I moved from Washington, DC, to Denver 2 years ago. It's been filled with surprises, especially when it comes to the people.

• Since moving from DC to Denver 2 ½ years ago, I've experienced many culture shocks.

• I've found that people discuss their hobbies in Denver but focus on their careers in Washington.

• I've also noticed that people in Denver seem more laid-back compared to people in Washington.

I boarded a plane from Washington, DC, to Denver in May 2022, and spent much of my flight looking out the window, wondering what my new home would be like.

I was leaving behind the nation's capital — the place where I'd spent almost three years launching my career and growing through my 20s.

Hopping from city to city wasn't new to me. I was born in Seattle and raised outside New Orleans before pursuing my master's degree in Phoenix.

Every region has its own distinct culture, and I suspected the transition from the East Coast to the Rocky Mountains would be a little bumpy. Still, I didn't expect just how different the two parts of the country would be.

Here are a few of the biggest culture shocks I experienced when I headed West.

Many people seem enamored with their hobbies in Denver, but careers typically come first in Washington

Your choice of ski pass isn't just an icebreaker question in Denver — it's a constant topic of conversation among friends and colleagues.

I've found that skiing, snowboarding, camping, hiking, rock climbing, and white-water rafting constantly come up in conversation.

I've met plenty of Denver residents with impressive careers, but their hearts often belong to their hobbies.

Meanwhile, many people I met in Washington lived to work. I'd inevitably be asked what I did for a living at almost every house party I attended. Young professionals primarily move to Washington for their education and careers, so networking is a way of life.

The city is packed with journalists, lobbyists, and government employees, so it's not uncommon to see someone toting a work laptop to happy hour.

The cities' styles don't align

In Washington, my favorite activity was ticking restaurants and bars off my list, taking in the cosmopolitan city in seasonal dresses and heels.

Since moving to Denver, what's left of my collection of cocktail dresses is gathering dust on hangers. Here, athleisure, flannels, and denim are the norm.

The climates in Denver and Washington are completely different beasts

I was adept at handling Washington winters. When snow occasionally fell over the city, I bundled up in a coat and gloves to build snowmen on the National Mall or braced myself for the chilly air when I exited a Metro station.

Preparing for my inaugural Colorado winter was much more intense. I bought my first pair of snow boots at age 27 and learned that Halloween usually brings a snowstorm, with flurries continuing through April.

The National Weather Service reported that from 1882 to 2015, Denver averaged about 57.1 inches of snow a season. From 1991 to 2020, Washington averaged roughly 13.8 inches of snowfall a season.

Local attitudes couldn't be more different

Colorado straddles two prominent regional personality traits — the Midwest's kindness and the West Coast's easygoingness. Many residents of the Centennial State combine the best of both worlds with their friendliness and chilled-out attitudes.

Despite Denver's urban sprawl, niceties from its cow-town days persist. Walking down a neighborhood sidewalk, I can usually count on smiles or greetings from passersby.

While living on the East Coast, I found that many Washington residents were no-nonsense, buzzing from place to place as efficiently as possible.

I got used to avoiding small talk in elevators and found the standard attitude in Washington was both a little guarded and direct. It's not that locals were unkind — they're just booked and busy.

But both places have one thing in common: hometown pride. I'm excited to embrace that attitude in Denver like I did in Washington.

Read the original article on Business Insider