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NY2CALI. Wow. I must say first that both fastfilm and Des have been nothing more then helpful here. Whether you agree with it or want their input is your business, but you have not only been rude to both, but extraordinarily vicious. You are behaving in just the way you so inaccurately accused fastfilm of behaving and a lot worse.
A lot of people have gone out of their way to help you and answer your questions as best as they can and I believe other users with similar questions will be served by those very large contributions such as fastfilm's and Des Demona's.
I can say that fastfilm has offered much in the way of accurate assessments as well as forewarnings for all to heed and to take seriously when considering the Los Angeles area. She does not have to go out of her way to continue to assert warning and cautions to others, but she does take the time and provides examples as well. I see that she also has traveled extensively and has a long history and knowledge of the LA area and peoples as well. She brings this experience and insight to this site as a huge contribution. At times with great aplomb and intelligent sense of humor. I have been well informed by and grateful for her contributions and daily presence. Thank you fastfilm and you too Des.
Des, also offers so much to this site in a multitude of ways and I am so grateful for all she offers and contributes as well. I am appalled at how you have treated her. I am included to think you are a troll the way you turned so vicious on both of these two vital members of this board so suddenly. Both of whom have been with you the whole way and have given what they can to best bring what they could to help you in your decision making.
I am sad for this treatment of great members of this site and so very grateful to both for their knowledge, experience, honesty, insight, personalities, and just kick butt contributions overall. I am so glad others will continue to be served by all that they have brought to this thread for you, even if you pooed on them.
This ain't Kansas anymore Jersey. We don't need to take cheap shots at people and cold coc- them here to puff ourselves up. We already got it, ba-a-by.
I second everything you just said. Both of these people and others are speaking the truth from their perspectives. They're right though.
Yes, there are diehard Californians here just like there are diehard New Yorkers who can't see living anywhere else. It all depends on what your comfort level is. We all have different needs. Los Angeles is way too crowded and fake for my tastes. I want a "slower" environment with less people (or more spaced apart) where I can eventually own a home one day ON MY OWN.
If there was a city data forum for Canadian cities, I'd suggest looking someplace like that. Seems like the film biz is alive and well in Vancouver, Montreal + Toronto. Canada has rolled out the welcome wagon for the mega and I-studios, and their big cities offer most everything needed for successful productions at a significant discount to LA/Hollywood. Eh, got a warm parka?
Recycled, you're quite right. My daughter's father-in-law is a producer and they do most of their filming these days in that part of Canada. They even purchased a home several years ago in Salt Spring Island to be closer to film locations.
KathleenH - I live in Simi Valley and wholehartedly agree with everything you've said. I really feel like I cannot leave Simi or the Thousand Oaks area because of all the traffic congestion. When I even try to leave the area my blood pressure skyrockets and I feel really stressed out (even on the weekends!). I do the exact same thing as you - if I go anywhere now, it's to Santa Barbara or Malibu. I'm moving to Oregon too next year. It's weird, we're on the same life path or something! Hope you find what you're looking for.
Hey Des, same to you. If you're looking in Oregon, Ashland is lovely and has decent weather although in December not too many places have that, including here.
Simi Valley and T.O. are great places to raise a family but not so easy to stay there once the kidlets are gone, unless you bought your house in 1978. We didn't so here we are on the Oregon Trail. I've heard good things about Bend and Eugene. Keep me posted and best of luck to you.
I will be moving to Eugene Oregon next year! I'm very excited and can't wait to get out of California. I'll miss the weather... but that's about it. Oh my family too but we've never really gotten along that well. I was always the black sheep of the family. My parents and brother are right-wing Bush lovers and my liberal ways never won me very many brownie points with them. I'm not sure how I turned out the way considering I was raised by them in uber-conservative Chino Hills. Guess that goes to show you that environmental upbringing isn't everything! Simi Valley, TO and Bend Oregon are all more conservative whereas Ashland and Eugene are liberal. I'm sorry the locals in Ashland aren't treating you better. They have the opinion that people who come up to their town to retire will vote against measures that have to do with bettering education for the kids since it doesn't affect them. They also don't like Californian's for driving up real estate prices. When I move, I plan to never tell anyone that I'm from Southern California and change those license plates and driver's license ASAP. Hope it goes better for you Kathleen!
