When we decided to relocate, the fact that we would be leaving our local dry cleaner didn’t make our what-we’ll-miss-list.

At Colonial Cleaners in Cambridge, we were always greeted by Maureen, an affable 50-something who frequently complimented me on my ability to carry my cleaning on my bicycle and who always said I didn’t seem old enough when I asked for the senior discount, at least until lately.

Here in DC, I delayed a trip to the cleaners for as long as I could. Finally, I asked around for a recommendation and our “sponsors” sent me to Zip’s Cleaners, a couple of miles away on busy Connecticut Avenue.

I walked into what looked like a huge manufacturing floor with six cashiers and countless filled cleaning bags swinging from moveable racks hanging from the ceiling. Of course, no one greeted me by name.

Just another adjustment, but one of many I hadn’t anticipated.