger days “going into the city” meant driving into downtown Boston. Storrow Drive during the afternoon rush hour has a certain Witness Me quotient that DC’s sedate drivers do not match.

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Glittering-Ad1278 t1_iuhdi6p wrote

The blatant stares and cat calling from men are on another level here. Never experienced anything like it and it’s honestly unnerving

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puregoldenhoney OP t1_iuhzb6v wrote

Definitely! I was with my mother and they still had no shame! This type of stuff isn’t unique to DC men but I was taken aback at the boldness. I’m used to men near me at least trying to be more subtle/smooth/whatever I guess?

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nanisi t1_iuerm4x wrote

Truck exhaust smell!! Ugh, yes, the worst!!

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GenericReditAccount t1_iuez1lf wrote

I cannot wait till all the commercial diesel trucks go electric. Imagine a world without the smell or noise of diesel.

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puregoldenhoney OP t1_iuf7fwt wrote

we have tons of big trucks in Denver but they never smell the way the ones in DC do! i was shocked how strong it was

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[deleted] t1_iuf2roq wrote

[deleted]

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puregoldenhoney OP t1_iuf8gsn wrote

I’m confused what you’re asking! I’m moving from Denver to DC and very happy with the choice! These things are all minor changes to get used to and just a part of a new city. They would likely be different anywhere I moved to and are certainly not dealbreakers (:

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districtsyrup t1_iuiund3 wrote

> Bikers/Runners never announce “on your left!”

They do. Source: have been here more than 4 days.

idk maybe Denver is different, but most cities you can't get to know in a long weekend.

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puregoldenhoney OP t1_iuiyz1m wrote

I’m not at all implying I truly got to know this city in 4 days. Just made note of things that were distinctly different to my time in Denver. Enough (meaning all that I came across) bikers/runners came up behind without saying anything that I made note of it. I didn’t realize these simple little things were sore subjects to residents! These notes are not at all indicative of character or inferiority vs superiority just a “you say tomato i say tomato” type thing (:

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districtsyrup t1_iujk441 wrote

> I didn’t realize these simple little things were sore subjects to residents!

Why are you being shady lol? I'm just letting you know that bikers/runners do say on your left. Maybe not the 2 you met over the past 4 days, but they do. It's super weird of you to make absolute statements and then claim it's because they're "sore subjects" when people call you out on your unnecessarily absolute statements. That's all.

Also, your faulty logic is not an excuse to run/bike without saying on your left fyi.

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