Leaving Los Angeles : The New Yorker

New Yorker Riffs On 'Land Of Kale Chips, Sunshine & Helicopters'

A parlor game played by pretty much any New Yorker temporarily living in Los Angeles: a running tally of "How They're Different." After spending four months in the land of kale chips, sunshine, and helicopters, my list is almost entirely consumed by thoughts about driving. No. 1 (subjective, of course): Angelenos are terrible drivers compared to New Yorkers. They're far too patient, calm, and forgiving -- which is baffling to the East Coaster who finds herself sitting in the car many more hours of the week than in Manhattan. After all, shouldn't these extra hours in the car just make everyone tenser, more impatient--more likely to gun through the yellow light, honk indiscriminately?

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