I Have Lived on Both Coasts and Here are the Drastic Differences I’ve Noticed

I am a native New Englander and growing up, there were many regional things I became accustomed to. However, when I was in my early 20s, Hollywood was calling my name and so I left everything I ever knew for a part of the country that was, at the time, completely foreign to me. Admittedly, it was a bit of a culture shock at first and there was a lot I had to get used to. But it ended up becoming as much like home as the East Coast. Since I have lived on both the East and West Coasts, here are some of the drastic differences that I've noticed or experienced, and what makes each so special.

1. I went from four seasons to two seasons...

Coming from New England where there are four distinct seasons, it wasn't quite so when I moved to sunny SoCal in my young adult life. In fact, it was more like two seasons in Los Angeles: spring and summer. While that was fine for several years, I started missing the seasonal changes, especially the fall foliage. However, being able to lay out on the beach nearly every day in SoCal was pretty amazing! And if I ever wanted to experience a season like winter, all I would have to do was drive a couple of hours away to the mountains where I could see snow.

2. I used to think Boston traffic was bad, and then I moved to L.A.

Growing up in the Northeast, I was under the impression that the worst traffic in the country was in Boston on I-95 along with the stretch of I-95 that runs through Providence in my home state of Rhode Island.

And then I moved to L.A.

Living, working, and commuting in a metropolis like Los Angeles for many years was a challenge because of the traffic. I'm still perplexed why it would sometimes take over an hour to drive five miles. Other than that, I loved the L.A. lifestyle!

3. East and West Coast architecture differ quite a bit.

There are stark differences between the traditional architecture on each U.S. coast. On the East Coast, Colonial, Victorian, and Georgian architectural styles are the most common. There are also plenty of contemporary and modern homes there these days as well alongside historic homes and buildings. On the West Coast, you'll find more Spanish Colonial style with stucco as well as Mission Revival with red-tiled roofs and mid-century modern homes which happen to be a favorite of mine.

4. From fast-paced to a bit more laidback, the cultural differences are incredible.

While I love life on the East Coast, it can be a bit intense. Most people are also very direct, often not sparing feelings. Time is always of the essence and there's a fast pace and a sense of hurry in the air, especially in cities like Boston and New York. But that's how I grew up, and those are attributes I never really lost even after living in SoCal.

On the West Coast, while the entertainment industry is fast-paced (speaking from experience), there's also a more laid-back attitude that I grew to love. Health consciousness is a thing here, too, and people spend more time outdoors due to the exceptional year-round climate. There's also plenty of fresh produce that can be found throughout the year as well.

5. The landscapes are drastically different between the coasts.

I had grown up in a rural part of Rhode Island close to farms and spent my days off from school in the woods. Trips to New England beaches and the Appalachian Mountains were also common in my childhood. Moving West was eye-opening, with the Rocky Mountains, vast desert landscape, and some of the widest beaches I had ever seen. To this day, I love it all: desert, mountains, beaches...it doesn't matter. These differences certainly make life in the United States so interesting and so special.

Moving to Southern California was one of the best things I had done in my life. While I no longer live there (and have lived in several other states since), I have acquired a better understanding of what it's like to live in another part of the country and how each place has its own special qualities. If you've spent time on each coast, what differences have you noticed?

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