It’s like deja vu all over again…We just did the same move last December…Encinitas to Edina (a bit west of where you’re settling, in the ‘burbs).
We’re coming up on our 1-yr anniversary here….It’s a love/hate thing.
55 mph on most freeways is killing me, but the roads are waaaaay less congested and there are a million ways to get to anyone place, but watch the on/off ramp exchanges – they must have been built when cars were small and only 10% of the population drove.
No hands-free law here so everyone yaps on their cell phone up to their ear, at first it was bizarre to see and now it’s just annoying b/c no one uses a damn blinker as they are all driving one-handed!
There is no El Pollo Loco, Rubio’s or Champagne Bakery…Very sad. ;( But there are Big Bowl restaurants – custom stir-fry…So good!
We went through a tough adjustment b/c we arrived in December and promptly got our first snow and had to find our way around in “weather” and had to break it to our California dogs this was how we roll now…Oh, and we had to take a fricken test to get our MN driver’s licenses! 24 years driving in Cali and I had to re-take my written test AND study for it! Note: Get your new DL before you change to MN auto insurance – it’ll save you a headache as the ins company will want it to underwrite you. Oh, and they outsource their DMV stuff, but it’s still the same take a number game…only much shorter lines.
Since you’ll be joining us in winter – keep quarters and gloves in your car! First below zero day you’ll get a warning to fill your tires w/air. Your local dealership will gladly help you out, but trust me, you won’t be near one when the air in your tires compresses and your TMS light goes off… 🙂
We have one more year here till our kid has her degree and at first we thought we wanted to go back to SD – the major draw being my husbands family and having a support system, but we’ve made friends here, found a great doctor and and excellent vet…I think we may actually head further east rather than go back west when we’re done here…
But, in full disclosure, the kid and the hubby are heading back to SD in a week for their first visit since we moved – one fish taco and the kid may decide to apply to UCSD. ;~)
Let me know if you ever need the lowdown on life here…It was tough going it alone, just the three of us, but 10 months in I feel like I’ve climbed Everest.
Oh, and Byerly’s is your friend…You won’t find a Vons, Albertson’s, Ralph’s after you leave CA. Cub and Rainbow are ok, but Byerly’s and Whole Foods make life good.
Welcome to MN…It’s an adventure…Bring patience and warm clothes.
