Victoria And David Talk New Orleans And Dc

Victoria and David Insider talk

Alex It's Alex from best places, and you're about to watch your best places. Social media manager Victoria interviewed David, a best Places user in the interview. They discussed David's experience living and working in New Orleans, in Washington, D.C., and the differences between the two cities. Hope you enjoy.

00:00:19:24 - 00:00:25:12 Victoria If you could just give us your name and where you're currently living.

00:00:25:14 - 00:00:29:11 David David Aaron. Living in New Orleans, Louisiana.

00:00:29:13 - 00:00:37:22 Victoria We just wanted to kind of know what about your experience living in New Orleans Has made you want to reach out to us for an interview?

00:00:39:24 - 00:01:05:12 David well, it's it's just a lot of fun, which probably most people are not surprised about. We have way more fun than D.C.. You know, when I was in D.C., I was I was back there a couple of months last summer, and there's all these protests and broken windows. And down here it's much more mellow. And it was open a lot earlier, or at least in part.

00:01:05:12 - 00:01:34:01 David I mean, it wasn't like unlimited. You know, there are limitations on occupancy and restaurants and stuff and bars were closed completely for a while. But it opened up way earlier than D.C. And I mean, people were mellower. And I mean, I never lived here before I visited before. I mean, it's prettier, It's tropical, you know, I mean, it's not as much music.

00:01:34:01 - 00:01:52:22 David It's kind of a bummer. Like, not as much the festivals they normally have, they weren't really going on, but people just like higher bands and like played music outside their places, like right down the street. So, I mean, I'm in a neighborhood here. It's like in D.C. I live a block from my office, so it's it's hard to compare.

00:01:52:24 - 00:02:09:22 David And then there are neighborhoods there too. I just didn't live in one like, you know, a more residential neighborhood. I mean, so just just super fun, like great weather. General, not in the summer, but, you know, it was just been really fun, so.

00:02:09:24 - 00:02:18:20 Victoria Well, good. I'm glad you've been enjoying your time down. There are you from D.C. or are you from somewhere else?

00:02:18:22 - 00:02:40:16 David I was born in Connecticut and I lived for like around Hartford. And then I moved to a suburb, New York City in the New York City. So I first moved to D.C. in 96. I lived there like nine years, and then I moved back to New York for five years, and I've been back in D.C. since 2010, so it's been a lot.

00:02:40:16 - 00:02:47:00 David It's actually the most time there, even more than New York now. I think, but not from there.

00:02:47:02 - 00:02:50:05 Victoria Okay. So East Coast, it sounds like.

00:02:50:07 - 00:02:51:24 David Yeah, exactly.

00:02:52:01 - 00:03:01:22 Victoria We actually interviewed someone the other day about how he wasn't currently in Hartford, but had lived in Hartford for a while, I think for college. Yeah.

00:03:02:13 - 00:03:03:11 David nice.

00:03:03:13 - 00:03:33:13 Victoria Nice. while you covered my next question of where else you've lived, what are so and you already mentioned some of the things that you like about living in New Orleans right now. The weather, the music, even though it's not the same as it usually is, and it's kind of more laid back then. Do you see is there anything else about New Orleans that you really love or maybe was were surprised about that you found from living there this year?

00:03:33:15 - 00:03:50:23 David Well, I love just I mean, I guess as I'm getting older, I can't drink as much as I used to. But I love that culture. I mean, it's people, you know, like to go out to bars and hang out and neighborhood places and it's just friendly. And there are a lot of there are a lot of bike paths.

00:03:51:01 - 00:04:10:11 David I mean, not like everywhere. And you can't go I mean, with certain exceptions, you can't go for miles and miles and miles. That's on one street for a few miles, and then you've got to connect to another one. But that was good. Like I put a lot of those together and went in all different places. So I saw tons of parts of the city I hadn't seen before.

