Move to Los Angeles? (San Diego: insurance, violent crime, home)

[Floridagirl08]

Plan on making a move. I am sick of Florida and am almost to the point where I cannot stand it. I have to pick between Los Angeles and Boston. I love Boston and the people are friendly. However, there are the harsh winters. I like the idea of living in LA. The perfect weather year around and plenty to do. What are the positives and negatives of living in LA? Thanks for any suggestions/advice.

[ilovela]

Hi there-

I can understand your wanting a change from FL I have visited there many times and actually just came back from there for 2 weeks....Honestly, I guess I am spoiled but could not understand how your guys deal with the humidity?? I wanted to die this time around and could not WAIT to come home....that being said

PROS of living in LA: WEATHER WEATHER WEATHER, beaches, mountains, lots of jobs, so much to do, fine dining....I could go on and on...

CONS: traffic and population!! I honestly wish people would stop moving here!!! JK :-) Hope that helps!

[MorningCalm]

depends on what you are after..if your single looking to meet someone and have some fun..absolutely..but if you are bringing a family and all that stuff..well..unless you're filthy rich..

[kareybear]

Originally Posted by Floridagirl08

Plan on making a move. I am sick of Florida and am almost to the point where I cannot stand it. I have to pick between Los Angeles and Boston. I love Boston and the people are friendly. However, there are the harsh winters. I like the idea of living in LA. The perfect weather year around and plenty to do. What are the positives and negatives of living in LA? Thanks for any suggestions/advice.

Have you consider NC? Why Boston or California? California is great but is so stinken crowded. Living is very expensive but great weather overall. People are very friendly there but depends where you live exactly because if you look at someone at the wrong way you can get shot or get a rude comments. There are a lot not so good places to live because gang relations, overpopulated illegal aliens,drug problems too. I am not trying to scare you. What is your reason for leaving? it might be the same way in California. I lived in for 34 years. I lived in Central and Northern part of California. You need to be more specific on what ideas you need to know? California has pretty much everything but just pricey.

Good Luck!

[Floridagirl08]

Actually I have been to NC and did not care for it much. I want to get out of the south. I either want to go up north or move west. I understand moving to either CA or MA is pricey - Florida is getting that way as well. I'm also eying Boston because I have been many times and love the city. I have lived in smaller cities most of my life. I want to live in a big city or at least a bigger city. A place where there is plenty to do and the weather decent. Somebody mentioned the humidity in FL. I tell you it is the worst not to mention the hurricanes. I actually lived in Las Vegas as a kid back in the 80's and remembered how nice it was out west. My dad used to take us to California when we lived out there. Thanks got the comments. Much appreciated.

[Jazzedforhim]

I lived in LA most of my life...just moved to NorCal five years ago when our kids were born. I think LA is better if you are single and not so much the place for a family. The weather is beautiful, beaches, snow, and lakes all within driving distance. Tons of night life...lots of jobs...great social opportunities for all. The down side is it's very expensive, and if you find a better priced place the sacrifice is usually the safety of the neighborhood. Traffic, traffic, TRAFFIC! Oh how I wanted a bumper sticker that said I hate the 405! It's not all that pretty either...the smog has gotton so bad! When we drove down at Christmas I was in shock! But you know LA is a big place...if you could be more specific as to the area you're considering it might be better to give good advice.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Jazzedforhim

...I think LA is better if you are single and not so much the place for a family. The weather is beautiful, beaches, snow, and lakes all within driving distance. Tons of night life...lots of jobs...great social opportunities for all. The down side is it's very expensive, and if you find a better priced place the sacrifice is usually the safety of the neighborhood. Traffic, traffic, TRAFFIC! Oh how I wanted a bumper sticker that said I hate the 405! It's not all that pretty either...the smog has gotton so bad! When we drove down at Christmas I was in shock!...

I totally agree with everything you wrote except the smog. Air quality has improved significantly since the 1950s. Not that the air quality in SoCal is good, but it used to be worse, and that was with half the population of now. Also, normally winter has the better air quality when compared with summer.

[Detective Lopez]

I'm in Florida right now. am originally from LA, and have lived in other big cities, SF and NYC included. you know what? -- LA Rocks. Just go. My wife and I are planning on moving back. Florida is nice (cannot beat the beaches), but just not for us.. especially considering the hurricanes, property taxes and insurance. do it and good luck.

[CLQ]

Pros - a lot to do, you can surf and snowboard on the same day, close enough to drive to go to San Diego, Vegas, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, etc., camping.

Cons - difficult for a first time homebuyer, only 5% of the population can afford a median home of $500K, TRAFFIC, poor public transit, a lot of pretentious people, no sense of community, people rarely talk to others they don't know. there are more but i have to get the phone

[CLQ]

additional pros - salaries are high, limitless career opportunites, shopping, 3rd st promenade, south bay, newport beach, HB, bike paths at the beach, weather (except winter), santa monica (except the homeless people that stink up the place), malibu

cons - everything to do is so spread out and driving all over the place, lack of the "big city" feel such as Manhattan, NY, pretentious people, extremely rude drivers - forget using the signal light, when drivers see it they speed up or pretend they can't see you..you have to cut people off here and be aggressive to get where you need to go. It's annoying. racism is a problem. there are a lot of racist people here! pollution, beaches are black - every time I let my boys go in the water they get sick. the air has dirt in it and the sky is brown. did i mentione TRAFFIC and not just during rush hour. it is even on weekends. LA is really going to have to address this problem if it continues to grow. Gangs, violent crimes, drug problems, slums.