Typical "Chump Moving to LA" Post (Los Angeles, Pasadena: month-to-month, living)

[solipsist]

I'm moving to LA in September from Boston and have never been, just driven through. I'll be working remotely (no commute) earning about 45k/yr with no real significant debt. Plan is to get a month-to-month situation to start so I can get the lay of the land. I'm single so I'll want to be where at least some action is, although I'm not a hipster and appreciate a friendly pint more than any kind of scene. Obviously safety for me and my belongings is a plus. Any good places to start out and get a sense for the city? Help is much appreciated.

[timelesschild]

Here is a good website showing safety, pricing, etc. for all of LA county: LA Life - Find Your Place in Los Angeles

That might give you a start. Since you don't need to make your first decision based on commute, make it based on price/safety. You might go for Palms or Culver City, since you aren't looking for hipster and you will probably appreciate the ocean.

Do you have an LA office that you will need to go in to on an occasional basis? If so, where is it located? That could give you another sort of start in framing a choice.

[greggd]

Originally Posted by solipsist

I'm moving to LA in September from Boston and have never been, just driven through. I'll be working remotely (no commute) earning about 45k/yr with no real significant debt. Plan is to get a month-to-month situation to start so I can get the lay of the land. I'm single so I'll want to be where at least some action is, although I'm not a hipster and appreciate a friendly pint more than any kind of scene. Obviously safety for me and my belongings is a plus. Any good places to start out and get a sense for the city? Help is much appreciated.

Santa Monica, Hermosa Beach, Los Angeles 90024, 90025, Mid City around fairfax, la cienega... san fernando Valley side if your inclined: Studio City, Sherman Oaks (south)

[solipsist]

Thanks for your replies. That LA Life site is helpful. I like the idea of Santa Monica, seems nice, quiet, but still interesting. Out of the kind of "safer" areas, where would you say it would suit a single guy, who's looking to meet people (friends/other) the most? Also would living out in West LA necessarily proclude me from venturing out to visit friends in more central LA to east LA on a weekly or so basis? Trying to get my head around the scope of LA and the traffic.

[timelesschild]

Where do your friends live?

I'll give you an example of a drive from the westside to the southeast portion of LA county: a couple of Fridays ago, I was going from UCLA to La Mirada, and it took me 2 hours 40 minutes to make the drive. That was starting at 2:30 pm, and it took me until 5:10 pm.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by timelesschild

Here is a good website showing safety, pricing, etc. for all of LA county: LA Life - Find Your Place in Los Angeles

Is there something like this for Orange County?

[MIKEETC]

Check out Pasadena.

[solipsist]

I have friends in Koreatown and near the tar pits. Sounds like either would take an hour plus using the freeway from SM, I hear horror stories about that, would back streets be easier on a Friday afternoon or is it pick your poison?

[bhcompy]

i would look in coastal long beach and seal beach. seal beach is fairly relaxed, good bit of irish pubs, etc. no "scene" and very safe.

belmont shore, naples, and downtown long beach also will work as well, but a little more busy.