00:04:10:13 - 00:04:36:01 David And it's really pretty along the lakefront and along the Mississippi River. I went on both sides of the river. There's different long bike paths and nice views and so that was that was new. Yeah, and what else? But also as far as where I live, I also went to college in Michigan and grad school in Syracuse. Sullivan Even more places.

00:04:36:09 - 00:04:57:11 Victoria awesome. Great. Well, thanks for mentioning those. Yeah, it sounds like a really nice community vibe down there. Plenty of bike paths if you're into biking, which is great. Perfect. Is there anything about New Orleans that you could maybe live without or a wish were different?

00:04:58:08 - 00:05:21:00 David yeah. I guess all the summer weather. I mean, it's not like D.C. is great. It's also hot and humid, but it's a little bit worse here. Although there is like a tropical breeze. But also that's another thing I can live that like the hurricanes. I don't really want to stay for hurricane season. It wasn't so bad. We only got hit once and I mean, it wasn't I guess it wasn't that bad.

00:05:21:00 - 00:05:30:02 David It knocked the tree down, but it didn't really damage the house just to some minor things. But yeah, I'm not a big fan of hurricanes.

00:05:30:04 - 00:05:32:23 Victoria I guess most people are.

00:05:33:00 - 00:05:46:20 David Yeah, well, it was weird. My wife and some people on the street just went outside and it sat outside. It was like 100 mile an hour wind. But they said it didn't feel like it. But I was like, Ah, you enjoy it. I'm going to stay inside there.

00:05:46:22 - 00:05:54:04 Victoria Like I have a front row seat to that.

00:05:54:06 - 00:06:02:17 Victoria Would you recommend living in New Orleans to someone else? Maybe someone who hasn't been there or someone who hasn't? Definitely someone who hasn't lived there before.

00:06:03:01 - 00:06:28:03 David yeah. It's it's without reservation. I mean, you know, nothing is perfect, but it's been super fun and friendly people. There's a lot of musicians here and artists. And I live a block from the Jazz Fest Fairgrounds, and it's just very artsy and really pretty neat houses, cool architecture. Yeah, there's just I mean, there are all kinds of things.

00:06:28:03 - 00:06:41:02 David There's culture sports too. I mean, not much of that going on before, you know, because of COVID, but I think it's all coming back. So it's just really funky here. I like it.

00:06:41:04 - 00:06:57:10 Victoria Cool. Great. So out of all the places that you've lived and the moves that you made, what felt like the biggest move for you, whether that be the change in the two locations or the move itself?

00:06:57:12 - 00:07:21:20 David I guess probably moving out of New York the first time, I never really wanted to. I did. I lose my job. I think I probably lost my job. No, no, no, I didn't actually, at that time. Yeah, I did. I moved for a better job. But it was it was weird. Like, I mean, it was somewhat easier because my younger brother already lived there, so I crashed his place, you know, before I could figure out where I want to live.

00:07:21:22 - 00:07:52:22 David But it just it was such a big change, not living in New York City. I mean, I, I moved there and I was 12, and, I went away to school for college and grad school, but I guess I was just assuming I'd lived there forever. And then. And then it seems like, in a way, more spread out and not as many tall buildings and places where and open as much and not, you know, not as much delivery stuff and just tons and tons of changes.

00:07:52:24 - 00:08:15:03 David But I got I got used to it. I got to like it. Prefer it actually, you know, as I got older and I don't need bars to be open for in the morning it's just I appreciate it is quieter in general it's easier to get around. So you know it was it became better for me. I mean, there's a possibility I might go back to New York for a job, but I don't.

00:08:15:05 - 00:08:39:12 David I don't think so. I try not to. I actually was trying to get my, my government agency employer to let us do a 100% telework. We have a union. They're actually trying to get negotiate that over time. So, you know, if I stay with that, then it'd be great if I could stay down here, You know, just keep the party going, so to speak.

00:08:39:14 - 00:08:59:19 Victoria I hope that works out for you. I know we're we're just seeing the work, the way that we work change, and there's no way they can like, things can go back to the Everyone needs to be in office 9 to 5 Monday through Friday. Like if your dad doesn't need it. Well, like, why not do flex or remote, I think.