Well, funny, I am visiting NYC during the holidays. I'll be staying in Manhattan for a week.
Anyhoo, to answer your question here are the areas I would recommend for you : Brentwood, West L.A. area, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach. These are all ideally located to some fantastic places, shopping, things to do, etc.
Regarding affordability, yes it is expensive here, in terms of housing, rents, gas, food, but we natives manage and are used to it. 120k combined household income is really not that much for a couple of professionals, hopefully you can make more here. However, with your salary you can afford the areas I mentioned for rents. So housing affordability is not good here, but I am sure you understand that coming from NYC.
Anyhoo, Cali is expensive for items like the following:
manicure/pedicure: $50.00
carwash: $12.00
sushi dinner: 1 person $30.00
ladies haircut: $75.00 *will vary according to salon of course, and no I am not talking about Fantastic Sams or Supercuts, where I take my 8 year old.
ladie's highlights: $150.00 *also same as above, varies, but this is about average
Universal Studio, Disneyland, Magic Mountain, all very expensive, but do visit and enjoy!
Oh, final .02, rent first before you think of buying so that you can familiarize yourself with the area and also freeways! It's important to know where you will work and plan for the commute. I would not advise a longer commute of 1hour. 1 hour in So. Cal is about the average time one drives to work, 1 way. Any further than that and you will be miserable.
i stumbled across these forums in a google search and wow what a find!
and being a 30yr-old NYC resident looking to move to LA with my fiancee next year, i couldnt stop reading all 6 pages of this thread....
First, real crappy attitude to have towards people who seem to know A LOT about the city and are willing to help you out, NY2Cali. come on dude, lighten up. i could see your attitude go to crap through the thread.
Second, thanks for all of the info! (gonna look into cambria) im looking forward to spending a lot of time on these boards.
Los angeles seems to have too many of the same qualities as NYC does that i just want to get away from... and sunny weather just isnt enough to want me to move there. But my fiancee and I have a year to plan this move, and LA is still near the top of the list. Neither of us plan on settling there, so just trying it out for a while is still an option.
I love California, but housing affordability is causing the middle class to make a mass exodus, so I am leaving to buy a home for my son and I. If I didn't have any children I would stay. So, to you, I say enjoy your stay in Cali, if you and your fiancee do move here. I think everyone should visit Cali at some point in their lives. I wouldnt' recommend long term or to retire, but hey, to live here for a few years will be great. We have great sunsets!
People, people, people. New York isn't Mecca. . . it simply smells like it.
Particularly the subways in summer, with the nauseating scent of stale urine and body odor. I prefer to smell the night-blooming jasmine along my walk.
So, if you don't like it here, do me a favor. Please leave. The irritating whining of all the "native New Yorkers" on this board is getting tired.
copyguy, the points of view of New Yorkers who've moved here actually is enlightening for the relocators on this forum. Sometimes the locals forget the over-familiar within their daily continuities. In the literary world, it's as likely to be the visitor as the local who nails the travelogue, and can explain intrinsic incongruities as well as the obvious.
LA traffic really isn't that bad. I live in Brentwood, and I don't really have much trouble getting anywhere. Sure, it can take 2 hours to get from Brentwood to Irvine, but that's at 8am, and without the carpool lane. And that's 50 miles. Even if you're going to work downtown, or in the valley, traffic really isn't that big of a deal. I have a friend who's from New York (recently relocated). He claims that LA is like someone took New York and flattened it with a book to make LA. We've got all the same stuff, you've just got to drive to it sometimes.
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I have been well informed by and grateful for her contributions and daily presence. Thank you fastfilm and you too Des. 
My parents and brother are right-wing Bush lovers and my liberal ways never won me very many brownie points with them. I'm not sure how I turned out the way considering I was raised by them in uber-conservative Chino Hills. Guess that goes to show you that environmental upbringing isn't everything! Simi Valley, TO and Bend Oregon are all more conservative whereas Ashland and Eugene are liberal. I'm sorry the locals in Ashland aren't treating you better. They have the opinion that people who come up to their town to retire will vote against measures that have to do with bettering education for the kids since it doesn't affect them. They also don't like Californian's for driving up real estate prices. When I move, I plan to never tell anyone that I'm from Southern California and change those license plates and driver's license ASAP. 
