Leaving La / California - Asap (Los Angeles: housing, rent, travel)

[Skyyprincess]

Pacificop
Keep us posted on your findings in other states. We also are law enforcement from CA and would like to possibly move to Tn (Nashville area) but don't really know a lot about it except that the housing is great, the prices fantastic, and there is a lot of humidity. We'd love to have some space around us instead of "reaching out and touching our neighbor". Hopefully, we'll make a visit to TN in the spring to check things out.

[Cattknap]

I was born in So. California as was my husband who has been with the LAPD for nearly 35 years. There are aspects of So. California that are wonderful - the weather, services and conveniences, the proximity of the beaches and mountains. The crowds, pollution, politics, cost of living, traffic and crime spoil and overshadow all the good things in my opinion. We plan to retire to the south when my husband retires in 16 months, but believe me, the south (where we have traveled extensively) has issues too: Poverty, extremes of weather, political agendas and in quite a few places, bias against strangers (especially from So. California)....no place is perfect, but there are definitely places that afford a better standard of living than does So. California.

[YogaPants]

Three cheers to people who don't like California and leave! Three cheers to y'all!

[Sorcerer68]

I have lived in and traveled to many other places besides L.A. I've lived in the south with it's forests, waterways, sugary beaches and hospitality. You can have it. I don't even like to visit. Bugs, rampant ignorance and poverty, stifling, sticky summers, snakes, rain, bugs...and backwards, backwards people. No thanks. I arrived in a town of 35000 and wanted a book. I walked around the Wal Mart a few times and finally asked a cashier "where are the books?" She looked at me suspiciously "buuuuhks? Wut kaynkda buuuuks?" She explained to me that there was a Christian bookstore and that was it. I was in hell. In the South I experienced an undercurrent of hate the likes of which I've never seen before. In my head (IMHO), an imaginary line runs from Kansas south and then due east to the Atlantic. The small-mindedness and intolerance are dizzying. There are parts of the South I find charming such as Savannah and New Orleans pre-Katrina (all those wonderful cemeteries are gone!). When I got a whiff of the smog and gunned my Mustang on the 10 west on the way home, I was pleased to be within striking distance of normalcy. For the record, I've lived in 3 Southern states for a total of 6 years.

I've been in Hawaii for over 3 years (I left Pasadena in 2003). I lived here as a kid too. I've never been so depressed in my life. There aren't any of the entertainment or cultural opportunities here that exist in L.A.. There are sheets of rain and clouds of mosquitos. I can't even pay anyone to wash my car. You can't get anything done here. Everything is outrageously expensive. Poverty and ignorance are rampant. It's really difficult to find someone with whom I can have an intelligent conversation. One of the most annoying things is that ALL the art is tropical themed! They don't paint anything else! Yes, the scenery is stunningly beautiful. The other things have worn me down. I briefly considered moving to Honolulu (a few islands away) but cost of living is even higher, the weather even hotter and a tiny house (550 sq ft) in the city is a million bucks.

To the OP, I've spoken to law enforcement in NYC, Miami, Detroit, Chicago southside...I don't think L.A. has anything on them in regards to murder or any other violent crimes. I always tell people if you don't like major cities, don't live in one. I'm the opposite, I hate the boonies. To me a town of 75,000 people is the boonies. I love the Mediterranean climate of Los Angeles, the topography and just about everything else about it. It definitely has it's shortcomings. My personal least favorite is rush hour traffic but I lived in L.A. long enough to learn my ways around it. Rule #1, never commute. I haven't had the experience of living in areas where I had any problems with crime except one: Westlake district. We had 2 drivebys in front of our place in 1 month back in '95. I was only staying there temporarily for 3 months. I wasn't there long. The rest of my time was spent in Redondo Beach, Torrance, Glendale South Pasadena and Old Pasadena. This period covers about 20 years on and off. I never had any problems with crime of any kind living in these places except the sign from our antique and vintage goods store Sloppy Seconds was stolen once. It's not hard to figure out why. I went to stores, shopping, college...everywhere I needed to and the only problem I ever had was being accosted by panhandlers when we went to Hollwood for a night out. I've had no more than door dings happen to my cars. Nothing was ever stolen. Nothing. Boring, bland suburbia or someone clubbing me over the head with their old time, small town "value system" just doesn't appeal to me. That's why I will be moving back to L.A. next month (and never, ever leaving again!) and the OP will load up his U-Haul go to Hickville, Squarestate and we'll both be happy.

[fastfilm]

Originally Posted by Sorcerer68

... Everything is outrageously expensive. Poverty and ignorance are rampant. It's really difficult to find someone with whom I can have an intelligent conversation. . .Yes, the scenery is stunningly beautiful. The other things have worn me down.

Wow. You certainly have spelled out your P.O.V., and your above quote regarding your present locale is one that actually resonates application to Los Angeles for many here, myself quite adamantly.

As delighted as I am with your sense of humor in naming an antique store "Sloppy Seconds," I am chagrinned that you join in the chorus of admonishing others who have no choice but to commute to their jobs and cannot afford to live in the better areas, and of chastising American taxpayers who could improve this city with selfsame tax base that "they should leave." And my P.O.V. is that I always wash my own car: I'm fortunate enough to have one, but cannot afford luxury services and in fact am in competition with lower wage earners.

[dusesean1986]

Originally Posted by Cattknap

I was born in So. California as was my husband who has been with the LAPD for nearly 35 years. There are aspects of So. California that are wonderful - the weather, services and conveniences, the proximity of the beaches and mountains. The crowds, pollution, politics, cost of living, traffic and crime spoil and overshadow all the good things in my opinion. We plan to retire to the south when my husband retires in 16 months, but believe me, the south (where we have traveled extensively) has issues too: Poverty, extremes of weather, political agendas and in quite a few places, bias against strangers (especially from So. California)....no place is perfect, but there are definitely places that afford a better standard of living than does So. California.

