Different Walks

So here are two things which (that?) folks here in California might not realize are really, really goofy to us folk from back east.

First of all, they sell hard liquor in the drug store. Which makes sense, I suppose, but things rarely work out that literally. So it’s really odd to be shopping for shaving cream in Rite-Aid and turn the corner and see Smirnoff’s and Cuervo and Jim Beam. Not unpleasant—it’s always nice to encounter old friends in a new place. But still odd.

But the other thing (another thing) is even weirder, especially to someone who worked and lived in New York City for a decade. Ready for this?

People stop at red lights here.

No, seriously. Pedestrians wait on the street corners until they get the walk signal. I know, I know, but I swear it’s true. None of ‘em cross. They just wait there. The big lemmings.

What’s more, when a pedestrian does have the right of way, such as a stop sign, say, the cars wait patiently until the pedestrian is safely out of the way, without trying to scoot past them or honking their horns or gunning their engines or whatever. It’s really disconcerting.

Turns out the cops here are serious about their tickets, and if they see a car drive past a pedestrian, even if he or she is well out of the way of the vehicle’s path, the driver gets hammered with a serious fine. And the same goes for jaywalking here. Which is actually something of a contact sport in the Big Apple. Literally.

So there you go. Yet more differences in this great big adventure o’ mine.

Comments

[Mary Beth Patnaude]

I remember being shocked that they sell hard liquor in drug stores AND grocery stores, here in Maine. They also sell it (gasp) on Sundays, something they don't do in my home state of CT. I grew up seeing the "shades" over the beer on Sunday(that was, of course, after they started OPENING stores on Sunday!)

[Steve the LLamabutcher]

On the way to the outerbanks there is a gas station/convenience store right on the NC/VA state line. There's literally a line through the middle of the store, with registers next to the door underneath a large Carolina and Virginia state flags. If you time your visit right, you can get gas, beer, fireworks, ammunition, and BBQ in one easy stop.

Just what the founding fathers had in mind, I imagine.

[scott]

I grew up seeing the "shades" over the beer on Sunday(that was, of course, after they started OPENING stores on Sunday!)

Wow. I remember that. I haven't thought of that in a long time, but the image popped right back up immediately.

Such a sad, sad sight...

[Julie]

Lol!

That's my problem out here. We keep forgetting we can't buy wine on Sunday a.m. (I mean, what about communion, people?) or beer... and no hard liquor at all on Sun.

We aren't big drinkers, but as southern Californians, we're nothing if not disorganized shoppers. Because the weather is always perfect, you tend to wait until the last minute to buy things and never think about coordinating a trip so that all your stops are in one place or on the same day.

Here in the midwest, shocking to see entire cities under one roof so you can do "one-stop shopping" and stock the pantry (what the heck is that anyway?).

As for pedestrians being patient at walk and don't walk signs... well yeah! Blew me away to visit the Big Apple and watch my life and several others pass before my eyes... every two blocks.

Glad you're enjoying the Southern California difference. ITA btw about SUVs in compact spaces... in all spaces. They drive me crazy.

Julie

[scott]

As for pedestrians being patient at walk and don't walk signs... well yeah! Blew me away to visit the Big Apple and watch my life and several others pass before my eyes... every two blocks.

Man, I loved that. Someone would cross when the lights were red, a car would have to come screeching to a halt to avoid splattering the walker, and the pedestrian would either completely ignore it (my personal approach—I always figured that if I didn’t see the speeding taxi, it didn’t really exist and therefore couldn’t hit me), or else look so insulted, so offended by, I dunno, the noise, I guess. The pedestrian would likely give the driver a dirty look, perhaps slam a fist on the hood of the car…and never once break stride.

What a town.