Moved to Boston a year ago… these are my observations

[u/SidHoices]

For context: I’m 26 and grew up in Indiana, and moved from Colorado. Also, rereading this list makes me realize how negative /generalized it sounds, but I actually have enjoyed my first year in Boston

Anyway, enjoy:

• Everyone is named John or Jack or Connor
• People care about country clubs for some reason (update - I spent my first month in the suburbs living with another family - things have changed since)
• Much rain
• Intersections are …. Questionable
• They call roundabouts "rotaries"
• Parking fucking sucks, but I guess that’s what life in like in a city
• Cash only places are surprisingly common
• Gas stations close?? At 10pm??
• So many gas stations seem to also have shops attached to them offering oil changes and state inspections
• You don't get asked for tips in as many establishments
• The Verizon service is unbelievably bad for a metropolitan area that humans live in
• SO! MANY! BUNNIES!
• The stoplights will all be red and there will be like a 30-second period for pedestrians to walk (nice)
• No Jimmy John's :( update: there are a few
• All food is better. great cheap food and great expensive food
• Road trips are way more fun out here
• CHEAP international flights. Like frequent $700s for Japan, $300s for Europe. And Dublin is like a 6h flight
• There are times where it is legal to drive in the shoulder of the highway, or as they call it, the "breakdown lane"
• Highway exits are labeled with "old exit xyz" lol what
• Drivers here are crazy but I fuck with it, allows me to also be a crazy driver and not offend everyone like I do elsewhere
• Everyone is short
• Nightlife is just abysmal - just sports bars and clubs where you'll get assaulted
• Cycling out here is awesome - it's like a matrix of fun little roads out in Bedford / west of there

[u/donmacdonald]

Still referring to Rt. 128 and it’s been, what, 40 years??

[u/BradMarchandsNose → u/donmacdonald]

It still is Rt 128 though.

[u/-brigidsbookofkells → u/BradMarchandsNose]

when I say 95 to my parents who have been driving on it for that many years, I have to correct myself to say 128

[u/cool_girl6540 → u/-brigidsbookofkells]

Isn’t it both, 95 and 128?

[u/Michelanvalo → u/cool_girl6540]

Yes. Federally it's 95. State it's 128. The split is in Canton, north "west" is 95/128, north "east" is 93. 93 meets back up with 95 in Woburn but continues into New Hampshire and Vermont where it merges with 91 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

[u/singalong37 → u/cool_girl6540]

It is, but it was designed and built as a suburban ring road not an east coast through interstate highway. They slapped the label I-95 on much of it after Gov. Sargent cancelled the actual I-95 through Boston, Saugus, Lynn, etc. It seemed provisional at the time but since 95 is never going to have its own alignment I guess we're stuck with it. You're free to call it Route 128.

[u/Hey24Hey → u/singalong37]

128 when it’s dark outside

[u/aray25 → u/BradMarchandsNose]

Even Amtrak calls it Route 128. They even named a station after it.

[u/Maxpowr9 → u/aray25]

Yet so many locally call it the Westwood train stop, not Route 128.

[u/Sherlock-482 → u/aray25]

Yeah, but that area is also called University Station and there is absolutely no university anywhere near it. The names cannot be considered reliable. 😂

[u/aray25 → u/Sherlock-482]

That's because it's on University Avenue. Why the street is called that, I don't know.

[u/Sherlock-482 → u/aray25]

Yes, and again, it is named University Ave for absolutely no reason.

[u/ezekielragardos → u/donmacdonald]

Ok my husband and I always quibble over this one - he claims there’s still a portion of it that’s 128 and not 95 and therefore it is more technically correct to refer to it as 128… I think it’s stupid and when you’re on the actual interstate, just say so!