I lived in Connecticut all my life, a relatively large state on the East coast, but in comparison to California, a mere fraction of the golden state. Once graduated from high school, I knew I was jumping on a plane and taking a one-way ticket for sunny San Diego. Although I like to call San Diego my home city now, my roots are in Brookfield, CT. So whenever breaks come around, I find myself back on a plane, in route of the East coast once again. Switching between coasts has become routine, but even then, there are still a few challenges I face when bouncing between the two.
One of the biggest and most common obstacles for someone moving between coasts is time difference. California is three hours behind Connecticut, leaving a noticeable gap for someone who’s trying to adjust. When traveling from CT to CA, the three hour difference doesn't seem to take as hard of a toll on me as it does when traveling from CA to CT. Gaining time has never been someone’s worst enemy, but losing time – that’s a tad more difficult.
Whenever a semester's over, I pack up all my things and return home (CT) for either winter or summer break. For the first couple weeks, I find myself working on CA time. I wake up at noon and go to sleep around 3 a.m. (In California, that’d be 9 a.m. and midnight) Sometimes, I don't even adjust to East coast time, forever living on California terms of functionality. Although my mother doesn’t approve of my deranged sleep schedule, it’s perfectly reasonable for someone who bounces between both sides of the country.
Aside from the time difference, coffee is a huge hurdle. You’re probably thinking, “What…?” Well if you’ve traveled between these two states before, you know what I’m talking about. East coast is to Dunkin' Donuts as West Coast is to Starbucks. I grew up on Dunkin' Donuts. A couple times a week, I would hit DD on the way to school and grab an iced coffee and a breakfast sandwich. When I moved to San Diego for college, I was surprised to find not a Dunkin' Donuts in sight. I quickly acclimated to the abundant number of surrounding Starbucks'. I had, what the students would call, a “fat kid” meal plan, which allowed the financial freedom to taste and try all the goods Starbucks had to offer. It took just one semester to acquire a Starbucks palette and the all too confusing vocabulary list of drink orders. So, with Starbucks on my left and Dunkin' Donuts on my right, jumping from CT to CA taught me to be well versed in both of these coffee house cultures.
The last staggering difference that faced me each time I jumped off a plane is the weather. Going to San Diego is always exciting – knowing that sunny skies, 80 degree temperatures, and sandy beaches are awaiting never disappointments. On the other hand, going home to CT can have varying outcomes. The weather during the winter is harsh. Even though snow is something to miss, when moving to CA, it is also something to not miss. Winters in CT have been extreme these last couple years. Snowstorms have shut down highways and locked people in their homes. During the summer, intense thunderstorms knock down trees and create flash floods. The weather in CT is much more variable, leaving room for some really nice days and some really awful ones, depending on the season. Ultimately, experiencing all that mother nature has to offer is unique. Most people only live in one type of climate, whereas I have the ability to live in multiple. The best is during winter, when I can walk on the beach one day and then head to CT for a white Christmas. It’s the best of both worlds.
Living in both CA and CT has its differences, and they’re made especially known when you constantly travel between the two states. Even though there are a couple adjustments to be made, it’s really quite rare to be immersed in the cultures of both coasts. I always say, I grew up in Connecticut but my heart is in California. No matter how long I stay in each state, both will always be called home.
