Looking for Bostonians that moved to LA (Los Angeles, Anaheim: transplants, home)

[BostonMike]

I will be moving from Boston to LA in a couple of months and am looking to speak with others who have made a similar move. I am moving mainly for the weather and a change of pace. My main concerns are the cost of living, finding a job and the difference between the Boston and LA cultures.

A little about myself, I am a 28 year old male who works in the financial services industry (mutual fund operations). Along with a part time waiter position, I make roughly $55-$60k. I have no interest in purchasing a home for the forseeable future and live a relatively modest lifestyle. As far as finding a job, I am making the move without one, but I have enough savings to get by for a while. I have an undergrad degree and a Master of Science in Finance. I am hoping that this along with 5 years of experience is enough to get my foot in the door somewhere (not necessarily in financial services).

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!

[artichoke63]

The culture here is very different than in Boston. Most people I know who have come here from Boston tend to return to the east coast eventually. The weather and the nightlife are enjoyable here, but the culture is the hardest to adjust to. Friendships here are more shallow and superficial and just don't have that lasting quality. People here can be flaky. If they say they are going to meet for dinner Wednesday night at 7PM, they might cancel at 5PM and think nothing of it. Values here are different. Conversations are different. When I call my friends in Mass, they always seem to know something about politics and world events. In California, people seem to be more self centered and concerned about the car they drive. Come live here for a few years, you'll see what I mean.

[puffle]

Originally Posted by artichoke63

The culture here is very different than in Boston. Most people I know who have come here from Boston tend to return to the east coast eventually. The weather and the nightlife are enjoyable here, but the culture is the hardest to adjust to. Friendships here are more shallow and superficial and just don't have that lasting quality. People here can be flaky. If they say they are going to meet for dinner Wednesday night at 7PM, they might cancel at 5PM and think nothing of it. Values here are different. Conversations are different. When I call my friends in Mass, they always seem to know something about politics and world events. In California, people seem to be more self centered and concerned about the car they drive. Come live here for a few years, you'll see what I mean.

I concure with Artie. I am a California native who also lived in Boston for a year back in 2005. What a difference a year makes! Can't wait to move back. You may enjoy the eye candy here as it is different than Boston. Lot's of blondes, rail thin with big, fake b---s that will think you are the greatest thing since Manola Blanik shoes if you have a great car and lots of cash. Very hard to make true friendships...you can make money which it sounds like you are qualified for. Living well would equate with prices in Back Bay or Beacon Hill. If you have always lived on the East Coast, the weather here will be a novelty which may or may not wear off sooner or later. As for me, it is dull,mind numbing and repetitive as are many of the conversations here. Oh, and there is no culture here and no city life. Los Angeles is one big suburb with some tall buildings. Wish I could be more positive. The longer I stay the worse I get. I do wish you luck here though and hope coming here is a dream come true for you. You will always have Boston to come back to with open arms and great stories.

[Charles]

Just go to an Angels-Red Sox game in Anaheim. They'll be about 40,000 other ex-Bostonians there.

"There's a ground ball to Buckner...This could do it!..OOOHhhh, it's through his legs........"

[puffle]

Originally Posted by Charles

Just go to an Angels-Red Sox game in Anaheim. They'll be about 40,000 other ex-Bostonians there.

"There's a ground ball to Buckner...This could do it!..OOOHhhh, it's through his legs........"

A Bostonian would be shocked at the mass exodus at the 7th Inning Stretch to beat the traffic.

[artichoke63]

Originally Posted by puffle

Lot's of blondes, rail thin with big, fake b---s that will think you are the greatest thing since Manola Blanik shoes if you have a great car and lots of cash.

This is true, too, unfortunately. Puffle is leaving in the summer and I'm leaving this Sunday. We're both kind of tired of it all.

Artie

[TheRealAngelion]

Hey BostonMike, first of all, there are MANY people from the Northeast in LA, especially from NY and Boston, most of whom do Not leave. There’s a saying that half of LA’s population is from NY! Not true necessarily, but LA is a city full of transplants from other places. I am from LA, but lived in Boston for two years. They are night and day by comparison, but both are great places and have a lot to offer to young professionals.

LA is very big and spread out so you will have to find a neighborhood to settle into that you like and ideally that will be close to wherever you end up working. This is crucial. It’s not like Boston where Allston, Brookline, JP, Back Bay, Cambridge, etc. are all fairly easy to absorb. It will take a little more time to absorb and get use to LA’s vastness and congestion. You should try to live at first in a neighborhood that is pretty contained and that is popular among young people, like Santa Monica or Brentwood. I don’t know your sexual orientation, but West Hollywood is good if you are gay or straight, but especially if you are gay.

You seem to have good credentials and solid work experience so you should be able to land a decent job eventually. The economy in LA and in Southern California in general are pretty good right now.

[Roma]

Hi BostonMike.

You were about my husbands age when he moved to California. It was the best thing he ever did. He moved here about a year or so after getting his Master degree. He has no regrets. He found a job pretty quickly and 13 years later, he retired from that company, quite nicely, at the ripe old age of 40.

Work hard, stay focused, walk the straight and narrow and play by the rules.

Good Luck and welcome to California!

[DoubleDownTrent11]

Hi Mike,

I just moved from the Boston area (Peabody) a couple weeks ago. It may be too soon to give you a full comparison but I have noticed some differences. I feel like there is very little sense of community compared to Boston. People are kind of out for themselves and just into their own things. Like someone mentioned before the friendships are much more superficial which is a stark difference to back home where I did everything with my friends.

The first thing I noticed was the horrible driving conditions. In Boston people are super aggressive but smart, out here they are super aggressive and stupid. There is no concept of passing lanes. There is very little public transportation and because of traffic people are provincial in regards to meeting others. They don't want to travel far so you have to make friends near you. There is also a much greater diversity in the people you will meet.

That being said there are good things. Because of the great diversity there is an incredible amount of culture to take it whether it be food, entertainment, or whatever. Many more options than Boston. The weather is gorgeous everyday, I do miss the variety but I do not miss starting my car in the freezing cold and scraping the ice off the windshield. I have a feeling I will really enjoy it here but my heart will always be in Boston.

[jerzegal_in_Cal]

Originally Posted by BostonMike

I will be moving from Boston to LA in a couple of months and am looking to speak with others who have made a similar move. I am moving mainly for the weather and a change of pace. My main concerns are the cost of living, finding a job and the difference between the Boston and LA cultures.

A little about myself, I am a 28 year old male who works in the financial services industry (mutual fund operations). Along with a part time waiter position, I make roughly $55-$60k. I have no interest in purchasing a home for the forseeable future and live a relatively modest lifestyle. As far as finding a job, I am making the move without one, but I have enough savings to get by for a while. I have an undergrad degree and a Master of Science in Finance. I am hoping that this along with 5 years of experience is enough to get my foot in the door somewhere (not necessarily in financial services).

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!

I actually came across your thread when I was compiling some notes for a blog about my distaste for Southern California. I moved from New Jersey to California 8 years ago. I am 29 now, in the prime of my "social life" (not party, but relationship-building) and I have two friends in Los Angeles and that is it! I don't even live in LA; I live about 45 minutes north of the city limits. I couldn't understand why I was so miserable and unhappy. I used to think there was something wrong with me. But, I am not the problem. I just don't relate to other people here. This is just my opinion. I could go on and on... I wanted to know how things are with you. Did you move already? The post was in January. I just grab a hold of anyone (live or online) when I hear that someone from back East is relocating to this area. Best of luck! Hope to hear from you.
Jerzey girl