Tips for Moving From the East Coast to the West Coast
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Even though you might not see it that way, moving from the East Coast to the West Coast can easily be compared to moving to a different country. I know this may sound mind-blowing since you are expecting to move from one American city to another, but it is entirely different. How different can it really be, you ask?
The fact of the matter is that the United States covers an entire continent, so even though it is all the same country – the attitudes, cultures and even the accent and language differs greatly from state to state. If you want to make it easier for yourself to understand just treat each state like a country for itself. The way the state is run, and even its laws (Texas gun law compared to other states) differ from state to state, and the further you go away from your native state – the more do these differences come into play. Imagine it as moving from NYC to California. Different people, mentality, weather, laws, income, jobs – everything!
The culture shock is unavoidable, but it is easily beaten. So do not fret since we have a few tips to make it easier for you.
Job Opportunities
The West Coast is home to a few of the largest companies you can think of. This means that, by moving from the East Coast to the West Coast, you might find unique job and career opportunities. Since we’re on the topic, let’s list a few of these companies:
- eBay
- Yahoo
- Apple
- YouTube
- Microsoft
So, how does that sound? They are hiring, maybe not all at the same time, and maybe not with the dream job you wanted – but they are hiring none the less! Aside from these giants, you will be able to find numerous start-up companies.
The bottom line is that since there are so many companies on the West Coast, the population has access to a large number of potential jobs. This provides with a larger sense of safety. Unemployment still exists, and it is being battled, but prospects are far better than anywhere else.
Price of Living
This is not something you can apply to every city on the West Coast, but the overall consensus is that it is cheaper to live there than on the East Coast. This basically means that not only will you have better job opportunities, but you’ll also have to spend less on the necessities leaving a lot more money for the luxuries that bring you joy. Also, whether you will be living alone or not will be a factor. Living alone has its pros and cons, but the rent is definitely a pro.
Please don’t mistake these words for ‘if you move to West Coast you’ll instantly get richer’ because that is absolutely not what I am saying. I am just saying that you will be getting a better value for your buck, and will have an opportunity to make more and spend less.
The Weather is Better
The East Coast has some of the more aggressive winters. Also, the East Coast is home to some of the funky stuff like the polar vortex and such. When moving from the East Coast to the West Coast you won’t have to deal with those anymore. Sure, the West Coast has its weird weather patterns, but at least hurricanes won’t be on the menu!
Now the weather varies based on where you end up going, and also where from. So if you change Florida for Oregon, get ready for some gorgeous but freezing winters. On the other hand, if you want to change Maine for Cali – there will be some getting used to the heat.
Tourist Opportunities
One of my favorite things about moving from the East Coast to the West Coast is the new opportunity to travel. I mean everyone dreamed of traveling to Asia at least once. The West Coast gives you very easy access to do so! Tokyo will be one short flight away and will no longer seem like an unreachable adventure! You now only have to fly across an ocean, no longer do you have to fly across a continent too.
Also, if you wish to stay closer to home, you’ll have the chance to see the Death Valley National Park, Disneyland, Hollywood, The Golden Gate Bridge, Yellowstone, Yosemite, etc. Plenty of fun activities you otherwise would never do.
New Sport Opportunities
Okay, this might not be aimed at every audience, but it is something I deem important to mention. Given the extreme variations in the landscape of the West Coast, going from snow-covered mountain tops to scorched deserts, there is a very wide amount of extreme sports one could do.
One of my favorites that I would mention are:
- Snowboarding
- Kite Surfing
- BMX
- Motorcross
- Paragliding
- Rock Climbing
Overall, there are lighter and more extreme versions of these, but it could be a new hobby you never knew you wanted!
Moving from the East Coast to the West Coast – The Move
In summation, moving from the East Coast to the West Coast will open new and diverse horizons. But before getting a chance to explore all of these, keep in mind that the moving process in itself is a very difficult one. Make sure to hire appropriate professionals! There are numerous things that could go wrong in a move that covers such a distance. Even a task as trivial as packing boxes can be imperative. Let professionals help you with packing your moving boxes NYC, for example. If you let professionals do the work, you’ll have more time to enjoy all the previously mentioned items!
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