Reflections on Omaha: A New Yorker's Journey

As someone who hails from New York City and has lived in Omaha for a year and a half, I’m now moving back to the East Coast—not to New York, but to Delaware. I want to say that I am so glad I lived here and would recommend Nebraska to anyone looking for an absolutely great city to live in. It’s very underrated. Here’s my list of likes and dislikes. I’m sure I’ll catch some flak for some of these, but this is just one person’s take. For context, I’m moving to Delaware and out of Omaha only because I miss the beach too much. Sorry, Lake Manawa and Fremont Lake just aren’t cutting it. Being landlocked is tough.

Likes:

  • Food Scene: Omaha has some really good restaurants—not just steak but many cuisines, including seafood, believe it or not.
  • The People: I played in a softball league, and the people could not have been any cooler. Also, people on the street or in stores have been really kind. In my experience, whether traveling internationally or domestically, as long as you’re humble, kind, and open-minded, people will reciprocate for the most part. I’ll throw this in there as well: people in Nebraska are really not materialistic. You don’t see too many fancy cars or handbags or people acting like their stuff doesn’t stink, and I love that.
  • No Traffic: What I find funny is when people complain about driving 20 minutes to go somewhere. If people in Omaha have to travel more than 15 minutes, it’s a tragedy. Especially for those who live in Bellevue and need to go downtown (Old Market)—it’s like asking them to walk the entire Appalachian Trail. My wife and I went to Colorado (one of the most beautiful states I’ve seen) over Labor Day weekend. The roads were clear and empty—I couldn’t believe it. Try going to the Jersey Shore on Labor Day weekend; it’s bumper-to-bumper on the entire Garden State Parkway, Staten Island Expressway, and Belt Parkway in Brooklyn.
  • Health Care: The doctors, nurses, and medical staff here are great—very attentive—and there’s ease of access to hospitals and anything else regarding medicine.
  • Eppley Airport: Yes, I said the airport. Hardly any lines; the parking is phenomenal. You can see how many spots are open before you leave and choose how much you want to spend. When you do park, the red and green lights above in the garage are helpful. When you land back at Eppley from a long business trip, it’s like coming home—it’s quiet and calm. You know you’re home, and the tension from a business trip subsides. Also, as a side note, the TSA agents are nice—they’re not militant and abrasive like they are at JFK or Newark. Lastly, let’s be honest—who doesn’t love Kracky McGee's? I’m sorry they won’t be inside the new airport. I hope they don’t ruin that relaxed feeling when construction is done.

Dislikes:

  • Slow Drivers: Jesus God in Heaven, people drive like they’re in a funeral procession. I mean, dude—let’s go! Move it along!
  • Drivers at 4-Way Stops: You tell someone to go or even flash your lights letting them know to go, and they stare at you like a deer in headlights. It drives me insane.
  • Country Music: I know I’m going to catch hell for this one. I can’t stand country music—it’s a bunch of white guys talking about dumb stuff or how they can’t get laid or some chick broke their heart.
  • The Roads: For the amount of car traffic we have compared to New York City, the streets should be in much better condition. Jesus Christ—we had one ice storm this year, and most of the streets in and around Omaha look like they had IEDs buried in them.

To be honest, there really isn’t much not to like about Omaha. The slogan “Nebraska: It isn’t for everybody” isn’t true—as long as you’re open-minded and check your ego at Eppley Airfield, you’ll be okay.

Side Notes on Likes and Dislikes:

  • Car Washes: How many car washes do we need?
  • Alcohol: There’s an abundance—way too much! Do you really need a cocktail while you’re at NFM, Whole Foods, Food Court at Westroads Mall? Every pharmacy and gas station?
  • Scooters, Runza, and Mega Saver: You can’t swing a cat without hitting one of these places.
  • Menards and NFM: Awesome.
  • Professional Sports Team: This town needs one! Not talking hockey or women’s volleyball—I mean baseball, football, or basketball. This town would certainly support it! And don’t tell me it’s too small—Tampa FL has about 90,000–100,000 fewer people than Omaha and they have an MLB team.

I hope I don’t offend anyone with this post—please keep in mind this is just one man’s take on this great place called Omaha.