00:08:59:19 - 00:09:03:12 Victoria Yeah. So I hope that works out for you.

00:09:03:14 - 00:09:06:00 David Thank you.

00:09:06:02 - 00:09:12:18 Victoria Do you have any tips for people undertaking similar moves like,

00:09:12:20 - 00:09:36:17 David I guess. I mean, it was easy for me because my wife is already here, and so it's just that's where I'm going to live. But, I guess it's good to go in advance and look around. Got different neighborhoods. you know, rent first. Don't just buy unless you're like, you know, just these days, I guess people are, like, desperate to buy a house somewhere and escape.

00:09:36:19 - 00:09:58:09 David But, you know, normally it's not so urgent. So, you know, there's a lot of cool neighborhoods like this is where I ended up. But I mean, I might want to be in some other ones. So it's, you know, it's good to to just take some few days or a week, just, you know, see all different parts of where you want to move.

00:09:58:11 - 00:10:18:22 David So I had plenty of time to do that when I moved to my brother's, who is actually in the suburb. And so, you know, I took my time looking around. And this last time he moved to D.C. also, like I knew the neighborhood already, but still I looked at a few different places and so, you know, gave me enough time to decide what I want.

00:10:18:24 - 00:10:22:07 David Yeah. So that's what I would suggest People do that.

00:10:22:07 - 00:10:31:05 Victoria And it's like if they have the time to come ahead to give themselves some time to check it out, get a feel for it.

00:10:31:07 - 00:10:32:18 David Yeah.

00:10:32:20 - 00:10:42:11 Victoria So in relation to the move specifically, what about that experience? Would you say it was either positive or negative or.

00:10:42:12 - 00:11:11:07 David I really loved what do you call it? I, I once got my employer to pay for the movers to pack my stuff too, because I, I don't know. I get really bogged down. I like to look at all these items like, I remember this. It's just takes too long. So it's much better. You can afford it. Or I don't mind spending it or someone paying for it, you know, just to get movers to, to do it, to do the packing for you.

00:11:11:07 - 00:11:25:08 David Just make it seem to come much faster. And they do a good job in packing professionally. And I didn't, I don't really have any problems with anything they packed so but I actually use it differently, which is something I wouldn't do or something different.

00:11:26:07 - 00:11:42:20 Victoria no, no, no, no, no. That was totally right. I was just like, if there was anything about the experience, positive or negative. So it's kind of just a blanket question. And then then I added on the like, if, if there is anything you would do differently.

00:11:42:22 - 00:12:04:09 David But yeah, I mean, like now I'm driving back. I mean, I kind of I did explore other ways, like my wife's on my fly and ship or stuff and I don't know, I should probably because it's a long drive and it's two days. I mean, 16 hours. You could do it just straight through in theory. But I would stop being half way or so.

00:12:04:11 - 00:12:23:17 David But even that's a drag. And it's really because of my bike. Like if I didn't, I mean, I, I checked out Amtrak, so I guess just investigate all the things I still might try again. Like they have, like limited dimensions that they'll take for your bike. Like, I think they hang it from the back tire. So if it's too big, like they'll stick out into the hallway or whatever.

00:12:23:19 - 00:12:44:02 David Anyway, I guess I should probably try to make it easier than driving all the way back and just, you know, I can pack up some boxes that won't fit. So I guess it's worth spending some time checking out different moving options instead of just I mean, point A to point B with the car is is easiest in some ways because you have everything immediately.

00:12:44:04 - 00:12:52:04 David But, you know, I'm not a big fan of these huge long drives, so I'm kind of dreading that.

00:12:52:14 - 00:13:18:13 Victoria I'm sure you're not alone. Those like doing the long hauls, especially by yourself, but with the added stress of like I'm doing a move I do, this can be a lot. So yeah, they're you're right there are other options depending on how much you're moving or how far away or going. It's good advice. Thank you. So just two more questions if you have the time for it.