Very well said...But most importantly in a respectful manner!

[copyguy]

Originally Posted by Sorcerer68

I walked around the Wal Mart a few times and finally asked a cashier "where are the books?" She looked at me suspiciously "buuuuhks? Wut kaynkda buuuuks?" She explained to me that there was a Christian bookstore and that was it. I was in hell. In the South I experienced an undercurrent of hate the likes of which I've never seen before. In my head (IMHO), an imaginary line runs from Kansas south and then due east to the Atlantic. The small-mindedness and intolerance are dizzying. There are parts of the South I find charming such as Savannah and New Orleans pre-Katrina (all those wonderful cemeteries are gone!). When I got a whiff of the smog and gunned my Mustang on the 10 west on the way home, I was pleased to be within striking distance of normalcy. For the record, I've lived in 3 Southern states for a total of 6 years.

I've been in Hawaii for over 3 years (I left Pasadena in 2003). I lived here as a kid too. I've never been so depressed in my life. There aren't any of the entertainment or cultural opportunities here that exist in L.A.. There are sheets of rain and clouds of mosquitos. I can't even pay anyone to wash my car. You can't get anything done here. Everything is outrageously expensive. Poverty and ignorance are rampant. It's really difficult to find someone with whom I can have an intelligent conversation. One of the most annoying things is that ALL the art is tropical themed! They don't paint anything else! Yes, the scenery is stunningly beautiful. The other things have worn me down. I briefly considered moving to Honolulu (a few islands away) but cost of living is even higher, the weather even hotter and a tiny house (550 sq ft) in the city is a million bucks.

To the OP, I've spoken to law enforcement in NYC, Miami, Detroit, Chicago southside...I don't think L.A. has anything on them in regards to murder or any other violent crimes. I always tell people if you don't like major cities, don't live in one. I'm the opposite, I hate the boonies. To me a town of 75,000 people is the boonies. I love the Mediterranean climate of Los Angeles, the topography and just about everything else about it. It definitely has it's shortcomings. My personal least favorite is rush hour traffic but I lived in L.A. long enough to learn my ways around it. Rule #1, never commute. I haven't had the experience of living in areas where I had any problems with crime except one: Westlake district. We had 2 drivebys in front of our place in 1 month back in '95. I was only staying there temporarily for 3 months. I wasn't there long. The rest of my time was spent in Redondo Beach, Torrance, Glendale South Pasadena and Old Pasadena. This period covers about 20 years on and off. I never had any problems with crime of any kind living in these places except the sign from our antique and vintage goods store Sloppy Seconds was stolen once. It's not hard to figure out why. I went to stores, shopping, college...everywhere I needed to and the only problem I ever had was being accosted by panhandlers when we went to Hollwood for a night out. I've had no more than door dings happen to my cars. Nothing was ever stolen. Nothing. Boring, bland suburbia or someone clubbing me over the head with their old time, small town "value system" just doesn't appeal to me. That's why I will be moving back to L.A. next month (and never, ever leaving again!) and the OP will load up his U-Haul go to Hickville, Squarestate and we'll both be happy.

Funny post. Especially yout WalMart experience. I grew up in Roanoke Va, and got out as sn as I could. My folks still live there and I go back a couple times a year to visit.

I get the strangest reactions from the townspeople. One time I went into a video store and asked where the independent film titles were. The clerk looked me up and down and drawled, "You ain't from "round are ya?"

Anyway. . .Sorcerer68. . . some people get very touchy in htis forum if you imply that perhaps they shouldn't be living in L.A. if they dislike it so much. They begin crying "personal attack," start rating you down and messaging the moderator. Trust me on this one.

[fastfilm]

As the topic thread is "...leaving ASAP," why would one assume that anyone can pick up and scram whenever the whim occurs? People's lives often include longterm planning such as higher education or pension tenure as well as 'beginning your career here' goals, not to mention the home sale process.

Also, why would one be so confrontational in an information forum as to insist a law-abiding U.S. citizen in L.A. scram in the first place? That's a little. . .extreme.

[Sorcerer68]

Originally Posted by fastfilm

Wow. You certainly have spelled out your P.O.V., and your above quote regarding your present locale is one that actually resonates application to Los Angeles for many here, myself quite adamantly.

As delighted as I am with your sense of humor in naming an antique store "Sloppy Seconds," I am chagrinned that you join in the chorus of admonishing others who have no choice but to commute to their jobs and cannot afford to live in the better areas, and of chastising American taxpayers who could improve this city with selfsame tax base that "they should leave." And my P.O.V. is that I always wash my own car: I'm fortunate enough to have one, but cannot afford luxury services and in fact am in competition with lower wage earners.

The only thing that's expensive in Los Angeles in housing and even that is relative. Regarding commuting, no matter what your job is, there are cheaper places to live that aren't a terrible distance away. I don't admonish the commuters, just explore your options closer to your job.

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by fastfilm

As the topic thread is "...leaving ASAP," why would one assume that anyone can pick up and scram whenever the whim occurs? People's lives often include longterm planning such as higher education or pension tenure as well as 'beginning your career here' goals, not to mention the home sale process.

Also, why would one be so confrontational in an information forum as to insist a law-abiding U.S. citizen in L.A. scram in the first place? That's a little. . .extreme.

Well I think we're assuming you didn't reach the decision to leave overnight either. Obviously most of LA's problems did not crop up out of nowhere. But realistically - unless there is some specific issue holding you back - six months to a year seems adequate to plan and execute a relocation.