Surprising facts about moving to Denver from Washington, DC

• Since moving from DC to Denver two and a half years ago, I’ve had a lot culture shock.
• I found people who like to discuss their hobbies Denverbut very much focused on his career in DC.
• I also noticed that people in Denver seem more relaxed compared to those in DC.

When I boarded my flight from Washington, DCin Denver in May 2022, I ruminated in my window seat for hours, wondering what my new home would be like.

I was leaving behind the nation’s capital – the place where I had spent almost three years launching my career and growing up in my 20s.

Hopping from city to city was not new to me. I was born in Seattle and grew up outside of New Orleans before pursuing my master’s degree in Phoenix.

However, each region has its own distinct culture, and I suspect the transition from the East Coast to the Rocky Mountains it would be a bit of a shock. However, I did not expect how different the two parts of the country would be.

Here are some of the biggest culture shocks I experienced when I went west.

Many seem to be in love with their hobbies in Denver, but careers typically come first in DC

Your choice of ski pass isn’t just a question Denver residents ask you as an icebreaker. In my experience, it is a constant topic of conversation between friends and colleagues.

In fact, I found that skiing, snowboarding, camping, hiking, climbing, and white water rafting are topics that are always in conversation.

I have met many Denver residents with impressive careers, but their hearts often belong to their hobbies.

Meanwhile, many people I met in DC lived to work. I would inevitably be asked what I did for a living at nearly every house party I attended. Young professionals mainly move to DC for their education and career, so networking is a way of life.

The city is full of journalists, lobbyists, and government employees, so it’s not uncommon to see someone bringing a work laptop to happy hour.

The style definitions of the cities are not aligned

In DC, my favorite activity was ticking restaurants and bars off my list, taking in the cosmopolitan city in seasonal clothes and heels.

However, since moving to Denver, what remains of my cocktail dress collection is gathering dust on hangers. Here, athleisure, flannels, and denim are the norm.

The climates in Denver and DC are completely different beasts

I was adept at handling the DC winters. When snow occasionally fell on the city, I bundled up in a coat and gloves to build snowmen on the National Mall or braced myself for the chill in the air when I exited a Metrorail subway station. .

Preparing for my inaugural Colorado winter, however, was much more intense. I bought my first pair of snow boots at the age of 27, and learned that Halloween usually brings a snowstorm, and the snowstorms continue until April.

For context, according to the data of the National Weather Service from 1882-2015, Denver average about 57.1 inches of snow per season. DC’s average snowfall, which is based on data from 1991-2020, is about 13.8 inches.

Local attitudes could not be more different

Colorado straddles two prominent regional personality traits – the gentleness of the Midwest and the ease of the West Coast. Residents of the Centennial State get the best of both worlds with their friendly attitudes and sense of ease.

Despite Denver’s urban sprawl, charms from its cattle-town days persist. Walking down a neighborhood sidewalk, I can usually count the smiles or greetings of passers-by.

However, while living on the East Coast, I found that many DC residents exuded the no-nonsense air of the region, buzzing from place to place as efficiently as possible.

I got used to avoiding talking in elevators and found the standard attitude in DC to be a bit guarded and direct. It’s not that the locals don’t love it – they’re just reserved and busy.

However, both places have one thing in common: hometown pride. I’m excited to embrace that attitude in Denver like I did in DC.