I moved to Brooklyn after living in Orlando for most of my life. Here are 5 things that surprised me since relocating.

• I moved to Brooklyn, New York, after living in Orlando, Florida, for more than two decades. 

• I'm surprised by how little I've used the subway since moving to Brooklyn.

• Lastly, I'm shocked over how quiet my Brooklyn neighborhood is compared to other parts of New York City. 

I'm a Floridian who always dreamed of living in New York but faced a bit of culture shock when I moved in 2018.

I packed up my life into cardboard boxes after graduating from Florida State University in May 2018 and soon made my way to New York City. I was born and raised in Orlando, Florida, so it's no surprise that the move was a big adjustment for me.

I eventually settled in Bushwick, a neighborhood located in the northern part of Brooklyn, where I continue to learn a little bit more about the borough's charms and quirks each day.

Nothing could have prepared this Orlando girl for winters in Brooklyn.

The idea of wearing Ugg boots or scarves in Orlando felt silly at times, but it's a must to bundle up during the harsh winters in New York City.

I knew I had to face the brutal Northeastern winters eventually, but my limited experience with snow and icy winds made it much more overwhelming. Apart from having to buy an entire winter wardrobe, the cold weather also irritated my sensitive skin. After shivering and sliding across the city for the last five winters, I'll be more prepared come winter 2023.

The nightlife is exciting in Brooklyn, but it costs more than it would in Orlando.

While Manhattan's Lower East Side has a reputation for its bustling nightlife, I think Brooklyn has multiple neighborhoods with fun restaurants and quirky bars that are worth a visit.

I've gone out in different Brooklyn neighborhoods, including Bedford-Stuyvesant and Williamsburg, so I couldn't help but notice how expensive a night out in Brooklyn is compared to Orlando.

For example, in April 2022 the financial advice website FinanceBuzz reported the average price for margaritas in each state, with Florida at $7.60 and New York at $10.68. Although it's only a $3 difference, nightlife inflation has forced me to be economical when spending the night on the town in my Brooklyn neighborhood.

The first thing I noticed about Brooklyn is how vital bodegas are to everyday life.

While Orlando's convenience stores are sporadically located in neighborhoods and typically filled with snacks, lottery tickets, and alcohol — they're usually placed near gas stations on a main roadway and close by midnight.

In my experience, there's a bodega or deli on nearly every block in my area of Brooklyn. Also, the bodegas in Brooklyn stay open later and have more diverse selections.

Depending on the size, some local bodegas can carry everything from Boar's Head deli meat to laundry detergent, making it a genuine one-stop shop. I would have never imagined buying chicken or fresh broccoli from a convenience store in Orlando, even if the option was available, but proximity makes quick and cheap food options more accessible.

I'm constantly in awe over how quiet my Brooklyn neighborhood is despite living in "the city that never sleeps."

For a time, I lived on the seventh floor of a massive apartment complex in Manhattan, where my bedroom window sat right next to the subway rails. My brain eventually turned the constant rumble of train tracks and nearby voices into white noise, but it took some time.

When I moved to Brooklyn, I expected more of the same — a constant whir of noise 24/7 — but was pleasantly surprised at how quiet my area was. My current apartment building is nestled among residential brownstones, a community center, two schools, and a church.

In my experience, the street I live on doesn't get much traffic after 9 p.m. and most people are tucked into their homes soon after.

Lastly, I'm surprised by how much I don't use the subway system or buses in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn is home to several Subway lines that travel across New York City, but the closest station is about 15 minutes from my house, so I don't always feel like making the trip.

Also, I work from home, so there's no need to hike to the subway station for a daily commute like I did pre-COVID pandemic. Remote work boomed during the pandemic, and experts say it will continue even during a recession. 

Instead of relying on the subway for all my travel needs in Bushwick, I've learned to avoid the crowds and wait times in favor of other options. While my partner regularly uses Citi Bike to maneuver the Brooklyn roadways, we've both taken advantage of the Revel Electric Moped to zoom through traffic when needed.

Both options are fairly cheap and easily accessible in my area. Citi Bikes can be found at specific stations across the city and cost $3.99 per trip.  The Revel Electric Moped's price varies by state, but in New York City they cost $1 to unlock and charge $0.44 per minute.

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