milodesc
NJ
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I've been offered an interview for what seems like a really cool job in Los Angeles. The thing is, I'm not sure I should bother doing the interview because I'm not sure I'd be interested in living in LA.
Anyone have opinions about the city? I'd really appreciate any feedback.
dru
IV
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my experience is limited. i have one college roommate who has lived there for 10 years. he's lived in manhattan beach, west hollywood and now santa monica. manhattan beach seemed great, except it was nowhere near where he worked or socialized; west hollywood brought him closer to both, but he missed the coast which was the reason he moved to LA; so he then bought in Santa Monica, but has little in walking distance and has resumed the commute to work and social life. like most sprawled cities, if you can contain all aspects of your life to one zone, it has its advantages. the question then would be where is the job, could you live in the area, and would that allow you the social life you desire.
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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Do you have any more specifics about your possible location, i.e. where would your office be?
LauraA
LaLaland
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i lived and worked in venice beach the summer after college. i moved there intending to stick around for a while, but it just wasn't for me. i like climate changes. though there is nothing like walking to the beach for lunch.
if they are going to fly you out for an interview, definitely go, it's a free vacation, and you'll get a glimpse of whether it's for you or not pretty quick.
zp945
Clintonville/Short North
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dru wrote my experience is limited. i have one college roommate who has lived there for 10 years. he's lived in manhattan beach, west hollywood and now santa monica. manhattan beach seemed great, except it was nowhere near where he worked or socialized; west hollywood brought him closer to both, but he missed the coast which was the reason he moved to LA; so he then bought in Santa Monica, but has little in walking distance and has resumed the commute to work and social life. like most sprawled cities, if you can contain all aspects of your life to one zone, it has its advantages. the question then would be where is the job, could you live in the area, and would that allow you the social life you desire.
I agree. My sister in law lives in Manhattan Beach. It is a nice place to visit but it is also very expensive. Traffic is pretty intense, it takes her 50 mins to get to work and it's 7-8 away. I would make sure I could afford to live near my job. Other than that, I always had a negative perception of LA until I spent some time there and found it was a decent place.
Brant
Gahanna
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I lived in LA for four years. I didn't like it much, but I think it mostly had to do with the fact that I was broke, didn't own a car, and I lived in a frat house north of Exposition Park. If I had an actual job where I was making money, it might be a different ballgame.
Stealing a quote from Bendis: Everything you've ever heard about LA is true. Both good and bad. There's some really good and cool and authentic parts about LA, but you gotta search 'em out (like Damiano's Pizza on Fairfax Ave - sooo tasty!).
I recommend using the interview as an opportunity to go check out the city and see for yourself whether or not it feels like a good fit.
thefightinglibrarian
Running after the 'Bus
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My best friend (from Toledo) has been there for 5 years and loves it. She lives in West Hollywood. I didn't like it, though, when I visited. The city is so spread out, doesn't have good mass transit, and the traffic is horrendous. Not to sound cliche, but a lot of the people I met also seemed like the stereotypical: "I'm trying to get famous and I'm fabulous" types. I much preferred the vibe in Brooklyn, not that that's any help to you... I would go for a visit and see what you think. I think my bf and I are very similar, but like I said, she loves it.
Bear
The woods
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milodesc wrote I've been offered an interview for what seems like a really cool job in Los Angeles. The thing is, I'm not sure I should bother doing the interview because I'm not sure I'd be interested in living in LA.Anyone have opinions about the city? I'd really appreciate any feedback.
Not a fan. Too big, too fake, too covetous of water, too... LA. But I'm absolutely the worst person to ask -- I grew up in Northern California. :)
Daz
Tweeting about some totally unimportant event
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Bear wrotemilodesc wrote I've been offered an interview for what seems like a really cool job in Los Angeles. The thing is, I'm not sure I should bother doing the interview because I'm not sure I'd be interested in living in LA.Anyone have opinions about the city? I'd really appreciate any feedback.
Not a fan. Too big, too fake, too covetous of water, too... LA. But I'm absolutely the worst person to ask -- I grew up in Northern California. :)
I <3 NorCal.
That being said... I feel the same way about LA. BUT, I know a lot of people that have lived there that think it's pretty much the most awesome place on earth.
milodesc
NJ
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ZPIZZA wrote I agree. My sister in law lives in Manhattan Beach. It is a nice place to visit but it is also very expensive. Traffic is pretty intense, it takes her 50 mins to get to work and it's 7-8 away. I would make sure I could afford to live near my job. Other than that, I always had a negative perception of LA until I spent some time there and found it was a decent place.
yea... the two factors weighing most heavily in my decision are money (i'd be taking a pretty steep pay cut) and the perception i have of LA.
it'll also be tricky bc even if i find a decent place to live near my work, I have a girlfriend who would have to do the same thing.
Brant
Gahanna
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Well, I can attest to the fact that your new office is in a very nice part of town, just south of the Grove (which is kinda like Easton... with a streetcar).
However, if you're already taking a steep paycut, I would say this move probably isn't such a good idea. Unless there's a greater potential for advancement in LA (which there almost certainly is).
