If there’s one really wonderful thing about moving to Los Angeles, it’s the fact that you immediately have a whole slew of common experiences to talk about with 75% of the other local residents – because it’s a city comprised largely of people from other cities.

Even though you might feel like an outsider when you first roll in on the 10 or the 405, you’re really just the newest new kid. Just about everyone’s been there. So when you relocate to L.A. as an adult, you’re joining a fraternity of other people from around the country who can relate to everything you’re enduring.

From sales tax-induced sticker shock to learning that a five mile drive can easily take you an hour, there are a few harsh realities sprinkled in among all the sublime ones that really bond all Angelenos. In fact, Rams players have learned quite quickly that there’s no escaping the ties that bind us – even for professional athletes.

Lindsay Thiry of the Los Angeles Times recently spoke with a few players about their experiences learning the ropes of their new city since the team relocated from St. Louis. For offensive lineman Roger Saffold and his teammates, the inordinately high income taxes have been impossible to ignore.

Via LATimes.com:

“Everybody warned us about taxes, and taxes were pretty high out here, definitely wasn’t expecting them to be that high. … You see less than half of what you make which is shocking. Of course, it definitely wasn’t as bad in St. Louis, so just getting used to that is pretty hard for all of us.”

Saffold’s fellow o-lineman Jamon Brown noted that Los Angeles, with its pockets of high population density, has some unusual automobile requirements.

Via LATimes.com:

“Car registration, smog [tests], different things when it comes to I guess what’s legal, because I never did a smog [test]. I transferred to California plates, so I had to get the smog [test], I had to get my truck weighed … I didn’t know that was a thing. . . . It was kind of like, ‘What?’ when they said, ‘Did you get your smog test?’ I had no idea.”

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Linebacker Robert Quinn found himself super unnerved by the whole rattlesnake thing, which is understandable.

Via LATimes.com:

“I guess the wildlife is more free out here…I found one in my backyard, one in my front yard, just walking by and happened to hear it and then another one I saw, so called the exterminator, I’m not messing with them. I went by it and kept my eye on it, but at least we know where we’re at. I had enough distance so it didn’t bother me but still a little nerve-racking when you know it’s a rattlesnake.

I really hope that someone warns him about the tarantulas before he goes on any local hikes. Fortunately, his fellow linebacker Alec Ogletree had a more pleasant and totally iconic L.A. experience to share.

Via LATimes.com:

“People just go to the beach like every day. It’s just a normal thing. Me growing up in Georgia and going to St. Louis, I don’t have beaches like that so going to the beach is like a vacation for me, but it is just like everyday life here. … I want to try surfing and so I might try that one day, eventually.”

Well that’s the most adorable thing ever. Sure, the beach is a few hours away for some people on the outskirts of L.A., but it’s still a lot closer to the ocean than most places in the country.

In the end, while our paychecks may suffer tremendously, there’s a long list of things to love about living in L.A. Hopefully watching the Rams win football games can be added to that list very soon.

Click here to read Thiry’s piece, which also includes stories from Chargers players.