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Thinking of moving to California
- Thread starter William
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DON'T go to LA!!
If you move there then there is yet one more person taking up space that I should be occuping!! Someday I hope to move back home and I don't want anymore people there than there needs to be!!!
(I am kidding- but when you get there don't tell the folks back east about the backyard barbecues at Christmas or actually being able to drive the convertable at Easter 'cause if you do then THEY will move out too!!)
Best of luck and I'm jealous!
Bill
If you move there then there is yet one more person taking up space that I should be occuping!! Someday I hope to move back home and I don't want anymore people there than there needs to be!!!
(I am kidding- but when you get there don't tell the folks back east about the backyard barbecues at Christmas or actually being able to drive the convertable at Easter 'cause if you do then THEY will move out too!!)
Best of luck and I'm jealous!
Bill
Steve_S
Yoda
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When you say "move to LA", you're talking about a 4,000 square mile metropolis made up of hundreds of cities. Technically I live within the city of Los Angeles, but in a completely separate town, in a different valley over the mountains, 30 miles from downtown proper where your mailing address is actually "Los Angeles". I would not live anywhere near that place personally but a lot of people love it.
There is a lot to consider, both good and bad. As a major city, Chicago is FAR nicer than Los Angeles. But LA doesn't really have a downtown in the traditional sense like many other major cities. It has more of a civic center, and the city itself is spread out over a huge area. Whatever you're looking for, you can find it here if you search hard enough. But be warned, a lot of other people want what you want in a lifestyle, and the cost of living will represent that. Living in some of the beach communities, you will pay dearly in rent and they are very crowded, fast-paced places to deal with. But you're also by the beach, often surrounded by great cars, food, etc. so for some the pros outweigh the cons.
I work in TV and film so much of my days are spent in Hollywood, Burbank and Culver City. Working in these busy areas are more than enough for me, and I'm always happy to return to my quiet neighborhood. Some people work and live in these areas and love it. Me, I prefer the 45-90 minute commute so I can live "on the edge" as I like to call it. In ten minutes time, I can be driving mountain roads surrounded by pine trees.
If you do move here, spend some time traveling around to find the right area. Don't settle on the first nice place you see! You can live at the base of the 11,000-foot San Gabriel Mountains. You can live by the beach, or live the nightlife in the city. You can live in the suburbs, close to ski areas, or even out towards the Mojave Desert for off-roading. It's all within 100 miles of each other. And no matter where you go, there are always interesting cars to be found.
Let me know if I can be of help!
There is a lot to consider, both good and bad. As a major city, Chicago is FAR nicer than Los Angeles. But LA doesn't really have a downtown in the traditional sense like many other major cities. It has more of a civic center, and the city itself is spread out over a huge area. Whatever you're looking for, you can find it here if you search hard enough. But be warned, a lot of other people want what you want in a lifestyle, and the cost of living will represent that. Living in some of the beach communities, you will pay dearly in rent and they are very crowded, fast-paced places to deal with. But you're also by the beach, often surrounded by great cars, food, etc. so for some the pros outweigh the cons.
I work in TV and film so much of my days are spent in Hollywood, Burbank and Culver City. Working in these busy areas are more than enough for me, and I'm always happy to return to my quiet neighborhood. Some people work and live in these areas and love it. Me, I prefer the 45-90 minute commute so I can live "on the edge" as I like to call it. In ten minutes time, I can be driving mountain roads surrounded by pine trees.
If you do move here, spend some time traveling around to find the right area. Don't settle on the first nice place you see! You can live at the base of the 11,000-foot San Gabriel Mountains. You can live by the beach, or live the nightlife in the city. You can live in the suburbs, close to ski areas, or even out towards the Mojave Desert for off-roading. It's all within 100 miles of each other. And no matter where you go, there are always interesting cars to be found.
Let me know if I can be of help!
G
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Guest
Guest
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California Dreamin.
I lived in Southern Cal in the 50's and 60's, off and on. Wife is from San Fernando Valley. Many of my cousins still there.
It takes money, and lots of it, to live in Cal.
Things have changed in all those years. I stay as far away as I can now.
But you are young. Go west young man. See what you find.
Everybody needs to experience Cal in their life time.
I lived in Southern Cal in the 50's and 60's, off and on. Wife is from San Fernando Valley. Many of my cousins still there.
It takes money, and lots of it, to live in Cal.
Things have changed in all those years. I stay as far away as I can now.
But you are young. Go west young man. See what you find.
Everybody needs to experience Cal in their life time.
anthony7777
Yoda
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William, the only thing to fear is that having not tried it will be the longest and greatest regrette of your life!
Dave Richards
Jedi Knight
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If you're young and unattached...What they said! :thumbsup:
Simon TR4a
Jedi Knight
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Tough to give someone advice on something like this, but i do agree you will wonder "what might have been" if you don't do it.
Depending on your age, interests and how comfortable you are with a huge city, traffic and pollution problems etc. you might want to think about some other places which might not be so artificial and celebrity obsessed; smaller cities in California, Seattle, Corpus Christi or El Paso, Atlanta?
I suppose all these places have pluses and minuses, just a matter of your preferences!
Good luck with your decision.
Simon.
Depending on your age, interests and how comfortable you are with a huge city, traffic and pollution problems etc. you might want to think about some other places which might not be so artificial and celebrity obsessed; smaller cities in California, Seattle, Corpus Christi or El Paso, Atlanta?
