Confused...Moving to Santa Monica/Venice Beach worried about commute to Van Nuys (Burbank: apartments)

[asnboy1084]

Hi guys I currently am living at home in Burbank and want to move out out of my dad’s house. I only gross about 50k a year, but want to move to Venice beach or Santa Monica…I just love the beach life (went to UCSB). I don’t have any loans and my old car is paid off (it might die anytime), I also own a beat up motorcycle-but I need my car for work. I am 23 turning 24. I know the traffic from the valley to the westside is terrible… but is Santa Monica to Van Nuys Doable in the morning? What time should I expect to leave if work Starts at 8am and I’m not a morning person...
I’ve been looking at sharing appartments blocks from the beach for 1200/month on Craigslist.
Should I just suck it up and stay at home? I don’t know what I’m doing w/my life… I also want to give everything up and travel the world for a year.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

[fastfilm]

At least you admit confusion: there's a lot of contradictory info in your post. Here's just my own opinion and fact-checking. Yes, move to the beach. You're young and don't require a lot to make you happy there. Apartments there are at least doable for someone like you (you make more than I do, by the by): you probably never would be able to afford a house there later in your life with your own family, so go for it while you can. It'll be a future fond memory, particularly if you don't make it around the world.

As to the commute, stop thinking like not-a-morning-person (I'm not either) and instead see this as job requirements for this stage of your life. Being at work by 8 is a godsend: 9 would be a deal-breaker, commute-wise. Avoiding the worst of the commute by being at work a tad early and actually relaxing before you plow into it would be beneficial to your overall mental health as well. So with that attitude adjustment, I'd say go for it as well.

You might even discover the few commuting shortcuts. Some people prefer to go over the hill on the long streets like Sepulveda instead of crawling on the 405, or assorted mountain roads. You'll find something that's preferable to you.

[BRinSM]

Santa Monica to Van Nuys at the hour in the morning is probably about a 30 minute commute, which is not too bad. As for making the big move, I'm kind of in a similar situation, except that I already moved to Santa Monica and now I'm trying to convince my wife to travel the world with me for a year. Anyways, SM is an incredible place to live. Being so close to the beach has an amazing amount of benefits. I personally train for triathlons, so I can do all my training on or near the beach and at the local public facilities (ie, high schools and SMC). Then there is the social part of SM. From bars and restaurants to concerts and the pier to the shopping on 3rd St., there is so much to do here. The one thing that you really have to be careful of is how much money you spend here, because going out can really add up. My recommendation for you is to get yourself a bicycle and move here, I doubt you'll regret it.

[CESpeed]

If you don't know what you are doing with your life. WAIT until you do. You are currently making a decent salary and it sounds like you are on your way to creating a solid life for yourself. Don't screw it up by making unplanned moves. The unexpected will always happen, you can't plan for everything but at least if you are "Forrest Gump"ing your way along it'll be easier. Once you know what you want to do, then move to the beach, or set yourself up to take that year off. But do it AFTER you've decided what you want to do and can easily transition back into the life you've started once you get back.

[SouthBayTodd]

when u do rent an apt or a room - try to get a month-to-month deal. this way if you want to skip town in 9 months and travel the world you aren't tied down in a annual lease.

[Sorcerer68]

Look for a job near the beach.

[rchap417]

Your not that confused for your age. Most people when young even when highly motivated have those different urges that you do and they are not all that incompatible. Best advice I heard is plan. I would
add don't "burn your bridges" so to speak with your Dad. The commute is very decent by Cali standards. As mentioned before about 30 minutes with your choice of routes. Do you really like your job? Do you like the company you are working for? Can you stay longer with your Dad? If you leave and things don't go well can you move back.
With gas, rents, utilities and travel the way they are today again try to plan and "run the numbers".
Can you save for that trip overseas? Can you work your way through that trip overseas?
Or like the person said can you work at the beach and afford it?
What is your passion? Are you still young enough to do it.
Main thing is to "run the numbers". How much to move? How much are monthly costs?
If I was your age I would love living near the beach and Santa Monica/Venice is nice. I wish that
I had traveled so don't put that off too long!
Don't move til your ready and try to plan more for those moments of adventure and freedom that you seek. Main thing is plan and prioritize what you want to do. Get over your fear.
So save, beach, work, save, travel maybe with sabbatical from work then decide on what you really want to do and where to live. Maybe you will come up with business idea where you can do all of the above.
good luck to you.

[smokingGun]

live at home, save your money & invest in graduate education! Venice & SM areas are waay overrated for ppl under 30. There really aren't that many hip/trendy clubs or lounges like you see in Hollywood. The eateries & boutiques are very sedate & unglamorous, perfect for the monied 30something/40something crowd.

[asnboy1084]

How did my old thread get revived?? To update this thread I'm 25 now...and I did move out to Sherman Oaks, but moved back home after my lease ended... I make 65k now and life in LA is still hard to hack it on my own.. Maybe when I'm making closer to 80k/year I can make that move to Santa Monica
I also haven't given up my dreams to do a Gap Year around the world, I'm saving up for that every day.

Thanks for the advice guys.