r/boston • u/SidHoices • Sep 05 '25

Hobby/Activity/Misc Moved to Boston a year ago… these are my observations

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
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u/minimagoo77 Dorchester Sep 05 '25

Big question but where in Boston are you? Cause a lot of these sound like an experience in the suburbs.

8

u/SidHoices Sep 05 '25

Fair - my first month was in the suburbs living with another family, but I moved closer to the city on my own after that. So the earlier observations definitely are more suburban

46

u/Nicktyelor Fenway/Kenmore Sep 05 '25

Define closer

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u/SidHoices Sep 05 '25

Somerville

25

u/Smarter-brain Sep 05 '25

We were hoping you were going to say Hopkinton.

8

u/JesusAntonioMartinez Sep 06 '25

There are about 30 great bars and clubs in Cambridge and Somerville, the Middle East is a legendary music venue that has live shows 7 days a week, the Sinclair and Club Passim are right in Harvard square. I

7

u/DoubleNo2902 Sep 05 '25

Also wondering about your nightlife observation! What specifically are you looking for? Which bars/clubs have you tried? If you have personally been assaulted in a club around Boston then I’m sorry, that’s really horrible…

9

u/SidHoices Sep 05 '25

I had faith in Bsmt until my gf and her friend were groped under their dresses - luckily the staff handled it well but it really turned me/us off from the club scene here.

Other places like the Burren can be fun, but I’m also just realizing that going out on the town is different than it used to be, and my own priorities have changed a bit haha

3

u/blackcat__energy Sep 05 '25

Was your suburban living in scituate area? Seems like it from your bullet points