What are the shopping options like in New Orleans, Louisiana?

If you’re moving to New Orleans, you’ll need to know that “Be nice, or leave” is more than a motto. Be ready to speak, and be spoken to, by folks in public. Buses are cheap, clean, friendly, and numerous, or bicycling, walking are good options. Outside of wealthy neighborhoods, the neighborhoods are mixed. The streets are in poor shape, but the city is a great place to live. It’s often HOT and it rains a LOT. Want to know your neighbors, and if you drive, prepare to watch for really impressive potholes. Corner stores are a thing. Grocery shopping is per area, the grocery stores are geared towards the neighborhoods they serve. Learn to cook at home, eat out once a week. There’s lots of medical available, as there are many teaching hospitals. Veterinary care is high. There are distinctive neighborhoods, known locally by their names. Prepare to walk, and if you are using walking aids, prepare to be accepted and assisted by neighbors, bus drivers, etc, as accessibility can be challenging but people do help if you ask, and they know to offer before doing. I love it here. I’m old, nonmelanated, and non wealthy. The younger folks work several jobs sometimes.

Traffic in New Orleans is typically not too bad compared to larger cities, where you could spend three or four hours commuting to work. However, while it is possible to travel from the Algiers neighborhood on the Westbank all the way Metairie in about 20 minutes in the middle of the day, during rush hour it can easily take twice that just crossing the bridge. For that reason, it is important to pick your neighborhood thoughtfully when moving to New Orleans. There is only one main bridge that you will take, so even though your favorite donut shop is technically five miles away, you can easily lose 45 minutes just driving one way if you don’t plan your route well and account for the bridge traffic.