00:13:18:15 - 00:13:31:03 Victoria How Since you have connected with us, I assume you've used best Places website in some fashion. I would just like to hear how best Places has helped you in any way.

00:13:31:05 - 00:13:57:05 David I think. Do you guys have like a cost of living calculator or did you? Yeah, I think that's what I how I first heard about it. So I found that really helpful over the years when I was interviewing for jobs in different cities because it's mostly I mean, the difference in cost of living is pretty much like the, the taxes, you know, state and local taxes and, you know, real estate, whether you're renting or owning.

00:13:57:05 - 00:14:19:03 David And then you got the property tax. So trying to figure out all that. And I think I think the calculator is pretty good at builds all that in there. So that's that's it. And I guess also you have some articles about just you know, where is good and like why So I think about that for retirement more because like for jobs it's pretty much going to be dictated.

00:14:19:08 - 00:14:39:06 David I mean like moving now is going to be dictated by wherever. Like if I can find a job somewhere else that I prefer. But some but I guess I would look a lot at your website for thinking about, you know, I just read these articles just with general interest about retirement because, you know, maybe we'll be in New Orleans, but maybe I don't want the whole years.

00:14:39:06 - 00:14:53:03 David So like, where else might be nice to spend the other half of the year? It's probably not going to be DC So yeah. So those, those are two main things, the calculator and, and just, you know, figure out where else might be a good place to live for me.

00:14:53:05 - 00:15:19:02 Victoria Okay. I'm glad those have been useful for you. Yeah, we do. We have at least one article, but I think we have more than one on rankings of, like, best places to live in retirement. We have some that are more narrow, like on a budget like and stuff like that. Great. So is there anything that I didn't ask you and our bring up that you wanted to share with us before we sign off?

00:15:20:06 - 00:15:41:22 David I don't think so. I just wanted to give a big plug for New Orleans. It's been kind of really been a better experience for me. Like, I knew the weather coming down, so it's, you know, whatever. And it was, you know, people are really nice. It's, it's just the time of things to do with museums. And now I have a friend who has a horse, actually, too.

00:15:41:24 - 00:15:59:19 David My wife's friend has a horse, and I have a friend who has a horse, and they keep it, like in the city limits on one side of the river, the other. And there's, like, a stable and it's affordable. It's like. And then she rides it. One of them rides it right along the neighborhood. Right? Right. It's kind of a it's like a throwback kind of place.

00:15:59:19 - 00:16:05:16 David And it's is a great way. So it's yeah, I can't say enough good things about New Orleans.

00:16:05:18 - 00:16:37:04 Victoria Okay. Well, thank you so much for sharing all of that. You sold New Orleans on me really well. So it's been on my list of places to to visit. I used to live right next to it over in Alabama. But yeah, we appreciate your time today and meeting with us. And I just wanted to reiterate that. So this has been recorded and you you'll be able to find the full clip on our YouTube channel if you don't already follow us.

00:16:37:06 - 00:17:03:01 Victoria And then we may use portions of clips like as teaser videos on our social media like probably Instagram and possibly TikTok. So it may be edited for length. But as far as your side of things and the content and things that you've said will not be skewed or altered in any way, And if you have any questions or any follow up for us, you can always reach us at our email, social at best places on that.

00:17:03:03 - 00:17:06:14 David All right. Or thank you so much.

00:17:06:16 - 00:17:09:07 Victoria Yeah. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

00:17:09:08 - 00:17:09:22 David You too.

00:17:10:01 - 00:17:12:15 Victoria Bye bye. Have a good one.

00:17:12:17 - 00:17:27:12 Alex And hope you enjoy that interview. Don't forget to like and subscribe and bring that notification about. So, you know, when we upload new videos, you can also follow us on social media to keep up with the team and what we're doing. All of those links will be plugged to the description. If you've ever lived in New Orleans or DC, leave a comment below telling us how you felt about the experience.

00:17:27:16 - 00:17:36:02 Alex Thank you for watching and see you next.