Former New Yorkers are connecting via WhatsApp

“I like to have intellectual conversations about politics and things of that nature, and I want to have a safe space to do it,” said Ms. Khan, 40. “I won’t say no one in Miami will do that, but New Yorkers are much more likely to be aligned that way.”

She joined New Miami Girls, a Facebook group, and soon received a message from another former New Yorker. The two women, along with a friend of a friend also from town, met for drinks and have remained close throughout the pandemic. This has helped her mood during a tense time, when opinions on public health practices have varied from state to state.

“Miami is a little more liberal than other parts of Florida, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m cautious about talking about Covid and making assumptions about vaccination status,” she said. “My friends in New York erred on the more cautious side.”

Over the summer, Ricky Berrin, an entertainment attorney for a production company, started a WhatsApp group in Miami for former New Yorkers to exchange tips on housing and car sharing.

“I created the group selfishly,” said Berrin, 39. “I didn’t want to commit to a lease and I wanted to see who was around, who had empty rooms.”

He was surprised by how popular the chat became. “Now we have two separate WhatsApp groups that are completely full,” she said. “I have to kick people out now and approve of certain people. I would say there are at least 10 posts a day.”

He said meeting New Yorkers in Miami and Los Angeles enhances the experience of living in these sunny, airy cities. “There’s something about the ambition of people in New York and a certain style of how they interact with the world,” she said. “They are more ambitious, adventurous and curious.”

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