Santa Monica/Brea/Long Beach? Moving advice needed (Los Angeles, Pasadena: lease, crime)

[DreadPiratePatty]

I am moving to Southern California this month to start a job in Brea. My daughter is transferring to college in Santa Monica. Initially we want to live together until we sort out housing. Would we both go insane living in Long Beach and her commuting to Santa Monica via public transportation and me driving to Brea?

I grew up in the Pasadena area so not sure what this is going to be like for us. I am thinking there's no way out of a 1.5 hour each way commute for each of us...and I haven't lived in California for years so not sure how ugly the 405 has become.

Is there a better midpoint that we should be looking into? I have tried searching the metro rail/bus options for her and am getting panicked a little. She's never driven in LA even though she was born there...and she will be getting a car but for the first month she's gotta deal with getting to school on a bus.

I am looking for a small studio/one bedroom for a very short term lease as we want to have the flexibility to move where we need to be after we have a chance to look around.

[BRinSM]

wow! that is going to be a tough transition!!!! my only advice for you would be to live near a metrolink station. you can send your daughter on the train to downtown LA and from there she can hop on the big blue bus #10 line which is an express bus to to santa monica. i'd imagine that she'll be attending SMC though, which is off Pico and I believe the #10 bus uses Santa Monica Blvd once it exits the 10 freeway. you'll need to check www.bigbluebus.com, but i think that the city/college offers a free shuttle for students that she could probably take from SM blvd down to Pico.

Back to the metrolink Metrolink :: Welcome, there is a station in Fullerton, which is very close to Brea and a very nice area to boot.

[DreadPiratePatty]

She is attending the Art Institute of Los Angeles, Santa Monica culinary campus...I think it's by the airport according to the map I've seen.

Yes - I think the only way is the metrolink, and even then it will be dicey. I don't think we'd do well too far inland of Long Beach/coast looking at the map unless those areas have seen a revival of some sort like Long Beach has.

Heck, growing up in 70's I remember it being very carney/biker. Intriguing but not where I would want to live necessarily. I prefer more active/urban but don't want to live in too much of a higher crime area. Not sure what the inland areas are like now, any other advice is highly appreciated.

Initially we will arrive pretty much broke and can deal with anything short term...until the first paycheck comes through!