The little things that make New York different from D.C.

There are some major (and obvious) differences between New York City and my native Washington, D.C. Different economic focuses, for one. D.C. is driven almost exclusively by politics. A large number of people can tie their livelihoods back to policy in some way — I myself worked in the policy world for several years. New York, by contrast, has an economy that’s a little more variegated and, generally speaking, finance, media and the arts dominate.

The pace of life is also, of course, wildly different. Although both cities have the famed Mid-Atlantic go-go-go mentality, Washington is still slower and stodgier than New York. For example, after the workday ends you’re free to go home and spend your personal hours doing things like watching hours of TiVoed “Daily Show” with your boyfriend, or, if it’s a really crazy night, going to a chain Mexican restaurant to eat conventional nachos and drink house-variety Pino Grigio and return home promptly at 9:30.

Whereas in New York you can’t escape the urgency of every minute of every day. So when your workday ends (if it ends), sure, you can go home and watch as much “Daily Show” as you want. But you feel so guilty about it. That very minute you could be out at an inexpensive weeknight comedy show hosted by some of the same “Daily Show” comedians you’re watching on TV, or you could be out at a poetry slam that speaks truth to a power you never before realized was an oppressive force. Every minute you decide to be boring, you could be doing something amazing.

But I was prepared for all of that going in. What really surprised me about my new home were the non-obvious differences — the little, everyday life experiences that I wasn’t expecting would change. Some I’m relishing in, and some still take some getting used to.

Like, for example:

Needing cash for everything. OK, so not really everything, but certainly more things than in D.C. Based on my non-random sample of Carroll Gardens restaurants and bars, about half won’t accept credit cards; they want cash only. But here’s the thing: a lot of the cash only joints are far better than the places that accept credit cards. Not only is the food quality often better, but the facilities themselves are amazing. One restaurant I go to has an entire wall that’s a waterfall. On the other hand, I haven’t quite gotten used to carrying around a large amount of cash on me all the time. Isn’t that something that your mom always warns you against doing in the city?

Le Petit Cafe, a cash-only restaurant, has a wall that doubles as a waterfall.

Having so much variety — and yet fewer choices. There are three grocery stores on my block alone. But none of them have frozen vegetables. And forget about finding Splenda; they don’t do Splenda here.

Never being able to put your own cream and sugar in your coffee. This one bothers me. I like my coffee with just a little bit of cream and no sugar. But even if I ask for just a little bit of cream, what I usually get is a lot of cream. What’s up with this one? Don’t they trust me to pour my own?

Feeling in the air that you’re close the ocean. This one I love. Granted, Brooklyn is much closer to the ocean than D.C. so maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised. But I never was fully cognizant that New York borders the ocean before I moved here. I was walking down my street on a summer day when I first realized it. An unmistakable ocean breeze was in the air — and it felt amazing.