I suppose all these places have pluses and minuses, just a matter of your preferences!
Good luck with your decision.
Simon.
TR6oldtimer
Darth Vader
Offline
DrEntropy said:
I live in Santa Cruz, 70 or so miles south of San Francisco. The City is not what it once was, we have not gone there in 15 years. As for Santa Cruz, a beautiful place to live but, no good paying local jobs, long commute to Santa Clara Valley, high housing cost with the medium home price at $682,000 and more liberal then Berkeley.
Steve_S
Yoda
Offline
LA isn't the nightmare that a lot of the country makes it out to be. If you live in the heart of the city, then yes, traffic will be really bad. But show me one big city that doesn't have such problems. Pollution is not a real issue either. Most people thing of the smog alerts of the 1980's but that's old news. You often hear about the brown haze over the inland valleys such as San Bernadino, but what visitors don't know is that it isn't smog. It's dust blowing through the passes of the San Bernadino Mountains from the Mojave Desert. Early settlers in the 1800s noted this phenomenon even back then.
There is also the stereotype of LA people being celebrity-obsessed, vain, rich surfer jerks. (did I miss anything? ) Yep, there are those but I personally don't know any. In reality, most people in LA could care less about the whole Hollywood thing and the places you see TV dramas are few and far between.
LA is a great place to live if you put yourself in the right area. If you don't like big cities, that's ok. You can live in more rural areas where there are no traffic problems. You can also move north to Ventura or Santa Barbara Counties, or south to Orange or San Diego Counties. Orange county and a couple others are indistinguishable from LA county when driving down the freeway because they have all run into each other. My advise would be to stay out of the heart of LA or Orange county to avoid the traffic mess (check out the 405 freeway some time!) and move out towards the edges, preferably away from the beach if you don't like crowds.
I agree that Central and Northern California are great, although much wetter and cooler, but if you like LA then they aren't an option.
There is also the stereotype of LA people being celebrity-obsessed, vain, rich surfer jerks. (did I miss anything?
) Yep, there are those but I personally don't know any. In reality, most people in LA could care less about the whole Hollywood thing and the places you see TV dramas are few and far between.LA is a great place to live if you put yourself in the right area. If you don't like big cities, that's ok. You can live in more rural areas where there are no traffic problems. You can also move north to Ventura or Santa Barbara Counties, or south to Orange or San Diego Counties. Orange county and a couple others are indistinguishable from LA county when driving down the freeway because they have all run into each other. My advise would be to stay out of the heart of LA or Orange county to avoid the traffic mess (check out the 405 freeway some time!) and move out towards the edges, preferably away from the beach if you don't like crowds.
I agree that Central and Northern California are great, although much wetter and cooler, but if you like LA then they aren't an option.
I did the same thing back in the early 80's when I got out of college. Drove from Ohio to southern California and stayed a couple years. Moved back after that to be closer to the extended family. I don't regret moving out there and I don't regret moving back. It can be a great adventure when you have no financial attachments to where you are now.
ddrumman
Senior Member
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LA is one of the best places in the world to live.
I come from a place in Europe (Greece) that is a dream destination for many. Being a musician for the last 32 years, I've been all over the world and I've lived all over the country, literally. The weather is a big part of my happiness. When I was getting out of Music school in Seattle, I was either going to move to NYC or LA. It took me about a minute to decide.
I learned more about music and my craft here, than anywhere else. I saw the best players on the planet perform in little holes in the wall. I'm obviously biased and at the same time realistic. San Diego and Santa Barbara are the only places that have better weather than LA.
Now besides music, I'm also in the Real Estate business and still love where I live.
Bottom line; go with your gut and heart. If you do decide on LA you'll probably have the best years of your life here. I know happiness comes from within, but the surroundings do come in to play.
I come from a place in Europe (Greece) that is a dream destination for many. Being a musician for the last 32 years, I've been all over the world and I've lived all over the country, literally. The weather is a big part of my happiness. When I was getting out of Music school in Seattle, I was either going to move to NYC or LA. It took me about a minute to decide.
I learned more about music and my craft here, than anywhere else. I saw the best players on the planet perform in little holes in the wall. I'm obviously biased and at the same time realistic. San Diego and Santa Barbara are the only places that have better weather than LA.
Now besides music, I'm also in the Real Estate business and still love where I live.
Bottom line; go with your gut and heart. If you do decide on LA you'll probably have the best years of your life here. I know happiness comes from within, but the surroundings do come in to play.
PC
Obi Wan
Offline
It was just an excuse to <span style="font-style: italic">move</span> here. :laugh:William said:
If anybody asks where you’re going <span style="font-style: italic">please</span> tell them “anywhere but California!” so they don’t get the idea they should come here too.
Tell them <span style="font-style: italic">nobody</span> should go there and if they do they’ll certainly be killed in an earthquake unless a wildfire gets them first. Then sneak over here while they aren’t looking.
PC.
G
Guest
Guest
Guest
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TR6oldtimer said:
We sold my inlaws' home in North Hollywood last year. Modest home on a modest street. They paid $12,500 in '64. It went for $650,000.00. Her uncles' home in Alameda (across the bay from SF) was bought in '75 for $54K. It sold last year also, for a cool $1,000,000.00. Are you sure you want to live in California?