How do Others in the World Feel About Los Angeles? (rent, houses)
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I'd give it a bit more than 10% paradise and maybe another 20% very good. I lived there for four years and thought it the perfect "1%'er" city. Pretty yucky if you're a "99%er". If I was very very wealthy, could live near the beach in the smog-free belt, and actually afford a single-family house (I never could, even in the smog belt Inland Empire) SoCal/LA would be high on my choices of places to settle down in. Great scenery, nice weather most of the year, every sort of amusement you could imagine, great restaurants, beautiful athletic people and interesting people with intellect (yes! I know this is contrary to every post in this forum but there creme de la creme folk from all over the world moving to LA), etc etc. Probably works for neo-hippy types too if they are very non-materialistic. If you live your whole life like a starving artist in a shared efficiencey apt with no car and don't mind it you'll still have the magnificent natural setting and can hang around the free parks to play your guitar and harmonica for change, etc you could have a satisfying life.
I'd live in LA if I could afford to live close or by the beach areas, otherwise I'll pass. LA has year round mediterranean climate and lots of things to do. But I couldn't handle the traffic during rush hour. It would take a good 5-6 hours to travel from the eastern tip of LA (I-10 freeway) to the northern tip (I-5 after Angeles Forest/Park) during rush hour. However outside rush hour driving the interstate highways is a breeze (quicker). I'd always avoid passing by LA as much as possible if I have to drive within Cali.
I have family in Los Angeles and have been there a number of times. As a city, Los Angeles is WAY too sprawled out, decentralized, car-centered and lacking in good public transportation for my tastes. I'm also not a big fan of that kind of arid climate in southern California.
However, its entertainment/musical aspects are kind of cool (there's a lot more to it than just Hollywood). It's a city that could grow on me if those other negative things were improved. But for now, there are much better cities in the U.S. to live in than Los Angeles.
Last edited by BigCityDreamer; 06-05-2012 at 09:18 AM..
LA is really a bunch of cities tied together and called LA. Some of these "cities" (neighborhoods) are some of the most exciting, energetic spots in the USA. Go to sunset and party in the high end clubs and just TALK to the people who go there. You'll be hearing from execs flying from everywhere to purchase up TV shows, looking for actors, or the next big media project etc. That's hard to beat.
On the other hand, you find yourself on the wrong island and you begin to wonder why LA is so special. Just strip malls, fastfood in a nice sunny warm climate. You gotta choose wisely when you go to LA both as a tourist and a resident. i always say that if you live in la it takes about 1 year before you 'find' your scene and really start to enjoy it. before then you're kinda just, wtf this place is expensive and nothing special.
I have family in Los Angeles and have been there a number of times. As a city, Los Angeles is WAY too sprawled out, decentralized, car-centered and lacking in good public transportation for my tastes. I'm also not a big fan of that kind of arid climate in southern California.
However, its entertainment/musical aspects are kind of cool (there's a lot more to it than just Hollywood). It's a city that could grow on me if those other negative things were improved. But for now, there are much better cities in the U.S. to live in than Los Angeles.
i'm from la and other than buses never used the pt. Now, i have moved on and only been back for days at a time. When i go back, i get a car and again don't use the pt but i hear from people it really has become better. NYC, SF, DC, Chicago good? No. But better than most every other city in the country. My thinking is give it 10-20 years and LA will have world class pt. Remember it is a YOUNG city. All those cities i mentioned have had years on LA.
this is where picking your island comes into play. if you pick your perfect neighborhood, you'll have all your nightlife, social scene, shopping, food within walking distance or short bus trips. no need for car except on rare occurances.
I'm a Canadian from Quebec living in Vancouver and haven't been to LA, don't know much about it beyond reputation.
That reputation isn't extensive, what I know is it has beaches, is dry, is geographically enormous, lots of cars and air pollution, lots of wealthy people and lots of people living in egregious poverty, main industry is media. It might not be accurate but I get the impression LA is less a classical city and is more of a region?
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