Do you think it's depressing to live in the same city where you work? (Los Angeles: restaurants, safety)

[uptown_urbanist]

I lived three blocks away from my job at one point. It was fabulous. I don't miss the job or the city, but I LOVED that commute. I walked, and those few minutes were enough to give me a nice mental division between work and home. In LA we moved to about two miles away from my job; that was great, too. I prefer to live and work in the same community, when possible. I think it's more depressing to have them totally separate. I can't imagine why it would be depressing; it's not like you're living IN your workplace. And if the problem is that you currently associate the area with work, well, soon enough you'll probably associate everything out of your actual office with home. And just think how much more time you'll have!

[The_gateway]

Originally Posted by jackie100

It's not 40 min 2x a day, sometimes it's 30 min in the morning etc. It varies. I enjoy driving and listening to music and looking at the sights and other cars around me sometimes. I enjoy cruising and seeing the bright lights around John Wayne airport and the tall buildings. It made me feel more alive somehow. I got home already and I miss my commute! lol

When I had to commute I kind of hated it (but I enjoyed it AT times). I'm a complicated person.

Yeah I guess we're all different people...
I had the long commute once before, and I hated it. It was Interesting at first, finding different routes to/from work. After a few months it wore me down.
Now in a new house, i'm literally a ten minute walk from home. The bonus is I can go home and blast tunes before the other half gets home - she has the long commute now!

[Vinsanity]

Originally Posted by jackie100

I don't want to go to the mall in Mission Viejo at all. The only mall I like is South Coast Plaza. Costa Mesa is only 15 min away so I can shop there, I don't see why I have to go to the Shops at Mission Viejo. It's not for me. Sorry...

LOL. When they remodeled the Mission Viejo mall around 10 years ago, it seemed like they modeled it pretty closely after South Coast Plaza. I grew up in south OC and now live in the SC Metro area, and sometimes I forget which mall I'm in whenever I visit either of those. Even now, I can't even tell you which mall has which stores. I do know that they both have 2 Macy's.

Originally Posted by jackie100

I enjoy driving and listening to music and looking at the sights and other cars around me sometimes. I enjoy cruising and seeing the bright lights around John Wayne airport and the tall buildings. It made me feel more alive somehow. I got home already and I miss my commute! lol

If this means that you've found the secret to averaging faster than 20 mph on the freeway during rush hour, or a radio station that doesn't play the same dozen songs every hour, then please do share!

I do think I'm starting to understand how you feel, though. A shorter commute does feel like your daily life is less "active". But that just means that you've freed up time to do stuff you actually enjoy!

[pacific2]

I don't like Mission Viejo or Laguna Woods. I'm sorry to say but no, no nooo! The place that brings me the most comfort is Costa Mesa/South Coast Metro. I don't want to do anything around this area; I only stay here because work is nearby and that is the only reason.

I don't want to go to the mall in Mission Viejo at all. The only mall I like is South Coast Plaza. Costa Mesa is only 15 min away so I can shop there, I don't see why I have to go to the Shops at Mission Viejo. It's not for me. Sorry...

Hey, I agree! You most definitely do not have to go anyplace else. Enjoy!

[Springbok]

i wish that I am working at home..

[jeffredo]

I don't want to live above or next door to my job, but I work in the Financial District and live in the Sunset. Takes me about 45 minutes via MUNI to get home (even though its a relatively short distance as the crow flies). No, its fine living and working in the same city under those circumstances.

[ragnarkar]

It's even more depressing to drive more than 1 hour each way to work..

[jackie100]

The thing is that Lake Forest has tons of curvy roads. I guess I got used to them cause I'm not scared. I think it also helps that the roads are smooth and wide, not narrow and uneven like in L.A.

It's Friday today and I was nostalgic for my commute so I hopped on the 405 S even though I didn't have to! I exited Bristol, didn't get there around 5:45 pm and went to SCP. I was too tired form working all week to shop though; I felt exhausted.

I didn't want to go back home though although I did eventually. It's so depressing living in LF during the weekends. Weekdays is ok because work is close by but who wants to live in LF on the weekends. I keep feeling like I'm missing out on something. Missing out on the bright lights. Missing out on life. Missing out on a more urban-ish feeling.

This place is just so depressing.

But then I tell myself that if I were living in Costa Mesa, I would most likely staying in on Friday nights as I'm always exhausted on Fridays and don't have energy to do anything except lay in bed and watch tv; so I would be doing the exact same thing in Costa Mesa or Fountain Valley as I would be in Lake Forest. But even so, it still feels like I am missing out on something elusive by just being in Lake Forest even though technically I'm doing the same thing (resting). It feels like something is missing. Don't know why that is.

[Vinsanity]

I'm spending Friday night at home tonight, and I can tell you right now that yes, it does in fact feel exactly the same as Friday night at home in south OC, and Friday night at home in West LA. To be honest, it doesn't look like there's too much going on out on the town, either.

[jackie100]

Ok, so most people would prefer to have a shorter commute? But what if its at the expense of living in a boring city that you find dreadful?

Not because of safety reasons or anything but just boring and dreadful? Like I find Lake Forest?