If you could find an apartment in Culver City or West Hollywood, you'd be in good shape. From there, you could easily drive to work without using the freeways. Commuting in LA with side streets = bliss.
joev
Merion Village
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milodesc wroteZPIZZA wrote I agree. My sister in law lives in Manhattan Beach. It is a nice place to visit but it is also very expensive. Traffic is pretty intense, it takes her 50 mins to get to work and it's 7-8 away. I would make sure I could afford to live near my job. Other than that, I always had a negative perception of LA until I spent some time there and found it was a decent place.yea... the two factors weighing most heavily in my decision are money (i'd be taking a pretty steep pay cut) and the perception i have of LA.
it'll also be tricky bc even if i find a decent place to live near my work, I have a girlfriend who would have to do the same thing.
I would have to agree with that. I plan to stay in Columbus because the cost of living is such a good value. We experience the best of this city for half the cost of a city like Los Angeles. Housing especially. And commute times. Nice weather almost year round is great, but I like seasons.
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Cost of living calculations from here:
http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costofliving/costofliving.html
Salary in Columbus OH:
$50,000
Comparable salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach CA:
$75,105.32
If you move from Columbus OH to Los Angeles-Long Beach CA...
Groceries will cost: 28.169% more
Housing will cost: 159.828% more
Utilities will cost: 13.872% less
Transportation will cost: 7.465% more
Healthcare will cost: 5.576% more
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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The area your office is in is actually pretty cool. At least pretty live-able and affordable. It's been almost two years since I left. I do have one friend that moved back since we left that said apartments have gotten a bit more expensive though.
It's kind of b.s. to call the novelty trolly that goes an 1/8th of a mile without stops a streetcar. The farmers market is great though.
I miss LA more than I thought I would, but was really happy to leave it at the time. I would not leave Columbus for it a second time, but I might if I had never lived there.
Just make sure as much of your world as possible is in a pretty close radius to where you live. The fairfax area just south of willshire is great, and it's gotten even better since I left. You can get to Santa Monica (not rush hour) from there in 20 minutes, so you're close enough to the beach.
I'd say go for it.
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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Great location to avoid traffic if you live in WeHo, but after reading your next post I'm going to say don't do it unless it's just something you've always wanted to do and this your chance. If it was just you, I'd say take the risk, if you hate it you can always come back, but that's tough for 2 people to do.
LA is a great city. It's not for everyone, just as NYC, Chicago, and Columbus isn't either. Most of the people that complain about LA being fake, plastic, too many wannabe's, etc. don't live there or if they do they chose to be in areas where that is concentrated. When I go back to visit, I can go a whole week and not mingle with wannabes or tourists if I don't want to. Once you get there and you find your neighborhood, you'll find a groove and spots you love just like anywhere so I wouldn't let those types of criticisms distract you.
To me, the main things I would consider are:
Can I afford to live there? Factor in rent (higher closer to work, lower far away, but remember gas is going up and is already higher there to begin with). The rest of it I don't think was that different. Looking at Walker's list, yes, things appear to cost more, but it depends on what you're doing now. If you already buy organic produce, shop at Whole Foods/Trader Joe's, or eat out a lot, then you're not going to find much difference there. Our neighborhood places had happy hours and comperable prices to what we pay here. Electricity is more expensive, but you use less because a lot rentals don't have AC so when it's hot you go somewhere and let them pay to cool you off :)
Are the added benefits worth the cost of living increase? These would be weather, beach access, entertainment opportunities, easier access to places like NorCal, San Diego, Vegas, etc. If you don't like the ocean, weather isn't a factor in your happiness, and you won't have money for entertainment probably not going to be worth the move. Although, you will be able to have Del Taco and El Pollo Loco any time you want so that might just seal the deal :lol:
machew
Columbus
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Walker wrote Cost of living calculations from here:http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costofliving/costofliving.html
Salary in Columbus OH:
$50,000
Comparable salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach CA:
$75,105.32
If you move from Columbus OH to Los Angeles-Long Beach CA...
Groceries will cost: 28.169% more
Housing will cost: 159.828% more
Utilities will cost: 13.872% less
Transportation will cost: 7.465% more
Healthcare will cost: 5.576% more
This will come in handy. Thanks
If you're going to live in LA, make sure you love your car. You are going to be spending alot more time in it.
I would get a navigation system installed in your car too. Unless you know the area very well. They limit the amount of highway signs in LA for some reason. Like for instance, here in Ohio, I'm use to seeing 2-3 signs for each exit along the highway. Out in LA, you get one sign. I found myself missing so many exits because I didn't have a navigation system in my car and I'd be in the wrong lane for my exit and will miss it.
Charly
Upper Arlington
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Jeni and I visit annually, and we love it. We have friends in Silver Lake and Pasadena. The area you note is near the hotel where we stay called the Beverly Laurel - a modest place with amazing charm.
The farmer's market is brilliant - it is oddly juxtaposed against the Easton-like Grove.
We have found that having local friends helping us navigate made a big difference. An amazing restaurant might be found in a run of the mill strip mall. We really enjoyed West Hollywood and nearby neighborhoods.
Hope you your choice works out for the best!
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