Your first week in Newport – especially when you’ve never lived outside of NY state – can be an eye-opening experience to say the least. My boyfriend doesn’t blog, but if he did, he’d probably have a laundry list of “differences” to point out between lil’ rhody and the big apple. Since I’m his roomie now, I’ll graciously share what we’ve both learned over the past week – him being a complete Newport Newbie and me being a born-again, after nearly 6 years away in NY.
- Things move a little…slower up here. There’s just not the same “sense of urgency” that NY’ers have. People live up here for the laid back lifestyle, which I’ll be the first to admit I adore, but every once in a while I feel the urge to say “move it along folks! (expletive deleted!)”
- If you’re not from RI, you’ve probably never had an Awful Awful. It might not even sound appealing but trust me, IT IS.
- You’re just going to have to learn to view pizza in a new way. It won’t be a staple food anymore and you’re not going to “grab a slice” like you used to. Even if you do find a (rare) place that actually sells it by the slice, it’s sadly not the same. Possible replacement meals include chowder, stuffies and lobster rolls so really, whose complaining?
- The bars close at what time?? In NY, bars don’t close – or at least anytime that concerns you when you’re in your 30’s. You’ll be long gone and fast asleep before “closing time” hits the juke box in NY, but in RI, you’re always staying ’til closing because if you can’t stay out until 1am, well that’s just sad…
- Cabs around here are of the pedi variety. As in, they’re actually bikes. Sure we had these in NYC but we also had about 10 million actual motor vehicle cabs racing through the streets at ANY given hour. Here in Newport, if you’re not driving, you’re either walking, biking it or having someone else pedal you around. Except for those few and far between orange mini-van things (newsflash RI, cabs are YEL-LOW not orange…) cabs are pretty much non-existent. The upside? I’m getting great exercise walking to and from work everyday and the view can’t be beat!
As a Newport to NYC to Newport transplant, I was prepared for the differences and am about 90% adjusted to being back in the good old Port of New. I know it’s a lifestyle that I can get onboard with and it’ll feel like home again a lot quicker than NYC did. The little things like the friendly lady at the coffee shop, that bartender who remembers my name (and if I’m very lucky, my drink order!) and the nautical style I love so much remind me of why I chose to move back and comfort me as I get re-acquainted. Although the adjustment may be slightly slower for my Newport Newbie BF, I feel confident that he’ll learn to love it just like I did so many years ago. Now if only we could get a NY bagel shop and ban those damn “Yankees Suck” chants we’d be all set!
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