East Coast vs. West Coast: Which Fits You Best?
Which coastal lifestyle and attitude appeals for your travel nursing jobs?
By E’Louise Ondash, RN, health and travel writer
I was a nursing student when I met my first West Coaster. The occasion was a party; guests were East Coasters and Midwesterners who were dressed in conservative attire, except for LA Girl. She wore iridescent yellow and glowed like a lemon among the Haas avocados. (Google it, East Coasters.)
Fashion is just one of the markers that distinguishes East Coasters from West Coasters. There are plenty of other markers, too--culture, leisure activities, attitudes, mores, mood and food. If you are in the enviable position of having the opportunity to choose one of the coasts for your next travel nursing assignment, maybe this quick list of comparisons (with a nod to humor and hyperbole) will help you decide.
Greetings
East Coast – “How's by you?” “Howahya?” “Hey, what's it to ya?”
West Coast – “Duuuude...” “Whatzup?”
East Coast – “So…whadayawant?”
West Coast – “Hello, my name is Heather and I’ll be your server. What can I get for you today?”
Culcha (Culture)
Interpersonal relationships:
East Coast – Tell it like it is: “Your idea stinks.”
West Coast – Be polite, politically correct and don't hurt anyone's feelings: "Your idea is creative and may have merit, but let's explore additional possibilities."
Sense of time:
East Coast – 2 p.m. means 1:55 p.m.
West Coast – 2 p.m. means "Whenever…" or "Sorry, I got caught on the 405."
Chutzpah/Attitude:
East Coast – "Hurricane, schmurricane. We're havin' that party!"
West Coast – "Hey, it's drizzling. We'd better stay home."
Getting around:
East Coast – Subway, bus, taxi, train
West Coast – Cars, trucks, SUVs, luxury crossovers
Tradition:
East Coast – "We've always done it that way."
West Coast – "Whatever, dude..."
Weather
East Coast – Negatives: Blizzards, hurricanes and humidity. Positives: In the fall: spectacular colors in the parks and right on your own street. In the spring: The Bloom – peonies, azaleas and lilacs, and the glorious feeling that comes with knowing winter is over.
West Coast – Negatives: The four seasons are fire, flood, earthquake and drought. Positives: Throw away the snow shovel. Walks on the beach in February and, heck--all year long! Lack of humidity and mosquitos in the summer and, heck--all year long!
Fashion
East Coast – Rule: Wear black until you can find a more depressing color. Also necessary: Real shoes, boots, coats, sweaters in the summer (for the air-conditioning), and don't forget the umbrella.
West Coast – Three words: layers, layers, layers--and keep it casual. Workout clothes and flip flops acceptable for nearly all daytime occasions. No need for a winter wardrobe and a summer wardrobe, and sweaters necessary for summer nights.
Food favorites
East Coast – Bagels; pastrami sandwiches; New York strip; casseroles; grinders; frozen custard (to die for); cannolis; Boston cream pie; and lobstah and chowdah.
West Coast – The "foodies" opt for local, free-range, fresh, organic, vegan, vegetarian, anti-oxidant, fusion, gluten-free, low-cal and GMO/hormone-free--and kale. Everyone else: Bring on the fish tacos (yes, they really are good); guacamole; frozen yogurt; Monterey Jack; strawberries (in February!); cioppino; and sushi, sushi, sushi.
Pizza (yes, it merits its own category)
East Coast – It's all about the crust and the pepperoni. (Please! Pineapple does NOT belong on pizza.)
West Coast – Gluten-free crust, soy cheese, garlic sauce, and be generous with the locally-sourced veggies.
RELATED: Finding “Good Eats” on the Road
Drinks
East Coast – Wines from the Finger Lakes region (Google it, West Coasters); egg creams; Manhattans; pop.
West Coast – Craft beer, margaritas, Arnold Palmers, California wines, including Two Buck Chuck.
Vacations within striking distance
East Coast – Nantucket; the Adirondacks; skiing in Vermont; drives up the Hudson Valley; the Maine coast; the Hamptons; the Jersey shore; and Disneyworld.
West Coast – National parks; skiing in Utah and Colorado, Death Valley; Lake Tahoe; San Francisco; 17-Mile Drive; Napa and Sonoma; Disneyland; San Diego; and Vegas, baby!
Beaches
East Coast – Waving grasses, drifting sands, warm water and a place to watch the sun come up.
West Coast – Sand that stays put until the next big storm; rugged, scenic coastline; surfers; cold water; and a place to watch the sun go down.
Still not sure?
If you are still wavering on whether to take that coastal assignment, consider this: The cost of housing and hotels on both ends of the country is astronomical (fagedaboutit!), so if you have the chance to live there while someone else foots the bill during your travel nursing job, GO FOR IT!
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