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

[Pacificop]

For those of you who love Los Angeles and HAVE NEVER BEEN ANYWHERE ELSE, you are delusional to think that every place is like here and that they have the same problems or it’s the same thing everywhere or some other quaint notion that just simply isn't true. I used to think the same thing until I started traveling throughout the United States. First, I had no idea that those pretty pictures of America in Almanacs and other places are of real places. This country's landscape is gorgeous everywhere east of the Southwestern United States. If you are a desert lover, I mean no offense, but our transplanted greenery is in no way comparable to absolute beauty the rest of this country has.

But more to the point, as a career law enforcement officer in Southern California for a large agency, I have had the great fortune to work all crimes including a 6 year stint in homicide. I have been to all four corners of this country and places in between on business and pleasure trips. I’ve spent time with cops in other major, moderate and small towns. Even some Chicago cops couldn’t fathom some of the experiences I’ve had. There are cities and regions in this country (not Simpletown with 5,000 pop or less) that are dumbfounded at what goes on here. I finally figured out what seemed different on a recent trip to Appleton, Wisconsin. It was that the people seemed relaxed. They enjoyed living there, therefore they enjoyed each other, their jobs, parks and downtowns. They don’t live in constant fear.

I think the difference here is that we have a large populous who are nervous and fearful most of the time. You don’t know how abnormal that is until you visit some other city of 50,000 – 75,000 people and realize, life isn’t supposed to be scary. Is any place perfect – NO! But come on, LA and a growing number of its people enjoy the Gotham mentality. Well, this isn’t the movies; Batman, Superman and all of the other superheroes aren’t going to instantly restore order to a place that has taken decades to deteriorate.

The kind of crimes that get reported and printed on the front page of newspapers in other areas, I wouldn't bother to even prepare a press release for here - the local press would laugh at me for trivializing their work. We take for granted and think it is normal that everyone everywhereis wallowing in the same despair as we are; living in fear just going to the mall or grocery store. But it ain't so.

You see, even if you are wealthy and live in a gated community or mansion, you still need a hair cut, toiletries from the local drug store, milk, bread and eggs from the market and (over priced) gas from the local pumps. It is there that the fight for your life, the fear of being robbed and catching a disease from some virus infested goober trying to get money for drugs - they're not going to buy soup. (Try this social science experiment for those bleeding hearts out there. Next time you are hit up by someone who needs money to eat - offer to buy them a sandwich and see how much hostility you are met with. I've done it.)

I'm pulling an early retirement and moving away from Liberal Angeles to a place where family values are important and part of the city/county goals, being held accountable for ones actions is still regarded, school grades are important to the family and the grass is actually green. The only complaint I hear from people or POSTs about the southern region of the US is the humidity.

Point of fact: Humidity doesn't spray paint on walls, sell drugs on the street corner, offer to put your 12 year old daughter in a sex movie, etc. etc. etc. (I'll just have to lather up on "Bug Off" and carry a fly swatter I guess. Not a bad trade off.)

[fastfilm]

Pacificop, I am now going to refer people to your post here as the omnibus truth about the trade-offs on living in Los Angeles.

You've put it eloquently as well. Weather isn't everything: there are plenty of other cities in California for people to consider other than its most problematic one. I remember describing our urban routines to a friend from elsewhere, including graffiti cleanup, the constant surveillance, even the minor vandalisms on our house, wherein he replied how sad to not have even your own home be some sanctuary of sorts.

[brian_2]

"The only complaint I hear from people or POSTs about the southern region of the US is the humidity."

You've got to be kidding, no? I could go on and on about the negative aspects of the south I know/have known from living there. There are numerous lifestyle/financial/educational/safety issues in many areas of the south.

As far as LA, I would never return to live there (even if I was financially capable) because I've matured in my views of what is important in life, and I have a lack of tolerance for living in a very toxic environment, with residents inflicted with that 'vapid personality disorder' thing, and the prevailing hypocritical, consumer/celebrity-fixated ethos that people view as normal there.

That's not to say there's not a lot of talent/activities/creativity/beautiful places to absorb in LA/SoCal. I had many great times living there in the past - it's just not a good trade-off any longer. I love the state of California as a whole, and like to explore her treasures in my travels. As they say, 'Nice place to visit.'

[WestSideGirl310]

I live in LA and happen to love it! I'm in Santa Monica, so I'm not "sheltered" up in the Hills, BH, HH or up in Malibu! LA has something for everybody!!

