Everyone expects the steep rent and the notorious highway traffic, but the real shock of moving to California is actually how quickly the state manages to completely exceed your wildest expectations. Newcomers are constantly blown away by the surreal geography, realizing that the urban legends of surfing in the Pacific Ocean and snowboarding down a mountain on the exact same afternoon are entirely true. Beyond the unbelievable postcard landscapes, there is an infectious, deeply optimistic energy baked into the local culture that completely rewires how you approach your daily life. To prove that the West Coast truly delivers on its massive hype, Here are 30 of the most surprisingly positive culture shocks people experienced after officially making the ultimate leap.
“So many beautiful places close together.”
“I have actually surfed, snowboard, and camped all in one day in the past”
“Los angeles has so many donut shops.”
“They’re on practically every street corner. Ive lived several other huge cities and never seen anything like it.”
“Moved from lower Alabama to San Francisco.”
“The green spaces were amazing. Everyone was active and outside. So many Asian food options, and all were reasonably priced. How beautiful driving up the coast is. How cold it is in July. How efficient public transport is.”
“They mostly dont seem to be aware of the rivalries with other states.”
“Texas wont shut up about California. California doesnt even mention Texas”
“Moved to Los Angeles (Santa Monica) from suburban Pennsylvania, where I grew up.”
“The wellness-focused lifestyle and how put together everyone is was immediately noticeable. The diversity of food options and cuisines blew my mind. Followed by the amazing landscapes and natural beauty.”
“I was surprised my car insurance”
“utilities and tuition was cheaper.”
“I was financially comfortable”
“the higher taxes and COL weren’t really an issue. My family/friends back on the east coast spend it way out of proportion.”
“I think Californians are in a better mood.”
“We arent dying from humidity. We get dry heat which is still a** but at least our lungs can function.”
“The difference between the coast and inner California. “
“Also, the sheer amount of trailer parks vs the south.”
“So much amazing food!”
“I had no idea half this stuff was out there.”
“Dog parks…dog parks everywhere.”
“Bigger parks and more parks in general.”
“The people were all extremely chill and much healthier than most of america”
“I thought it was a miserable before I got sent there in the military for a year but it’s easily the nicest state in the country.”
“I was surprised there was toilet paper in the public restrooms at the beach!”
“I just remember being surprised and feeling like it was pretty luxurious not to have to carry your own”
“How quickly I could buy a new car and house”
“5 months new car, always had used before. 2 years back and I bought a house.”
“In nice suburbs, all of the landscaping is nice.”
“Your gas station has roses.”
“That education was considered a positive thing for the state”
“And the number of unionized jobs.”
“The real, tangible, visible benefits of paying taxes.”
“Free school meals for all, free after school childcare, functional freeways, nature preserves, parks and protected green spaces, etc.”
“I’m a teacher”
“The job is easier, the pay is better, and the benefits are better.”
“I learned that being obese is normalized in a lot of the US”
“Especially poorer regions. I’ve got multiple family members heavier than anyone I’ve met in California.”
“The culture.”
“Moved from Phoenix in ~1998, to SF Bay Area for a job. There were only a handful of Latinos, Asian, and Black kids in my HS. The melting pot of the Bay Area was hard to acclimate to. I love it now, and don’t really like being in Phoenix anymore.”
“I was really behind in school”
“The students in california were a bit more advanced and there were way better programs and classes than I was used to.”
“I was surprised how spread out it is”
“I thought the cities would be denser.”
“public school lunches”
“In california are amazing compared to the moldy public school lunches in KY and O”
“The weather.”
“I know it would be better but I didn’t know it would be that much better. Also, how accessible nearly everything is from beach to mountain to hiking just 10 minutes away. It’s truly amazing.”
“The opportunities here are insane.”
“The competition is also insane too.”
“The cost of living definitely lived up to the hype, but so did the opportunities.”
“It made me understand why so many people stay despite the prices.”
“I expected amazing weather and beautiful people. “
“The amount of generational wealth was pretty surprising. The recreational dr*g use was also much different than the Midwest.”
“The medical care here is just… so much better”
“The doctors and facilities are at a higher level across the board. I’ve never felt like my medical care is guaranteed to be competent before moving here.”
” A lot of California hate is just projection”
“I moved here from the South. I learned the people of California are actually nicer and less phony than Southerners.”
“I was not expecting San Francisco to be so cold.”
“I think this is surprising to a lot of people!”
“Yosemite is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.”
“The sheer amount of public land and national parks.”