[fastfilm]

On my journey in life, I've lived in Westwood, West L.A., Venice and now the S.F. Valley. Believe me, you're "sheltered" in Santa Monica. Wealth cocoons people from the bad in life everywhere, and more markedly in Los Angeles. If you lived in the L.A. of, say, Panorama City, I doubt if you'd write the the first nine words of your above post.

[brian_2]

What I said earlier:

"As far as LA, I would never return to live there (even if I was financially capable) because I've matured in my views of what is important in life, and I have a lack of tolerance for living in a very toxic environment, with residents inflicted with that 'vapid personality disorder' thing, and the prevailing hypocritical, consumer/celebrity-fixated ethos that people view as normal there."

Then this (yeah, I read the article) fluff from today's New York Times (exactly the type of subject that transfixes Angeleno's talk around the (take your pick), 1) Jamba Juice counter, 2) magazine rack at Ralphs, 3) Korean pedicure place, 4) Beverly Center, 5) Baja Fresh :

"As such, Mr. Bruckheimer has the same status commonly conferred on celebrities like Denzel Washington, the star of “Déjà Vu.” So much so, a men’s lifestyle and fashion Web site, recently ranked him No. 6 on its “Top 49 Men” list ahead of Mr. Depp, Bono and Mr. Washington.
And he is afforded a similar lifestyle. Mr. Bruckheimer owns homes in Brentwood and New York City, a 1,500-acre farm in Kentucky and another farm near Ojai, south of Santa Barbara. While he is loath to admit it, he owns a Gulfstream IV jet which he keeps at the Burbank airport near Disney’s headquarters. And he won’t reveal his age, though friends say he is 63.
Mr. Bruckheimer often travels with an assistant, Daniel Camins, who works as a personal schedule minder. On an afternoon in August, Mr. Camins drove Mr. Bruckheimer in the producer’s BMW 745il, to the Burbank set of “Pirates.” In October on another “Pirates” set in Palmdale, Mr. Camins not only carried a BlackBerry and cellphone for messages from Mr. Bruckheimer’s Santa Monica office, but also a plastic bag filled with almonds and dried fruit, which Mr. Bruckheimer’s nutritionist recommended he eat."

"He is loath to admit it" Oh please..!

Did you get the latest copy of 'In Style' magazine yet?

[WestSideGirl310]

Originally Posted by fastfilm

On my journey in life, I've lived in Westwood, West L.A., Venice and now the S.F. Valley. Believe me, you're "sheltered" in Santa Monica. Wealth cocoons people from the bad in life everywhere, and more markedly in Los Angeles. If you lived in the L.A. of, say, Panorama City, I doubt if you'd write the the first nine words of your above post.

Well, I DON"T live north of Wilshire!! And The northern end of Santa Monica and the southern end are quite different!!

[Des_Demona]

Oh Lord... L.A. (yes even Santa Monica) is the armpit of the United States. It's a hell hole that is gang infested, dirt and trash filled and the people are mean, bitter, angry, fearful for their lives I could go on but the original poster put it well. I agree with everything except calling it Liberal Angeles. I'm leaving because it's not liberal enough! I, like everyone else on these boards, am leaving California as well after being born and raised here. I'm sad to see what a pile of cr*p this state has gone to but I'll be glad to leave it. There are much better places out there and as everyone who's left California says "Anywhere is better than California". I wouldn't go that far (I would NEVER live in the south!) but it is sad to see that the concensus is everyone is running out of California. I guess the illegal immigrants are winning...

[Caliguy2007]

I've always wanted to try living in Colorado Springs or Castle Rock,but I decided to stay in California,because of my Family and Friends and I hate having to start all over in adjusting to a new surrounding.

California does have problems,but we ain't gonna continue putting up with it,especially Illegal Immigration.

This State also has Gorgeous Scenery and a Great Variety of Things to See and Do,so that's another reason why i'm staying put :-)

[Jonah K]

Parts of Los Angeles and its suburbs aren't too bad compared to other areas; however, I would never want to live there full-time -- a week or so per month is more than enough.

The diversity of L.A. is one of its greatest assets. There are few cities in the United States where I can go to a bank in which all of the tellers speak Spanish, shop in a Japanese grocery store, have a snack at an Ethiopian restaurant, listen to Korean music on the radio, watch a Pilipino news program on TV, and have a beer at a Samoan bar.

While crime, traffic, and the cost-of-living are definately negative aspects of life in Los Angeles, it could be worse. Just ask some of the L.A. residents that moved there from Baghdad, Kabul, Tel Aviv, Mexico City, Beirut, Moscow, Seoul, Johannesburg, Belfast, Kingston, Addis Ababa or New York.